*This post is sponsored by AbbVie
Ever since I can remember, once a month, I would be down for the count! I couldn’t understand why I was in so much pelvic pain. At times, the pain would be so severe it was hard to get out of bed and nothing seemed to help. You might have guessed that this pain coincided with my period! What I’m dealing with is called endometriosis. Many women with this condition may not have symptoms, while others, like me, suffer with severe pelvic pain. This pain often gets worse during menstruation.
If any of you suffer from pain which may be from endometriosis, please know you are not alone. I know how excruciatingly painful it can be, and how discouraging the disease can be. I do believe women should know about all treatment options available to them and speak with your doctor to determine what is right for them!
Learn more about endometriosis: Click here
Every woman has a different diagnosis experience and may go through one or more of these steps: pelvic exam, ultrasound, blood test, treatment or a surgical procedure called laparoscopy. While there’s currently no cure for endometriosis, there are treatment options.
Learn more about endometriosis symptoms: Click here
Every woman is different and it’s important to speak to your healthcare provider about treatment options that could work for you, including holistic approaches, such as changes in diet or acupuncture, medications or surgery.
An estimated one in 10 women of reproductive age have endometriosis, so if you believe you may be suffering from endometriosis you aren’t alone.
Treatment
If you are diagnosed with endometriosis, talk to your doctor about your options. One treatment option you may want to learn about so you can talk to your doctor about it is ORILISSA® (elagolix). ORILISSA is for women 18 and over with moderate to severe endometriosis pain and is another treatment option to help manage this disease.
If you’re experiencing endo pain, it’s important to let your doctor know so they can help you manage your symptoms.
Learn more about ORILISSA
Be prepared for your doctor’s visit: Click here to learn more
Information about ORILISSA
For more information, visit ORILISSA.com.
Please see below for Important Safety Information.
Please visit www.rxabbvie.com/pdf/orilissa_pi.pdf for the Full Prescribing Information including Medication Guide.
USE
ORILISSA® (elagolix) is a prescription medicine used to treat moderate to severe pain associated with endometriosis. It is not known if ORILISSA is safe and effective in children under 18 years of age.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
What is the most important information I should know about ORILISSA?
ORILISSA may cause serious side effects, including:
- Bone Loss (decreased Bone Mineral Density [BMD])
While you are taking ORILISSA, your estrogen levels will be low. This can lead to BMD loss. Your BMD may improve after stopping ORILISSA, but may not recover completely. It is unknown if these bone changes could increase your risk for broken bones as you age. Your healthcare provider (HCP) may order a DXA scan to check your BMD.- Effects on Pregnancy
Do not take ORILISSA if you are trying to become or are pregnant, as your risk for early pregnancy loss may increase. If you think you are pregnant, stop taking ORILISSA right away and call your HCP. ORILISSA may change your menstrual periods (irregular bleeding or spotting, a decrease in menstrual bleeding, or no bleeding at all), making it hard to know if you are pregnant. Watch for other signs of pregnancy, such as breast tenderness, weight gain, and nausea. ORILISSA does not prevent pregnancy. You will need to use effective hormone-free birth control (such as condoms or spermicide) while taking ORILISSA and for one week after stopping ORILISSA. Birth control pills that contain estrogen may make ORILISSA less effective. It is unknown how well ORILISSA works while on progestin-only birth control.Do not take ORILISSA if you:
- Are or may be pregnant, have osteoporosis, have severe liver disease, or take medicines known as strong OATP1B1 inhibitors, such as cyclosporine or gemfibrozil. If you are unsure if you are taking one of these medicines, ask your HCP.
What should I tell my HCP before taking ORILISSA?
Tell your HCP about all of your medical conditions, including if you:
- Have or have had broken bones, have other conditions, or take medicines that may cause bone problems; have or have had depression, mood problems, or suicidal thoughts or behavior; have liver problems; think you may be pregnant; or are breastfeeding or plan to be. It is unknown if ORILISSA passes into breast milk. Talk to your HCP about the best way to feed your baby if you take ORILISSA.
Tell your HCP about all of the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
Especially tell your HCP if you take birth control pills. Your HCP may advise you to change the pills you take or your method of birth control.
What are the possible side effects of ORILISSA?
ORILISSA can cause serious side effects including:
- Suicidal thoughts, actions, or behavior, and worsening of mood. Call your HCP right away, or call 911 if an emergency, if you have any of these symptoms, especially if they are new, worse, or bother you: thoughts about suicide or dying, try to commit suicide, new or worse depression or anxiety, or other unusual changes in behavior or mood. You or your caregiver should pay attention to any changes, especially sudden changes in your mood, behaviors, thoughts, or feelings.
- Abnormal liver tests. Call your HCP right away if you have any of these signs and symptoms of liver problems: yellowing of the skin or the whites of the eyes (jaundice), dark amber-colored urine, feeling tired, nausea and vomiting, generalized swelling, right upper stomach area pain, or bruising easily.
The most common side effects of ORILISSA include: hot flashes or night sweats, headache, nausea, difficulty sleeping, absence of periods, anxiety, joint pain, depression, and mood changes.
These are not all of the possible side effects of ORILISSA. This is the most important information to know about ORILISSA. For more information, talk to your doctor or HCP.
Take ORILISSA exactly as your HCP tells you. Tell your HCP if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away. Call your HCP for medical advice about side effects.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
If you are having difficulty paying for your medicine, AbbVie may be able to help. Visit AbbVie.com/myAbbVieAssist to learn more.
Please see the Full Prescribing information, including Medication Guide for Patients, for Orilissa at www.rxabbvie.com/pdf/orilissa_pi.pdf
Sponsored by AbbVie
US-ORIL-190328
- Effects on Pregnancy