Connect
Has anyone else moved from Firmagon to Orgovyx?
I have stage 4 (oligometastatic) prostate cancer, and will be on ADT and androgen-reception inhibitors, basically, forever. I've been on monthly Firmagon (Degarelix) injections for over 2 1/2 years — Lupron was contra-indicated because I already had high PSA and a metastasis, so we didn't want an initial testosterone surge — and I'd assumed that I'd just have to learn to live with 3 sick days every month and abdominal swelling and soreness at the injection site forever.
Fortunately, Health Canada has just approved Orgovyx (Relugolix) for use in our country, and the head of my oncology team put me on it right away — I'll start at the end of April, as soon as my current Firmagon shot expires.
I'd love to hear from others who have made this transition, since Orgovyx has been available in the U.S. for a couple of years already. What were your experiences? I expect that the chronic day-to-day symptoms are the same, but I'm excited about no longer having the acute symptoms for a few days after every injection.
Like
Helpful
HugInterested in more discussions like this? Go to the Prostate Cancer Support Group.
Connect
I've been on it a couple years, didn't transition from something else.
It seems to be working quite well, PSA has been reading < 0.006 for over a year. The side effects are well documented here and seem to vary person to person with regard to intensity.
Hot flashes
Fatigue
brain fog (haven't really had this one)
loss of libido
testicular shrinkage
Joint and muscle pain
weight gain
...and a couple others.
My experience is that the hot flashes can be pretty intense. It seemed to go from intense for the first couple month to no bid deal for about a year and a half to back to pretty intense. The rest of the side effects have been mild enough that I'm not sure if it's the drug or my natural aging causing them. 🙂
Hopefully I'll find out in June when I go off the drug for a break to see what happens!
Good Luck to you!
Mike
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
4 ReactionsI’m in Canada and I was giving myself Degarilix injections for 2 years.Right now I’m on Erleada and Lupron.I’m glad not to be taking Degaralix or it’s successor in pill form.I had a lot of bone and muscle pain.I suspect it delivered
both bone and muscle loss.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionThank you. Since it's the same chemical agent, they've told me that the chronic symptoms (including hot flushes) should be identical to what I'm already experiencing —I'll see when I start it in a couple of weeks. I'm really looking forward to doing away with the acute post-injection symptoms every month.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 ReactionsWell, tonight's the big night. Instead of getting my monthly Firmagon shot, I'll take my "loading dose" (3x) to get started on Orgovyx, then 1 pill/evening after that.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 ReactionsCurious, I switched from Firmagon to Orgovyx about 18 months ago and since I was already at castrate levels no loading dose was needed. Maybe there's slightly different timing for you vs. me in regards to last Firmagon injection and first Orgovyx pill taken.
It was so great to be rid if the few days of injection site reaction that I had. Orgovyx no longer limited when I could go kayaking and comfortably wear a lifejacket. Running with a big abdominal welt wasn't possible either. For me, all of the other side effects were fairly the same between Firmagon and Orgovyx.
I experimented once with moving taking my pill from morning to before bed and it didn't seem to make any difference with respect to timing of side effects.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 ReactionsI called the cancer centre to confirm the loading dose, because I was wondering as well.
In any case, no harm, no foul — I took the loading dose before bed last night, and was only slightly more tired than usual in the morning. What a difference from the 72 hours after a Firmagon shot!
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 Reaction