ORILISSA Stories and Reviews
ORILISSA is working for me. I can’t tell you that ORILISSA is going to work for you, but it’s worth a try, because there are women out there that ORILISSA works for.
Meghan
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ORILISSA is working for me. I can’t tell you that ORILISSA is going to work for you, but it’s worth a try, because there are women out there that ORILISSA works for.
Meghan
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*As of July 2022.
ORILISSA® (elagolix) is a prescription medicine used to treat moderate to severe pain associated with endometriosis. It is not known if ORILISSA is safe and effective in children.
ORILISSA may cause serious side effects, including bone loss and effects on pregnancy:
Tell your HCP about all of your medical conditions, including if you:
Tell your HCP about all of the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
Especially tell your HCP if you take birth control that contains hormones. Your HCP may advise you to change your method of birth control.
ORILISSA can cause serious side effects including:
The most common side effects of ORILISSA include: hot flashes and night sweats, headache, nausea, difficulty sleeping, absence of periods, anxiety, joint pain, depression, and mood changes.
These are not all of the possible side effects of ORILISSA. This is the most important information to know about ORILISSA. For more information, talk to your HCP.
Take ORILISSA exactly as your HCP tells you. Tell your HCP if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.
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.
US-ORIL-210096
"I think women should talk to their GYNs and ask about ORILISSA. Maybe they won’t have to put up with the kind of endometriosis pain that I stayed silent about for years.”
After dealing with severe pelvic pain for as long as I can remember, I was finally diagnosed with endometriosis at 38. I spent the next few years putting on a smile and pushing through my pain. I’m a kindergarten teacher’s assistant, so it’s my job to inspire a love of learning in my students from an early age. But it was challenging for me to bring that excitement to the classroom each day while struggling with debilitating pelvic pain.
I didn’t know what to do. I’d tried treatment options that worked for others, but they didn’t work for me. And, surgery wasn’t an option for me either. So, I felt stuck. That’s when I scheduled another appointment with my gynecologist. She told me about an option that might help my endometriosis pain—ORILISSA.
We talked all about it and weighed the benefits against the potential side effects. Together, we decided that I should try it. And I’m so glad I did. Since taking ORILISSA, I have less endometriosis pain. I hope by sharing my story, I can encourage other women to speak up and talk to their gynecologists about their options.
"On ORILISSA, I move through life with less endometriosis pain and I’m not looking back.”
For 10 years, I suffered through painful periods and pelvic pain—it felt like someone was constantly pinching and pulling my uterus. After an emergency surgery, I was diagnosed with endometriosis. For the next several years, I was prescribed birth control to manage my endometriosis pain, but the pain persisted.
Over time, my pelvic pain got worse and I became more frustrated. Nothing seemed to work and I felt like I was running out of options. That’s when my gynecologist suggested ORILISSA. I was interested, so I decided to do my own research and see what I could find.
After posting on social media about it, I heard many different opinions, and some were not so great. Some of the responses even made me feel bullied. So, I went back to my gynecologist to ask about what I was reading online. He explained everything I needed to know about ORILISSA, including the benefits and the risks. And after a long discussion, I decided it was the right option for me to try.
I’m so happy I decided to try it because it reduced my endometriosis pain. I want to share my experience on ORILISSA, encourage other women to do their own research, and speak with their gynecologist, instead of just listening to what people say on social media.
“My mom reminded me, it’s not normal to be in this much pain. So, if there’s even a small chance ORILISSA could help with my endo pain, she thought I should really consider it.”
I used to believe that my painful periods were normal. I honestly thought I was having typical period cramps and all women went through the same thing. I didn’t recognize that periods were not supposed to be that painful. At times, mine kept me from going out with friends because socializing in that way felt like a risk. I was always worried that my pelvic pain would distract me and so it didn’t really feel worth it.
In 2019 I was officially diagnosed with endometriosis and that’s when my gynecologist recommended I try ORILISSA for my pain. At first, I thought "that’s not for me." But when I went home and told my mom about it, she reminded me of the challenges that I had in the past with endometriosis pain. She told me being in this much endo pain is not normal and I really owed it to myself to see if ORILISSA could work.
After a few months of being on ORILISSA, my pain during my periods and pain between my periods has really improved. I have the experience now to say don’t just assume your pain is normal and I want to be that voice for other women. Go talk to a gynecologist about what you’re going through and don’t give up on exploring your treatment choices for your pain.
"After taking ORILISSA for a while, I woke up one morning and realized that something’s different. Oh, I’m not in as much pain.”
I’m 39 years old and was diagnosed with endometriosis at 25, after struggling for 12 years. I experienced pelvic pain and cramps and tried to treat it with various forms of birth control (pills, IUD, and injections) and various prescription painkillers.
The pain affected so many aspects of my life, but especially the time I spent with my friends and family. I couldn’t fully enjoy family outings, and I kept having to cancel on my friends.
With ORILISSA, I was in less endo pain. Being in less pain allowed me to get back to doing some of the things I love—like cooking and spending more time with my daughters. I hope sharing my story will help other women learn about ORILISSA and encourage them to be more outspoken about their endo pain and need for treatment options.
"On ORILISSA, I have less endometriosis pain. And I hope that by sharing my story, I can help other women who feel like their voices have been silenced.”
I was diagnosed with endometriosis at age 23 after searching for answers for 7 years. I was experiencing painful periods and stabbing pelvic pain in between my periods for so long. And I went to gynecologist after gynecologist, but I still didn’t have a name for my pain, and it made me feel like it wasn’t valid.
I finally got a new referral, but the voice in my head kept saying, “She’s just going to be like everyone else…” I wasn’t sure it was worth it, but I decided to give it a shot and made an appointment. The second I sat down, I could sense something was different, and it felt like she genuinely wanted to help me.
She asked me about my symptoms, and her warm presence helped me to open up. I told her everything—the revolving door of doctors, and how I struggled with even the little things because of my endometriosis pain, like taking my dog, George, for walks. And as I shared my pain, I started crying, because I realized I had finally found a gynecologist who heard me—I felt like I had a voice again.
She scheduled a surgical procedure to help me get a diagnosis. And sure enough, it confirmed that I had endometriosis. Although I was relieved to finally have a name for my pain, it was a lot to take in that I had a long-term health condition.
My gynecologist and I talked about a few options for treatment, and that’s when she suggested ORILISSA. We talked about how it works and she answered all my questions. Then, I decided to give it a try. And I’m so glad I did because, on ORILISSA, I have less pain in between my periods and during my period, too.
I learned how important it is to trust myself and keep speaking up because that’s how I got the help I needed. I hope that by sharing my story, I can inspire other women who feel like their voices have been silenced.
"ORILISSA is a medication that women struggling with endometriosis pain should know about.”
I remember my first period at 11 years old being painful. Over the next 5 years, that pain only got worse. My doctor prescribed birth control to see if that would help, but it didn’t. By age 21, my pelvic pain became so debilitating that there were days I struggled to get out of bed. I went back to my doctor in hope of answers.
Eventually, I was referred to a new gynecologist who diagnosed me with endometriosis. I felt so relieved. People had told me that my pain was in my head, but now I finally had a diagnosis that proved it was real.
Following my diagnosis, my gynecologist and I tried many treatment options to relieve my endometriosis pain. But sometimes it still affected me when it came to making plans or going to work. It was frustrating. So, I went back to my gynecologist and told him I needed another option. That’s when he recommended ORILISSA.
Since taking ORILISSA, my endometriosis pain has decreased. I’m excited to share my ORILISSA story and hope that other women who are suffering will talk to their gynecologists about this treatment option.
"ORILISSA is worth talking to your gynecologist about. It worked for me. Maybe it could for you, too.”
I began experiencing painful periods at 12 years old. At age 16, I was put on birth control and took over-the-counter painkillers for my “bad periods.” Two years later, I stumbled upon an article about endometriosis—it made me wonder if what I had was more than just cramps. My suspicions were confirmed when I was officially diagnosed with endometriosis at 21.
After that, I tried different types of birth control and injections. Although they work for some women, none of these treatments worked for my endometriosis pain.
Then, my gynecologist told me about ORILISSA. We talked about it and it sounded like the right option for me.
3 months after taking ORILISSA, I was out shopping with my mom when suddenly I realized—my pain wasn’t hurting like it used to. I didn’t have to stop and take breaks for my pain to subside. That was the moment I knew ORILISSA worked for me. With ORILISSA, I felt endometriosis pain relief. The cramping feeling lessened and my everyday pain decreased.
I’m passionate about sharing my ORILISSA experience and I want to encourage others to talk to their gynecologists to see if it could be right for them.