My Uterine Fibroid Journey, Things I Wish I Would Have Known

This is a sponsored collaboration with AbbVie. All opinions are my own and I have not taken Oriahnn to treat heavy menstrual bleeding associated with uterine fibroids. 

 

If you’ve been here for a while, you know that I was diagnosed with uterine fibroids in 2018. At that time there was so much that I didn’t know. If you are not familiar with fibroids, you may be asking yourself what they are. Uterine fibroids are estrogen- and progesterone-dependent, non-cancerous tumors of the uterus – the most common type of benign tumor in women of reproductive age.

 

Now that we have that out of the way, we can get back to my story. One of the main questions I get is, “How did I know I had uterine fibroids?” Unfortunately, mine were not found until after they caused me to have reproductive complications. Fibroids can live in our bodies and be asymptomatic (my doctor suspects I had mine for a long time), but for others, fibroids can cause common symptoms such as heavy menstrual bleeding, prolonged and/or frequent menstrual bleeding among other symptoms. 

 

During my period, I experienced extremely heavy bleeding. On my worst days, my period caused me to wear a super plus tampon, pad and period underwear, which I had to go to the bathroom at minimum every 45 minutes to change. The sheer embarrassment of being at work and carrying my big bag to the bathroom every hour was a stress factor within itself. 

My initial diagnosis of fibroids left me feeling lost, confused and alone. When you’re diagnosed it can seem like you’re the only person with this condition, but it is important to remember you are not alone –  nearly 70 percent of Caucasian women and more than 80 percent of Black women can be affected by fibroids by age 50. 

 

What I wish I would have known before is that there are non-surgical options – one of them being ORIAHNN™ (elagolix, estradiol, and norethindrone acetate capsules; elagolix capsules). Oriahnn is the first FDA-approved non-surgical, oral medication option for the management of heavy menstrual bleeding associated with uterine fibroids in pre-menopausal women. Oriahnn should not be taken for more than 24 months. It is not known if Oriahnn is safe and effective in children under 18 years of age. Oriahnn may increase your chances of heart attack, stroke, or blood clots, especially if you are over 35 years of age and smoke, have uncontrolled high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, and/or are obese. Stop taking Oriahnn and talk to a doctor right away if you have symptoms of a heart attack, stroke, or blood clot. 

 

Please see below for Use and Important Safety Information. Please click to see the full prescribing information, including the medication guide.

 

For me, the embarrassment and shame made me feel like my body was failing me. The stress of leaving the house and packing a bag with extra pants, a literal box of tampons and a bag of pads because my heavy menstrual bleeding was that bad really weighed on me. I would cancel plans because I was too afraid to leave home for fear of messing up my clothes in public. I experienced the strain it puts on one’s life. I could go on and on. 

If you think you may be experiencing heavy menstrual bleeding, it may be helpful to take a quick quiz online to help assess your situation. If you’ve experienced extremely heavy periods due to uterine fibroids and are wondering if you have options, know that you may. To learn more about Oriahnn and how to talk to your gynecologist about your period concerns, visit ORIAHNN.com. 

 

USE

ORIAHNN™ (elagolix, estradiol, and norethindrone acetate capsules; elagolix capsules) is a prescription medicine used to control heavy menstrual bleeding related to uterine fibroids in women before menopause. It should not be taken for more than 24 months. It is not known if ORIAHNN is safe and effective in children under 18 years of age.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

What is the most important information I should know about ORIAHNN?

ORIAHNN may cause serious side effects, including:

• Cardiovascular Conditions

• • ORIAHNN may increase your chances of heart attack, stroke, or blood clots, especially if you are over 35 years of age and smoke, have uncontrolled high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, or are obese. Stop taking ORIAHNN and call your healthcare provider right away or go to the nearest hospital emergency room right away if you have:

• • • • Leg pain or swelling that will not go away
      • Sudden shortness of breath
      • Double vision, bulging of the eyes, or sudden blindness (partial or complete)
      • Pain or pressure in your chest, arm, or jaw
      • Sudden, severe headache unlike your usual headaches
      • Weakness or numbness in an arm or leg, or trouble speaking

• Bone Loss (Decreased Bone Mineral Density [BMD])While taking ORIAHNN, your estrogen levels may be low. Low estrogen levels can lead to BMD loss. If you have bone loss on ORIAHNN, your BMD may improve after you stop taking ORIAHNN, but complete recovery may not occur. It is unknown if these BMD changes could increase your risk for broken bones as you age. For this reason, you should not take ORIAHNN for more than 24 months.Your healthcare provider may order an X-ray test called a DXA scan to check your bone mineral density when you start taking ORIAHNN and periodically after you start.Your doctor may advise you to take vitamin D and calcium supplements as part of a healthy lifestyle.

• Effects on Pregnancy

• • Do not take ORIAHNN if you are pregnant or trying to become pregnant, as it may increase the risk of early pregnancy loss. 
  • If you think you may be pregnant, stop taking ORIAHNN right away and call your HCP.
  • ORIAHNN can decrease your menstrual bleeding or result in no menstrual bleeding at all, making it hard to know if you are pregnant. Watch for other pregnancy signs like breast tenderness, weight gain, and nausea. 
  • ORIAHNN does not prevent pregnancy. You will need to use effective methods of birth control while taking ORIAHNN and for 1 week after you stop taking ORIAHNN. Examples of effective methods can include condoms or spermicide, which do not contain hormones.
  • Talk to your HCP about which birth control to use during treatment with ORIAHNN. Your HCP may change the birth control you are on before you start taking ORIAHNN.

Do not take ORIAHNN if you:

• Have or have had:

• • A stroke or heart attack
  • A problem that makes your blood clot more than normal 
  • Blood circulation disorder
  • Certain heart valve problems or heart rhythm abnormalities that can cause blood clots to form in the heart
  • Blood clots in your legs (deep vein thrombosis), lungs (pulmonary embolism), or eyes (retinal thrombosis)
  • High blood pressure not well controlled by medicine 
  • Diabetes with kidney, eye, nerve, or blood vessel damage
  • Certain kinds of headaches with numbness, weakness, or changes in vision, or have migraine headaches with aura if you are over age 35
  • Breast cancer or any cancer that is sensitive to female hormones
  • Osteoporosis
  • Unexplained vaginal bleeding that has not been diagnosed
  • Liver problems including liver disease 
  • Smoke and are over 35 years old 
  • Are taking medicines known as strong OATP1B1 inhibitors that are known or expected to significantly increase the blood levels of elagolix. Ask your HCP if you are not sure if you are taking this type of medicine. 
  • Have had a serious allergic reaction to elagolix, estradiol, norethindrone acetate, or any of the ingredients in ORIAHNN. Ask your HCP if you are not sure. 
  • FD&C Yellow No. 5 (tartrazine) is an ingredient in ORIAHNN, which may cause an allergic type reaction such as bronchial asthma in some patients who are also allergic to aspirin.

What should I discuss with my HCP before taking ORIAHNN?

Tell your HCP about all your medical conditions, including if you:

• Have or have had:Broken bones or other conditions that may cause bone problemsDepression, mood swings, or suicidal thoughts or behaviorYellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice) or jaundice caused by pregnancy (cholestasis of pregnancy)
• Are scheduled for surgery. ORIAHNN may increase your risk of blood clots after surgery. Your doctor may advise you to stop taking ORIAHNN before you have surgery. If this happens, talk to your HCP about when to restart ORIAHNN after surgery.
• Are pregnant or think you may be pregnant.
• Are breastfeeding. It is not known if ORIAHNN can pass into your breastmilk. Talk to your HCP about the best way to feed your baby if you take ORIAHNN.

Tell your HCP about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Women on thyroid or cortisol replacement therapy may need increased doses of the hormone. 

Keep a list of your medicines with you to show to your HCP and pharmacist when you get a new medicine. 

What should I avoid while taking ORIAHNN? 

• Avoid grapefruit and grapefruit juice during treatment with ORIAHNN since they may affect the level of ORIAHNN in your blood, which may increase side effects.

What are the possible side effects of ORIAHNN?

ORIAHNN can cause additional serious side effects, including:

• Suicidal thoughts, suicidal behavior, and worsening of mood. ORIAHNN may cause suicidal thoughts or actions. Call your HCP or get emergency medical help right away if you have any of these symptoms, especially if they are new, worse, or bother you: thoughts about suicide or dying, attempts to commit suicide, new or worse depression or anxiety, or other unusual changes in behavior or mood. 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: jaundice, dark amber-colored urine, feeling tired, nausea and vomiting, generalized swelling, right upper stomach area pain, or bruising easily.
  • High blood pressure. You should see your HCP to check your blood pressure regularly. 
  • Gallbladder problems (cholestasis), especially if you had cholestasis of pregnancy. 
  • Increases in blood sugar, cholesterol, and fat (triglyceride) levels. 

• Hair loss (alopecia). Hair loss and hair thinning can happen while taking ORIAHNN, and it can continue even after you stop taking ORIAHNN. It is not known if this hair loss or hair thinning is reversible. Talk to your HCP if this is a concern for you.

• Changes in laboratory tests, including thyroid and other hormone, cholesterol, and blood clotting tests.

The most common side effects of ORIAHNN include: hot flashes, headache, fatigue, and irregular periods.

These are not all of the possible side effects of ORIAHNN. 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.

Take ORIAHNN exactly as your HCP tells you. The recommended oral dosage of ORIAHNN is one yellow/white capsule in the morning and one blue/white capsule in the evening, with or without food. 

This is the most important information to know about ORIAHNN. For more information, talk to your doctor or HCP.

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 the Medication Guide.

 

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