Anyone take new drug Camzyos (mavacamten) for HCM?

Posted by captainterry @captainterry, May 25, 2022

Since FDA approval in April has anyone (non-clinical trial patient) actually obtained a prescription and had it filled? If so, when and where was the cardiologist located? Is the registration process for doctor/patient/Rx taking a long time for this much anticipated drug?
Thanks from a fellow patient!

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) Support Group.

Profile picture for montanamoon @montanamoon

Thank you so much for your reply. He finally called me with the results of my ECHO.
He said it looked better than the previous one I had done in Montana. I left a very good COE to make this move.
I was on Camzyos 6 days before this ECHO…. I don’t feel it works that fast. He nor the staff knew what/how to set me up with REMS correctly as they only had on person on Camzyos before he prescribed it.
He is in a clinic with other Cardiologists.
I will check for a COE!
Thanks again you have helped!

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Hi @montanamoon and welcome. I'll just chime in here to tell you that I had progressively work oHCM symptoms over about 17 years. To the point where I would have to take 2 breaks going up a single flight of stairs, couldn't bend over to tie my shoes without palitations, dizziness, chest pain,..... After 2 (yes, two) days on Camzyos I was noticing "hey, that should have hurt a lot more... but after just 2 days, it must be in my head." By day 12, I had NO symptoms whatsoever. So for the lucky some of us it works hard and FAST. Maybe (hopefully) you are one of us. Keep the faith!

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Profile picture for montanamoon @montanamoon

Thank you so much for your reply. He finally called me with the results of my ECHO.
He said it looked better than the previous one I had done in Montana. I left a very good COE to make this move.
I was on Camzyos 6 days before this ECHO…. I don’t feel it works that fast. He nor the staff knew what/how to set me up with REMS correctly as they only had on person on Camzyos before he prescribed it.
He is in a clinic with other Cardiologists.
I will check for a COE!
Thanks again you have helped!

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Mayo Clinic Rochester is the world's leader in HCM/HOCM and the treatment for it. It may mean a plane trip, but you are worth it! I'm glad to hear your echo showed improvement, but I would still encourage you to be on the lookout and watchful over your own health...you know you better than anyone else 🙂

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Profile picture for Debra, Volunteer Mentor @karukgirl

Hello and welcome to Mayo Connect @montanamoon, I'm glad you found this site.
The Camzyos group is a very supporting and helpful group. While I was not a candidate for Camzyos (I had a septal myectomy at Mayo) a lot of folks here have had good results and others not so good and they could no longer tolerate it.
Reading your post makes me concerned that you may need a second opinion. Do you live in an area that you can see another cardiologist?
It's super important to find a doctor who is skilled at treating HCM. This is your life! You need to be your own best advocate.
I was almost embarrassed to ask my local cardiologist for an outside opinion. I live in a smallish town far away from any COEs (Center of Excellence) but I knew I had to be proactive. He had misdiagnosed me at least four times and I did not feel confident I was in the right place. Turns out, my instincts were right.
His last diagnosis before I finally got to Mayo was SAM, subaortic membrane.
It is super rare and always needs surgery he told me.
It's very severe and I needed open heart surgery right away he said.
He can send me to our local heart surgeon right away he said.
Thank the Lord I didn't go there. I would have had open heart surgery for something I didn't even have.
The point I am trying to make is listen to your instincts. They are telling you to seek another opinion. Do it! Number one, it certainly can't hurt you, and number two you may find you need even a third opinion.
You can self refer to Mayo Clinic if you choose, or your doctor can refer you as well.
https://mayocl.in/1mtmR63
Waiting a week for results from your echo after three months of Camzyos sounds casual, and I think you should rattle a few cages. Are you near a COE?

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Thank you so much for your reply. He finally called me with the results of my ECHO.
He said it looked better than the previous one I had done in Montana. I left a very good COE to make this move.
I was on Camzyos 6 days before this ECHO…. I don’t feel it works that fast. He nor the staff knew what/how to set me up with REMS correctly as they only had on person on Camzyos before he prescribed it.
He is in a clinic with other Cardiologists.
I will check for a COE!
Thanks again you have helped!

REPLY
Profile picture for montanamoon @montanamoon

I just started Camzyos. It took 3 months and a lot of stress to get it.
Now I feel like I’m on my own.
I had to ask for an echo. I had to tell my doc Carvedilol has a moderate interaction. I decided to take half. I’m also on Losartan which in one search showed an interaction but in another it did not. I haven’t received the results from my echo, it’s been a week…the info was very clear to get an echo before beginning..
Do I need to find another cardiologist?

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Hello and welcome to Mayo Connect @montanamoon, I'm glad you found this site.
The Camzyos group is a very supporting and helpful group. While I was not a candidate for Camzyos (I had a septal myectomy at Mayo) a lot of folks here have had good results and others not so good and they could no longer tolerate it.
Reading your post makes me concerned that you may need a second opinion. Do you live in an area that you can see another cardiologist?
It's super important to find a doctor who is skilled at treating HCM. This is your life! You need to be your own best advocate.
I was almost embarrassed to ask my local cardiologist for an outside opinion. I live in a smallish town far away from any COEs (Center of Excellence) but I knew I had to be proactive. He had misdiagnosed me at least four times and I did not feel confident I was in the right place. Turns out, my instincts were right.
His last diagnosis before I finally got to Mayo was SAM, subaortic membrane.
It is super rare and always needs surgery he told me.
It's very severe and I needed open heart surgery right away he said.
He can send me to our local heart surgeon right away he said.
Thank the Lord I didn't go there. I would have had open heart surgery for something I didn't even have.
The point I am trying to make is listen to your instincts. They are telling you to seek another opinion. Do it! Number one, it certainly can't hurt you, and number two you may find you need even a third opinion.
You can self refer to Mayo Clinic if you choose, or your doctor can refer you as well.
https://mayocl.in/1mtmR63
Waiting a week for results from your echo after three months of Camzyos sounds casual, and I think you should rattle a few cages. Are you near a COE?

REPLY
Profile picture for susanml @susanml

I’m in Canada and BMS seems to participate with the cardiologist in monitoring the prescription of camzyos. The cardiologist offered it to me last November and he has monitored me consistently since then. Ofttimes while sitting in his office he’ll refer to the BMS protocol for this drug. I feel like both of us have ample support. I’m impressed.

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Have to agree completely with @susanml. Also in Canada. I think (but not 100% sure) I was my cardiologist's first Camzyos patient. If not, certainly one of his first. He seemed to have pretty close contact with BMS, especially in (my) early days. And the BMS "program" - not sure how the US and Canadian programs compare, but I have been astounded at how quickly and thoroughly all of my questions were addressed through my nurse-case-manager. Drug interactions, food interactions, ... any concerns at all. Right from the start, they dealt with my insurance company, my cardiologist, the dispensing pharmacy. Very much a case of "leave it with me, that's why I'm here." The support has been wonderful.

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Profile picture for bigbdmama @bigbdmama

Ive been on Camzyos for 5 months.
I had an ablation for AFib which required anesthesia with no negative results.
I’m almost 78 years old.
Goood luck with your surgery. I hope it’s successful

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Thank you so much for your response! That is great news!

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Profile picture for walkinggirl @walkinggirl

Do you mean Verapamil? It's a calcium blocker.

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Yes I do mean Verapamil.

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Profile picture for kelliw @kelliw

Has anyone had surgery since being on Camzyos? I am scheduled for foot surgery in July and can't find any information about anesthesia and Camzyos. I even called BMS and talked to a nurse there and she couldn't find any information on people having surgery while on Camzyos. There has to be someone who has had surgery? I am going to a cardiac clearance appointment Monday and will be having the surgery at the hospital, not the orthopedic institute as a precaution.

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Ive been on Camzyos for 5 months.
I had an ablation for AFib which required anesthesia with no negative results.
I’m almost 78 years old.
Goood luck with your surgery. I hope it’s successful

REPLY
Profile picture for montanamoon @montanamoon

I just started Camzyos. It took 3 months and a lot of stress to get it.
Now I feel like I’m on my own.
I had to ask for an echo. I had to tell my doc Carvedilol has a moderate interaction. I decided to take half. I’m also on Losartan which in one search showed an interaction but in another it did not. I haven’t received the results from my echo, it’s been a week…the info was very clear to get an echo before beginning..
Do I need to find another cardiologist?

Jump to this post

I’m in Canada and BMS seems to participate with the cardiologist in monitoring the prescription of camzyos. The cardiologist offered it to me last November and he has monitored me consistently since then. Ofttimes while sitting in his office he’ll refer to the BMS protocol for this drug. I feel like both of us have ample support. I’m impressed.

REPLY
Profile picture for joanallione @joanallione

my cardiologist said it has many interactions and one is with the other medication you are on. Veranamil

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Do you mean Verapamil? It's a calcium blocker.

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