Relugolix

[JolleySprings]

Has anyone tried Relugolix in place of Lupron for ADT ???

Pros/Cons???

Thank you!!!

[dhccpa]

Lupron injections covered by Medicare, but Orgovyx one has to pay for as an Rx.

[LearnAll]

If you use GoodRx coupons, Orgovyx will cost around $2000 per month. Price will decline in coming months and years. Only advantage I see for Orgovyx is that men like myself ..who prefer Intermittent ADT can switch on and switch off the Testosterone quickly. Orgovyx works fast but on stopping gets out of system fast too. Lupron types linger on .

[maley2711 in reply to LearnAll]

Do Medicare Part D plans cover much of relugolix cost?

[cesces in reply to LearnAll]

Do you know how quickly it flushes out of your system?

[Cooolone in reply to cesces]

Very quickly as compared to Lupron. Same on the upside, as in "days" not weeks... Plenty of info on their website.

orgovyx.com

OP... SE's

Most common side effects of ORGOVYX include:

hot flushes

increased blood sugar levels

increased blood fat (triglyceride) levels

muscle and joint pain

decreased blood hemoglobin levels

increased liver enzymes

tiredness

constipation

diarrhea

I'm in the tiredness/fatigue and possibly glucose increase spectrum. No other side effects that I can tell. Finished Docetaxel in June, but last check PSA <0.05ng and T <5... So it's working well. On Orgovyx since April.

Same side effects as Degarelix, the other GnRH antagonist! Difference is "pill" form.

Regards!

[Hidden in reply to LearnAll]

If you're on IADT, why not inject some testosterone or use androgel to recover, regardless of what ADT testosterone inhibition is doing?

This is in the pseudo-standard BAT treatment. But during IADT a lower dose could be used. Perfect for androgel (androgel might not be ideal for BAT).

[LearnAll in reply to Hidden]

RSH1, I am taking Zytiga intermittently. Nothing else. In 2 weeks on Zytiga monotherapy, my total T has come down to 9 ng/dl. Its experiment i am doing. My PSA is also falling. As soon as PSA dips below 4.0 ,off zytiga until PSA rises back to 10.

[Hidden in reply to LearnAll]

I see. I thought you were on IADT. I'm doing something similar with the Zytiga. I'm cycling it with testosterone and SARMs/ADT. Not on-label use but it might prevent resistance.

[LearnAll in reply to Hidden]

I think you have read research articles by Dr Zhang et al from Moffit Cancer Center, Tampa. My goal is same as yours...to keep them Androgen Sensitive as long as possible. Following principles of Adaptive theory.

My testosterone jumps back up after stopping Zytiga so until now I have not used external T.

[6357axbz in reply to LearnAll]

How long have you been doing this LearnAll?

[LearnAll in reply to 6357axbz]

This is my 3rd round. One month Zytiga...then whatever time off depending on PSA rise. Still early but I am doing it for last 4 months.

[6357axbz in reply to LearnAll]

Have you had a recent PSMA scan while your PSA was elevated?

[Hidden in reply to LearnAll]

When you do Zytiga, how low does your T go, and how high does it go when you go off? My understanding is that it blocks adrenal and PCa T but not T from testes.

[MateoBeach in reply to LearnAll]

Thank you. I have been looking for examples to confirm abiraterone can be used alone to produce effective ADT without an additional LHRH drug, as you have demonstrated. Does your T recover promptly and adequately when you stop it?

[LearnAll in reply to MateoBeach]

Zytiga blocks all 3 sources of Testosterone...by blocking the enzyme CYp17.Logically, it is just like Lupron but some more as Zytiga also blocks T from adrenal glands.

I started this intermittent Zytiga monotherapy and was highly surprised that my T went down to below 10 from 410. within 3 weeks. So I stopped Zytiga and within 2 weeks, T was back up to 330. Now, after 3 weeks of Zytiga, my T has gone down to below 10 again. I have stopped Zytiga and will check T and PSA in 2 weeks to see what is happening. My Onco team is joking with me and calling me "Human Guinea Pig"

[bigdoggatto]

Not for me. I pay $10 per month via combination of insurance plan coverage and manufacturer discount.

[Cooolone in reply to bigdoggatto]

Same... And no need for office/injection visit, travel. Is sent right to your door!

[pablojaes in reply to Cooolone]

Hi Coolone. They deliver a 30 day supply? I tend to travel for longer periods. Lupron every 3 months allows me to do that. And the side effects are the same? I heard that hot flushes are less with Relugolix, but my oncologist says no. Thanks for your reply.

[Cooolone in reply to pablojaes]

Yes, 1 month at a time. Interesting issue I had not thought of, but you could possibly discuss this with them directly prior to making a decision, or, if they'd supply a larger amount, say 3 months. One issue is the storage of the Orgovyx requires 86° or less. So delivery to hot zones, like Arizona (etc) the shipment is iced, lol. Same will apply if you're taking your prescription with you in travels. The expiration date on my bottles are pretty much a year. So only insurance then would be my guess as to limits.

[Boonster]

Insurance has covered ORGOVYX for me, except for a small co-pay ($10).

[novatimo]

I've been on Orgovyx for a couple of months now. Still have hot flashes, but compared to Lupron, Zoladex and Firmagon, they are not as frequent or intense. With the other 3 I would have drenching hourly night sweats. With Orgovyx I still have hot flashes but no night sweats. I also like the fact that it's a pill so if SEs become to bothersome I can skip a day or two or stop altogether and of course it leaves your system faster than the injectable drugs. I'm on Medi-Cal so I pay nothing when Biologics sends me my monthly supply.

[j-o-h-n]

to "Jolley"Springs,

I had a Relugolix Brownie camera many years ago, but sold it at one of my many garage sales....I miss it.....even though selfies were almost impossible to snap....

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Saturday 10/30/2021 11:49 AM DST

[NewPotatoCaboose]

I started Relugolix Oct. 11. It does work fast. So far I have not had many overt side effects. Some fatigue, gastric issues like constipation at times. Haven't had any hot flushes. As with my earlier treatments with bicalutamide and radiation, I attribute the low incidence of side effects to my use of cannabinoids.

[Clotter1]

How are you dosing cannabioids?

[NewPotatoCaboose in reply to Clotter1]

I'm using hemp CBD & CBG products from Lazarus Naturals in Oregon. Capsules, tinctures, topicals and I also vaporize flower. It really helps with chronic pain and other issues.

[Clotter1 in reply to NewPotatoCaboose]

Thank you. I’ll look it up.

[NewPotatoCaboose in reply to Clotter1]

They offer a generous discount for disabled, low income and veterans too.

[austinsurvivor]

I switched 5 months ago from Lupron and will not go back. For me, the side effects are much easier to tolerate. Also, the time for T to go to 0 is quicker and time to get T back is quicker. My BCBS pays 100% of the price, so that's another plus. I highly recommend it over Lupron.

[jazj in reply to austinsurvivor]

I have BCBS. Haven't crossed the bridge yet to require ADT but educating myself in the meantime. Do you know if there was any specific diagnosis requirement for BCBS to pay over Lupron, like history of diagnosed cardiac health issues, or will they pay anytime primary treatment failed and doctor prescribes ADT for recurrent PCa indicated by rising PSA? I'm really surprised BCBS covers it unless price came way down a year or so ago as I believe is multiple times more expensive sort of like Proton RT is 5+ times more expensive than Photon and BCBS won't cover proton (or covers only if it costs the same as photon.)