Oriahnn
Oriahnn is a non-surgical way to lessen heavy periods associated with uterine fibroids (growths). Due to the risk of bone loss, it shouldn't be used for more than 24 months. It's brand name only and might be expensive.
What is Oriahnn?
What is Oriahnn used for?
- Heavy menstrual bleeding associated with uterine fibroids in premenopausal women
How Oriahnn works
Oriahnn is a combination of three medications that help manage heavy menstrual bleeding associated with uterine fibroids:
- Elagolix is a gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonist, meaning that it attaches to and blocks GnRH receptors (a protein that responds to signals) in your pituitary gland. With these receptors blocked, they don't release hormones that worsen bleeding associated with uterine fibroids.
- Estradiol lowers the risk of bone loss (osteoporosis) caused by elagolix alone.
- Norethindrone works to protect the uterus from harmful side effects caused by estrogen (estradiol) alone, like uterine cancer.
Drug facts
| Common Brands | Oriahnn |
|---|---|
| Drug Class | Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonist / Estrogen / Progestin |
| Controlled Substance Classification | Not a controlled medication |
| Generic Status | No lower-cost generic available |
| Availability | Prescription only |
Side effects of Oriahnn
The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.
Common Side Effects
- Hot flush (22%)
- Headache (9%)
- Feeling low energy (6%)
- Abnormal vaginal bleeding or spotting (5%)
Less Common Side Effects
- Lower sex drive
- Joint pain
- High blood pressure
- Hair loss
- Mood swings
- Flu
- Stomach bloating
- Upper respiratory tract infection (i.e., common cold)
- Heavy or long-lasting periods
- Vomiting
- Weight gain
Oriahnn serious side effects
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
- Liver damage: yellowing of your skin and whites of your eyes, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, dark urine, tiredness
- Serious allergic reaction: rash, swelling of lips, tongue, or throat, difficulty breathing
The following Oriahnn side effects have also been reported
Side effects that you should report to your care team as soon as possible:
- Allergic reactions—skin rash, itching, hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat
- Blood clot—pain, swelling, or warmth in the leg, shortness of breath, chest pain
- Gallbladder problems—severe stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, fever
- Increase in blood pressure
- Liver injury—right upper belly pain, loss of appetite, nausea, light-colored stool, dark yellow or brown urine, yellowing skin or eyes, unusual weakness or fatigue
- Stroke—sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg, trouble speaking, confusion, trouble walking, loss of balance or coordination, dizziness, severe headache, change in vision
- Thoughts of suicide or self-harm, worsening mood, feelings of depression
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report these to your care team if they continue or are bothersome):
- Fatigue
- Hair loss
- Headache
- Hot flashes
- Irregular menstrual cycles or spotting
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Pros and cons of Oriahnn
Pros
- Works to lighten heavy periods for a majority (7 out of 10) of women
- Savings card available for those who are eligible
- Can reduce period bleeding by 50% after 1 month
- Non-surgical treatment option for uterine fibroids
- Can take with or without food
Cons
- Treatment is limited to 24 months because of the risk of permanent bone loss
- Unknown if it's safe or works for children under 18 years of age
- Interacts with many medications
- Brand only, so might be expensive
- Needs to be taken twice a day
Pharmacist tips for Oriahnn
- Take Oriahnn at the same times each day with or without food. Food won't affect how well the medication works.
- Oriahnn might affect your menstrual bleeding. It can make you bleed less, more, or longer than normal. This change can make it harder to tell if you're pregnant or not, so your provider might give you instructions on when to take a pregnancy test while taking this medication.
- Your provider might have you take calcium and vitamin D supplements to help strengthen your bones while taking Oriahnn, which can thin your bones and cause bone loss.
- Don't eat grapefruits or drink grapefruit juice while taking Oriahnn because it can raise the amount of medication in your blood and cause more side effects.
- Make sure to tell your provider if you take birth control that contains hormones before you start taking Oriahnn. Your provider will likely have you change birth control methods to a form that doesn't contain hormones (like condoms or spermicide).
Risks and warnings for Oriahnn
Oriahnn can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Blood clots and strokes
- Risk factors: History of stroke | Personal or family history of blood clots | Women over 35 years of age who smoke | Obesity | Uncontrolled high blood pressure | Inactivity | History of vascular problems | History of heart rhythm problems | Over age 35 years of age with certain headaches | High cholesterol or fats in your blood
Estrogen and progestin combinations, like Oriahnn, raise your risk for stroke, heart attack, blood clots in the lungs (pulmonary embolism, or PE), and blood clots in the legs (deep vein thrombosis, or DVT). The risk is higher in women over 35 years of age who smoke, and women with uncontrolled high blood pressure, high cholesterol, vascular disease (e.g., coronary artery disease), or obesity. Get emergency help right away if you have any signs of a blood clot in the legs (cramps, swelling, pain, or muscle tightness) and lungs (trouble breathing, chest pain, or cough). If you have any signs of a stroke, such as weakness or numbness of the arms, legs, or face on one side of the body, slurred speech, blurred or loss of vision, headache, dizziness, loss of balance, trouble walking, or confusion, get emergency help right away. Also, tell all of your providers that you're taking this medication before you have a procedure or surgery. Your provider might have you stop taking Oriahnn 4 to 6 weeks before your procedure to lower your risk of clots.
Bone loss
- Risk factors: History of osteoporosis | Long-term use | Medications that might cause bone loss
Oriahnn might cause bone loss (a decrease in bone mineral density, or BMD). Sometimes the bone loss isn't completely reversible after stopping this medication. Your risk is higher if you're taking this medication for a long period of time, or if you're taking medications that might cause bone loss (e.g., oral corticosteroids, anti-seizure medications, proton pump inhibitors). If you have a history of osteoporosis, you shouldn't take this medication. Your provider will limit the amount of time you take Oriahnn to 24 months to lower your risk of bone loss. To help with this risk, ask your provider about taking calcium and vitamin D supplements during therapy.
Breast cancer
- Risk factors: Personal or family history of breast cancer
There's a higher risk of developing breast cancer in women using estrogen alone or estrogen plus progestin, like Oriahnn. Lower your risk by working with your healthcare provider to take this medication for the shortest period of time. To help with early detection and to make sure there aren't any abnormal changes in your breasts, you can do monthly breast self-checks at home, yearly breast exams with your healthcare provider, and regular mammograms (breast x-rays). Contact your healthcare provider if you notice any abnormal changes or feel lumps, pain, or swelling in your breasts.
Suicidal thoughts, behavior, or worsened mood
- Risk factors: History of depression or suicidal behaviors
Oriahnn can raise your risk of suicidal thoughts or behavior. Watch for new or worsening depression and suicidal thoughts or behavior, especially if you have a history of these. Let your healthcare provider know right away if you notice any unusual changes in your mood or behavior while taking this medication. If this happens, they might have you to stop taking Oriahnn.
Uncontrolled high blood pressure
Women with uncontrolled high blood pressure shouldn't take Oriahnn because it can make your blood pressure go even higher. Your provider might have you check your blood pressure regularly while taking this medication to make sure it doesn't get too high.
Gallbladder and liver problems
- Risk factors: History of gallbladder problems | History of liver problems
There's a higher risk of gallbladder problems in women using estrogen, an ingredient in Oriahnn. Your body also mainly breaks down or metabolizes Oriahnn in the liver. Your provider will consider this medication carefully if you have a history of liver problems (such as cholestatic jaundice) that have occurred with past estrogen use or during pregnancy.
Oriahnn can cause life-threatening liver damage. Your provider will monitor your labs to check for liver problems. Get medical help right away if you have nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, or yellowing of your skin or whites of your eyes because these can be signs of liver problems.
Change in menstrual bleeding pattern
Oriahnn can make you bleed less, more, or longer than normal during your period. This change can make it harder to tell if you're pregnant or not, so your provider may have you take a pregnancy test before starting and while taking this medication. Be sure to watch for other signs of pregnancy like breast tenderness, weight gain, and nausea. If you suspect you're pregnant, stop taking Oriahnn and let your provider know.
High triglycerides and changes in blood sugar
- Risk factors: History of high triglycerides | Diabetes
Oriahnn can raise your blood sugar levels. If you have diabetes, you might need to check your blood sugar more often while taking this medication. Oriahnn can also raise triglyceride (fat) levels in your blood, which can lead to serious conditions like inflammation of your pancreas (pancreatitis). If you have a history of high triglycerides, try to make some dietary changes, like limiting salt and sugar, avoiding alcohol, and eating more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean meats, beans, and nuts. For more guidance on how to reduce your triglyceride levels, ask your healthcare provider. Your healthcare provider will monitor your triglyceride levels while you're taking this medication.
Hair loss
Oriahnn can cause hair loss and hair thinning. For some women, the hair loss can continue even after stopping the medication. Hair loss isn't dangerous, but it can be scary or bothersome. Talk to your provider if this concerns you.
Low hormone levels
- Risk factors: Low thyroid or cortisol hormone levels
Oriahnn can affect thyroid and cortisol hormone levels in your blood. If you take medications for low thyroid or cortisol hormone levels, you might need higher doses while taking Oriahnn. Your healthcare provider might have you take regular blood tests to check your hormone levels.
Allergic reaction to yellow dye in capsule
- Risk factors: Aspirin allergy
Although rare, some people are allergic to tartrazine (FD&C Yellow No. 5), an ingredient in Oriahnn capsules. Your risk might be higher if you have an aspirin allergy. Make sure to tell your provider about your past allergic reactions before you start taking this medication. Get medical help right away if you have trouble breathing after taking this medication.
Oriahnn dosage
| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 56 capsules of 300mg/1mg/0.5mg/300mg | 1 carton | $1,118.32 | $1,118.32 |
Typical dosage for Oriahnn
Oriahnn comes in weekly blister packs. The typical dose is to take a morning capsule and an evening capsule by mouth daily, for up to 24 months.
- Morning capsule (yellow and white) contains 300 mg of elagolix, 1 mg of estradiol, and 0.5 mg of norethindrone
- Evening capsule (blue and white) contains 300 mg of elagolix
How much does Oriahnn cost?
$1,118.32
Oriahnn contraindications
Contraindications are specific health conditions or situations in which a person should not take a medication due to safety concerns. If you have any of the following conditions or if any of the following apply to you, let your healthcare provider know because Oriahnn will not be safe for you to take.
- High risk of clot: women 35 years and older who smoke, history of DVT or PE, vascular disease (e.g., coronary artery disease), abnormal heart rhythm, disorders that thicken the blood, high blood pressure that's not controlled, and certain headaches or migraines with aura if over 35 years of age
- Pregnancy
- Osteoporosis
- Current or past history of breast cancer
- Liver disease
- Abnormal uterine bleeding that's undiagnosed by a healthcare provider
- Taking organic anion transporting polypeptide (OATP) 1B1 inhibitors that raise Oriahnn levels in the body