Myfembree & Alternatives Compared: Orilissa, Oriahnn, & More
women’s health
Those managing uterine fibroids and endometriosis symptoms need a less complicated way to move through symptoms and experience relief…not a labyrinthine, confusing, and sometimes conflicting way to get the support they need.
Sometimes, they find that. Sometimes, an endo sufferer tries a medication and – like a key in its lock – the puzzle pieces come together, and they find healing.
But endometriosis and uterine fibroids are niche, complex disorders.
Sometimes, the options for relief don’t work. They might feel limited. Healing might feel impossible to find…or it might seem like wading through your options requires full-time focus in itself.
We’re here to help. Let’s start with a popular go-to:
Myfembree has become a go-to option in the endo and uterine fibroids field thanks to its targeted, once-daily formula. You can check out our complete guide to Myfembree for more information.
But it’s far from the only name in the game. If you’ve been wondering how Myfembree compares to medications like Orilissa, Oriahnn, or even more established hormone therapies, you’re in the right place.
In this article, we’ll break down what makes Myfembree different, how it stacks up against its most talked-about competitors, and what to know about both generics and Myfembree alternatives.
Myfembree, Generic Info, and More: What Is Myfembree?
Myfembree is a prescription oral medication used to treat two hormone-driven conditions: heavy menstrual bleeding caused by uterine fibroids, and moderate to severe pain from endometriosis.
Myfembree is a popular choice because it’s not a single-ingredient drug.
Instead, it provides pain-busting support as a combination of three active, powerful ingredients:
- Relugolix, which is a GnRH receptor antagonist (or something akin to a “hormone off switch”) that reduces the production of estrogen and progesterone.
- Estradiol, a form of estrogen, which can be very helpful for the treatment of hormonal disorders like endo and uterine fibroids that can be traced back to low estrogen.
- Norethindrone acetate, a type of progestin, which, much like estradiol, is helpful when a hormonal disorder can be traced back to low levels of progesterone.
This trio works together to manage hormone levels and, subsequently, to reduce pain and bleeding without completely shutting down estrogen.
(Even if you have too much estrogen, having too little can result in tough side effects like bone loss).
How Much Does Myfembree Cost?
In the United States, obtaining a one-month (or 28-day) supply of Myfembree might cost you a lot.
Depending on where you get your medication, you could pay over $1,200.00 for just that four-week supply.
Insurance may help, in some circumstances, but remember that the more expensive a medication is, the more likely that an insurance carrier will conveniently decide to stop carrying it…
If you’re looking for lower-cost alternatives, you’re in luck. Here, through NorthWestPharmacy.com, you can purchase that same 28-day supply of brand Myfembree for about $220.00, or savings of up to 81%.
This triple-ingredient powerhouse works very well – for the people it works for.
Not everyone responds the same to every medication. Since this is the case, there are Myfembree alternatives to explore.
One such option is a medication called Orilissa.
Myfembree Alternatives, Explored: Myfembree vs Orilissa
At first glance, Myfembree and Orilissa might seem interchangeable.
They’re both hormone-targeting medications, they’re both taken orally, and they’re both used to manage endometriosis symptoms.
But, under the hood, they’re actually quite a bit different.
Orilissa (elagolix) is a GnRH receptor antagonist, like relugolix – which, remember, is one of the three ingredients in Myfembree.
However, Orilissa does not pair Relugolix with any forms of estradiol or progesterone, like Myfembree does.
This means that it can have a more aggressive approach to hormone modulation. As a result, sometimes, people taking Orilissa may experience more side effects like hot flashes, mood changes, and bone density loss – especially with long-term use.
Orilissa is also a medication that some may have to take twice daily, as opposed to Myfembree’s more universally applicable, easy-to-remember once-daily dosing regimen.
Now, those may not be downsides for you.
If you’re a patient who needs an estrogen-free option, for example, Orilissa may genuinely be the better option. Talk to your doctor to determine the best way forward for you to achieve the symptom relief you deserve.
You can buy brand-name Orilissa through NorthWestPharmacy.com for about $226.00 for a 28-day supply.
Oriahnn vs Myfembree: What’s the Difference?
Oriahnn is a medication that works by turning “off” hormones to stop providing more hormones than necessary in situations where too much estrogen or progesterone are causing pain.
If Myfembree and Oriahnn sound similar, that’s because they are, right down to their shared manufacturer and a nearly identical ingredient profile.
Both medications are oral combination therapies that contain:
- A GnRH antagonist (relugolix)
- Estradiol
- Norethindrone acetate
There’s one big difference, though:
Oriahnn is only approved for managing heavy menstrual bleeding caused by uterine fibroids, while Myfembree is approved for both uterine fibroids and endometriosis-related pain.
And, like Orilissa, Oriahnn is a medication that most patients will likely have to take twice daily.
If you’re looking for an effective fibroids medication, you may be able to take either Myfembree or Oriahnn.
In that case, you may be able to decide whether you’d like to take once-daily Myfembree or twice-daily Oriahnn – or even try taking both (with your doctor’s approval) to see whether one works better for your unique biochemistry.
That said, these are expensive medications.
Often, an insurance carrier will only offer one real option, so cost tends to end up guiding a patient’s decision. If you’re finding yourself in this situation, it can be very helpful to find an online Canadian pharmacy and international drugs website that offers low-cost ways to purchase the medication that works best for you!
Are There Any Other Myfembree Alternatives?
If you’ve made it this far, you may be wondering: Wait… are there only those two alternatives – Orilissa and Oriahnn?
Within this exact drug class, that does appear to be the case.
Myfembree, Orilissa, and Oriahnn are a set of niche medications that modify the body’s hormonal environment specifically to treat endo and fibroids.
This is a good thing and a bad thing, of course. It does simplify your decision-making process, but, if none of these work for you, you and your doctor may need to get creative.
But you might wonder: Why are there only three medications that fulfill this particular need?
Here’s the answer:
These conditions are complex, under-researched, and historically underfunded.
If you’re not familiar with what endometriosis is, let’s check in with Dr. Brynna Connor, M.D., a board-certified family medicine physician who specializes in regenerative medicine:
“Endometriosis is a disease that affects the endometrium – the tissue that lines the inside of the uterus. Normally, the endometrium only grows in the uterus. In people with endometriosis, it grows in other places throughout the body, including the ovaries, fallopian tubes, bladder, or intestines.
“Endometriosis may bring about different types of pain:
- Pain before or during periods
- Pain during urination or bowel movements
- Pain during or after having sex
- Pain that doesn’t go away for many months
“Endometriosis can also lead to infertility, heavy or irregular periods, digestive problems, and feelings of tiredness or weakness.”
Fibroids, on the other hand, are noncancerous growths that form in or around the uterus. They can cause heavy periods, pelvic pain, bloating, and even pressure on nearby organs.
Because uterine fibroids and endometriosis affect those assigned female at birth, and often go underdiagnosed or minimized in early stages, treatment innovation has lagged behind. Drug companies have also historically deprioritized research in this area due to niche patient populations and lower expected returns.
That’s unfortunate, and, hopefully, changing.
For now, if neither Myfembree, Orilissa, nor Oriahnn works for you, there are other classes of medications used to manage similar symptoms, even if they don’t work in quite the same way.
These alternatives can include:
Lupron Depot (leuprolide acetate), which is a GnRH agonist given as a monthly or quarterly injection.
Lupron can suppress estrogen production effectively, but, for some, it can be associated with stronger side effects, including bone loss.
Oral contraceptives (or birth control pills), which are sometimes prescribed off-label (or as a secondary but doctor-approved purpose) to manage fibroid or endometriosis symptoms.
Taking oral contraceptives generally won’t shrink fibroids, but may reduce associated bleeding and pain.
Progestin-only pills or IUDs, which can help regulate or eliminate periods for some users – and reduce the type of recurring symptoms that accompany their periods.
These are technically alternatives, but they don’t do the same thing as Myfembree, Orilissa, or Oriahnn.
And, especially, none of these offers the same targeted, oral, hormone-balanced approach that Myfembree delivers.
Is There a Myfembree Generic Available Yet?
If you’ve been prescribed Myfembree (...or just gotten this far in this article), you already know it’s not cheap.
And if you’ve gone looking for a Myfembree generic, you’ve likely discovered…there isn’t one yet.
Here’s why:
- Myfembree is still under patent protection. As of now, no generic versions have been approved or released to market in the U.S. or Canada.
- Its relatively recent approval (just in 2021, in the U.S.) means it will likely be several more years before generic manufacturers will offer a Myfembree alternative.
- Its unique three-ingredient combo (relugolix, estradiol, and norethindrone acetate) may also make Myfembree a bit more complex to replicate, even when its patent expires.
While that may be disappointing to hear, don’t lose hope. Many patients are still able to access Myfembree at reduced costs by:
- Using manufacturer coupons or savings cards
- Seeking coverage through insurance or pharmacy benefit managers
- Buying Myfembree through online and international Canadian drugstores, where pricing may be significantly more affordable.
If you’re worried about affording your Myfembree, it’s worth talking to your doctor about your options.
However, if cost is your only concern, remember that online pharmacies and pharmacies across the border may offer prices far lower than even what’s possible with insurance coverage.
Why Some Patients Are Looking for Myfembree Alternatives
Let’s say you’re taking Myfembree already – and you love it.
You may be perfectly happy with how Myfembree is working for you, in fact – but others may be seeking a change. Why?
Here are the most common reasons patients consider switching to an alternative.
1. Myfembree does come with some side effects.
While many patients tolerate Myfembree very well, for others, the med can come with side effects like:
- Hot flashes
- Night sweats
- Mood changes
- Headaches
- Irregular bleeding
- Decreased bone density (especially with long-term use)
If you’re taking Myfembree and you realize that you’re suffering from any of these side effects, you may want to consider another medication, or at least think about a co-therapy, like taking a vitamin D or calcium supplement.
2. It’s worth repeating: Myfembree is expensive.
$1,200.00 per month is far, far outside of most people’s normal healthcare budgets. And even with insurance, Myfembree can be expensive.
Some insurance providers may not cover it, or may only cover Oriahnn or Orilissa instead – essentially forcing patients into decisions they may not otherwise make.
3. Myfembree doesn’t fit with everyone’s dosing preference.
Myfembree is a medication that people take once per day.
That’s convenient, for some, but others may want other dosing formats – like:
- Injections (e.g., Lupron Depot)
- Implants or IUDs (e.g., some forms of birth control)
- Non-hormonal treatment strategies
If your current treatment doesn’t align with your daily routine, talk to your doctor – you may have other options you can pursue.
4. If someone’s planning to become pregnant, Myfembree may not be their best option, at least, for right now.
While Myfembree isn’t a contraceptive, it should not be used during pregnancy.
Further, its hormone-suppressing effects can interfere with fertility.
This doesn’t mean it’s inherently dangerous. It does mean that if you’re planning to become pregnant, transitioning off Myfembree (and working with a fertility-aware OB/GYN) is likely a good next step to consider.
Is Myfembree Or an Alternative the Best Option for You?
If you’re managing endometriosis or fibroids, it can feel like your only real options are surgical ones…or very, very expensive medications that may or may not truly help you with everything you need.
Myfembree is a medication to consider if you’re looking for a very effective all-in-one endo or fibroids medication. It offers convenient dosing and three powerful active ingredients.
However, Myfembree isn’t the only med to think about in this space.
Understanding how Myfembree stacks up to options like Oriahnn and Orilissa can help you and your doctor navigate your options.
Whether you’re still figuring out which medication is best for you or you’re intrigued by more affordable ways to source your prescription drugs, the team at NorthWestPharmacy.com is ready to assist.
Check out our dedicated pages to learn more about Myfembree and Orilissa online—and, when you have a valid prescription and are ready to purchase, you can buy these brand-name medications in just a few clicks by clicking “add to cart” and following our simple, secure ordering process.
Remember: Your comfort, clarity, and control over your treatment plan matter!
Your team at NorthWestPharmacy.com is here to help you every step of the way.
