What's your experience with Orgovyx (relugolix)?

Posted by web265 @web265, Jun 7, 2022

Mods, if you think this redundant, please move or remove. I thought it might be helpful to have an orgovyx thread similar to the lupron thread...

Hello all, I've been reading a lot on this board, posting a little, since my discovery about a year ago.

PSA 11 at discovery 13 just prior to RP, Gleason 4/3, 8 of 12 cores, RP in Sept of 2001.
Margins clean, right pelvic lymph removed & tested clean, minimal invasion in blood vessels and nerve tissue.
PSA 3 mos later <.2
PSA 3 mos later 0.039
PSA 3 mos later 0.091 off to the radiation oncologist.

PSMA PET CT showed nothing.

Orgovyx prescribed and just had my markers inserted and starting radiation in about a week (40 sessions)
My Orgovyx experience so far...about 10 days in...
No particular weakness or fatigue so far, but, hot flashes and "restless leg" at night which is really hurting my ability to sleep.
I work out four days a week and run 2 miles a day after workout. I haven't noticed any weakness yet, seem pretty much the same.

Has anyone discovered any supplements or come across any research as to the restless leg issues and hot flashes? or more to the point, any way to minimize/mitigate? I'll of course talk to the docs on this but I'm looking for something natural, I'd prefer not to get into the "swallow the spider to catch the fly" medicinally.

I've also been taking it at 9am(ish), anyone notice any difference taking it at different times of the day?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Prostate Cancer Support Group.

@mdamato

I started Orgovyx three months ago. SEs include a pounding heart, sleeplessness, a jelly roll developing at my waist, fatigue, what I would characterize as a complete loss of libido, brain fog and occasional dizziness—that may be the result of higher blood pressure (often in the upper 170s/80s), occasional blurred vision (likely blood pressure-related), and hot flashes. I take the dose mid-morn. SEs occur randomly all day and night. My EBRT is to start in August. It was originally scheduled for May, but my SpaceOr (now Barrigel) procedures got delayed.

I'm on Original Medicare with Part D provided by a low premium Aetna plan. I selected the low premium policy because up until August 2023, I'd never needed special drugs. Oddly, depending on the pharmacy I check, price can vary enormously (700 to 2400 per month). I now receive it from a specialty pharmacy called Onco, in Louisville, Kentucky, for $678 per 30 doses. (My RO found this place and referred me to it.) I believe after I reach approx. $3000 out of pocket, it will be gratis. My RO recommended Orgovyx as an alternative to Lupron because it allows a more rapid recovery of testosterone post-ADT.

Now, I have a question for anyone in the know. Orgovyx feels like a very strong drug to me. I understand that the same dose is prescribed whether you weigh 300 lbs or 150 lbs. I'm on the lighter side and am sorely tempted to start an experiment of taking the dose every other day versus daily. My PSA has dropped from 16.8 to 1.45 after two months. If it continues to drop after my experiment, then it seems the Orgovyx dosage might be reduced if a person's weight is considered. Is this just wishful thinking?

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I was diagnosed with a PSA level of 5.5 two years ago. Eight months earlier, it was 2.5. I wasn't feeling well, so I had a complete battery of tests, all of which came back negative. My doctor suggested running a PSA test, which I agreed to, and thus began my journey.

I had a prostatectomy on January 16, 2023. Four lymph nodes and the left seminal vesicles were positive and removed, along with a total of 19 lymph nodes but there was no distant spread Stage 4a. My PSA level was undetectable 8 weeks post-surgery and remained undetectable for the first 6 months. Then it started to rise slowly. When it reached 0.13. Off to the oncologist on April 9, 2024, and started Orgovyx.

Before starting radiation therapy, my PSA was undetectable again because of this drug I began radiation on April 23, 2024.

The side effects have been challenging: leakage, hot flashes, frequent night sweats, lack of sleep, elevated blood sugar, and low hemoglobin. The most concerning development was double vision, which began on May 31, 2024. My oncologist was alarmed and ordered a battery of tests, all of which came back negative, including an MRI of the brain and orbits.

My question is, has anyone experienced double vision as a side effect, which is listed on the Mayo Clinic site? How long did it take for normal vision to return? My ophthalmologist diagnosed it as palsy of the 6th cranial nerve and said it should take 4 to 6 weeks to recover (fingers crossed).

Lastly, my drug cost me $1100 first dose and has been consistent $603 for the refills, small price to pay for life. I'm 69 and hope to make many more b-days.

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@namrac

I was diagnosed with a PSA level of 5.5 two years ago. Eight months earlier, it was 2.5. I wasn't feeling well, so I had a complete battery of tests, all of which came back negative. My doctor suggested running a PSA test, which I agreed to, and thus began my journey.

I had a prostatectomy on January 16, 2023. Four lymph nodes and the left seminal vesicles were positive and removed, along with a total of 19 lymph nodes but there was no distant spread Stage 4a. My PSA level was undetectable 8 weeks post-surgery and remained undetectable for the first 6 months. Then it started to rise slowly. When it reached 0.13. Off to the oncologist on April 9, 2024, and started Orgovyx.

Before starting radiation therapy, my PSA was undetectable again because of this drug I began radiation on April 23, 2024.

The side effects have been challenging: leakage, hot flashes, frequent night sweats, lack of sleep, elevated blood sugar, and low hemoglobin. The most concerning development was double vision, which began on May 31, 2024. My oncologist was alarmed and ordered a battery of tests, all of which came back negative, including an MRI of the brain and orbits.

My question is, has anyone experienced double vision as a side effect, which is listed on the Mayo Clinic site? How long did it take for normal vision to return? My ophthalmologist diagnosed it as palsy of the 6th cranial nerve and said it should take 4 to 6 weeks to recover (fingers crossed).

Lastly, my drug cost me $1100 first dose and has been consistent $603 for the refills, small price to pay for life. I'm 69 and hope to make many more b-days.

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I'm 75 and had similar experiences. Diagnosed in 2015, a prostatectomy, followed by 37 rounds of radiation treatments. I was good until the PSA began to rise in 2021. In December of 2023, the PSA hit 2.9 and I began Orgovyx in January 2024. It knocked down my T below 7 and the PSA is undetectable.

The only side effects I've had are lack of sleep, weight gain (15 lbs) and hot flashes 24x7. Mayo had me try gabapentin for the hot flashes, but, it does nothing for me. My PSMA PET scan in January was negative.

Regarding the cost ... yes it's expensive. I receive my Orgovyx directly from Mayo Clinic in Rochester via FedEx. I believe my initial couple of months was $980/mo. I assume you're on Medicare(?) You'll hit the donut hole and then go into the catastrophic range on this med .... which is where I am right now. This means the cost is zero dollars for me for the rest of the year. As you said, it's a price well worth the cost.

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@namrac

I was diagnosed with a PSA level of 5.5 two years ago. Eight months earlier, it was 2.5. I wasn't feeling well, so I had a complete battery of tests, all of which came back negative. My doctor suggested running a PSA test, which I agreed to, and thus began my journey.

I had a prostatectomy on January 16, 2023. Four lymph nodes and the left seminal vesicles were positive and removed, along with a total of 19 lymph nodes but there was no distant spread Stage 4a. My PSA level was undetectable 8 weeks post-surgery and remained undetectable for the first 6 months. Then it started to rise slowly. When it reached 0.13. Off to the oncologist on April 9, 2024, and started Orgovyx.

Before starting radiation therapy, my PSA was undetectable again because of this drug I began radiation on April 23, 2024.

The side effects have been challenging: leakage, hot flashes, frequent night sweats, lack of sleep, elevated blood sugar, and low hemoglobin. The most concerning development was double vision, which began on May 31, 2024. My oncologist was alarmed and ordered a battery of tests, all of which came back negative, including an MRI of the brain and orbits.

My question is, has anyone experienced double vision as a side effect, which is listed on the Mayo Clinic site? How long did it take for normal vision to return? My ophthalmologist diagnosed it as palsy of the 6th cranial nerve and said it should take 4 to 6 weeks to recover (fingers crossed).

Lastly, my drug cost me $1100 first dose and has been consistent $603 for the refills, small price to pay for life. I'm 69 and hope to make many more b-days.

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My husband has been on Xtandi & Lupron (now changing to Xtandi & Orgovy) for the past year and a half. There are grants available for payment on all his drugs. We pay 0. Please check out the assistance fund The Assistance Fund to see if you could be accepted. Ask your doctor to referred you to them.
PAsecure@tafcares.org

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@tehill

I'm 75 and had similar experiences. Diagnosed in 2015, a prostatectomy, followed by 37 rounds of radiation treatments. I was good until the PSA began to rise in 2021. In December of 2023, the PSA hit 2.9 and I began Orgovyx in January 2024. It knocked down my T below 7 and the PSA is undetectable.

The only side effects I've had are lack of sleep, weight gain (15 lbs) and hot flashes 24x7. Mayo had me try gabapentin for the hot flashes, but, it does nothing for me. My PSMA PET scan in January was negative.

Regarding the cost ... yes it's expensive. I receive my Orgovyx directly from Mayo Clinic in Rochester via FedEx. I believe my initial couple of months was $980/mo. I assume you're on Medicare(?) You'll hit the donut hole and then go into the catastrophic range on this med .... which is where I am right now. This means the cost is zero dollars for me for the rest of the year. As you said, it's a price well worth the cost.

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We get Orgovyx & Xtandi
directly from their pharmacy.

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