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Have more questions? Connect with a Corcept Cares Patient Advocate by calling 1-855-295-9969.
Frequently asked questions
How long will I be on Korlym®?
You will need to talk with your healthcare provider about how long you will be taking Korlym.
Korlym does not stop your body from making cortisol. It works to reduce the negative effects of excess cortisol activity in the body by competing with cortisol at the cellular level. Therefore, some people may take Korlym long term. Surgery is typically the first-line treatment for endogenous Cushing syndrome (also known as hypercortisolism). When surgery is not an option or has failed, or when health issues have returned, medication is often used to manage symptoms of the disease but does not provide a cure. Medication may be warranted as long as you are experiencing symptoms of Cushing syndrome.
Learn more about how Korlym works
Have more questions? Connect with a Corcept Cares Patient Advocate by calling 1-855-295-9969 or fill out this form.
How will I know if I am at the optimal dose of Korlym?
You should work with your healthcare provider to find the optimal dose of Korlym to reach your treatment goals. Because Korlym does not stop the body from making cortisol, your healthcare provider cannot rely on measuring your cortisol levels to determine the dose of Korlym that will be best for you. Your healthcare provider may need to adjust your dose of Korlym based on how you respond to treatment.
The way your body responds during the first 6 weeks of treatment may help determine how your healthcare provider adjusts your dose of Korlym. Responses may include less need for antidiabetic medicine (like insulin) and improved blood sugars, skin, mood, focus, and weight.* Be sure to share any improvements or side effects you experience with your healthcare provider so that they can adjust your dose of Korlym as needed.
It is uncertain whether these changes were the result of the effects of Korlym. Participants in the clinical trial reported various symptoms and results throughout the study.
How can I tell if Korlym is working?
The best way to see how Korlym is working is to track your symptoms and look for improvements. Some improvements may happen quickly and can be assessed by your healthcare provider within 6 weeks of treatment. Some of these improvements may include:
Improved blood sugars
Less need for antidiabetic medicine (like insulin)
Improved mood and focus*
Other improvements may happen over time and can be assessed by your healthcare provider within 2 months of treatment. You may see improvements in:
Round and reddened face (moon face)
Acne
Unwanted hair growth or hair loss
Stretch marks
Weight loss*
It is uncertain whether these changes were the result of the effects of Korlym. Participants in the clinical trial reported various symptoms and results throughout the study.
Be sure to meet with your healthcare provider to determine your treatment goals. Your healthcare provider may need to adjust your dose of Korlym based on how you respond to treatment. Therefore, it is important to track and review your symptoms and improvements with your healthcare provider at each visit.
How long will I experience side effects?
The severity and duration of side effects varies from person to person. The most common side effects can be found here. As your body adjusts to Korlym, communication with your healthcare provider is important. Tell your healthcare provider about any side effects you experience, as well as any changes in your medication.
At first, your treatment with Korlym may be challenging and you may feel flu-like symptoms. This is likely due to cortisol withdrawal, which happens because your body has gotten used to high cortisol activity for a long period of time. If you are experiencing cortisol withdrawal, it should improve over time as your body adjusts to the decrease in cortisol activity. The duration of cortisol withdrawal varies from person to person. It’s important to share any symptoms you are experiencing with your healthcare provider, as symptoms of cortisol withdrawal may be similar to other health issues, such as low potassium, changes in your blood sugar, or changes in your blood pressure.
While taking Korlym, you’ll need to have your blood drawn periodically to check your potassium levels. This is important because some people may experience lower than normal potassium levels while on Korlym, and this can be a serious health risk. If left untreated, low potassium can lead to increased blood pressure and can affect your heart rate. Your healthcare provider may decide to prescribe potassium or other medications to keep your potassium levels normal.
If you feel dizzy, faint, nauseous, tired, or have changes in your blood sugar or blood pressure, remember to tell your healthcare provider. It could mean that other medicines you take may need to be adjusted.
Tell your healthcare provider about any new symptoms you are experiencing, including swelling of your hands or feet (edema), muscle cramps or aches, irregular heartbeat (palpitation), and constipation.
Cost is a concern for me. Are there financial assistance options?
Corcept Therapeutics offers a comprehensive program called Corcept Cares that provides individualized support and financial assistance to people prescribed Korlym.
Upon starting treatment with Korlym, you will have access to a SPARK Care Coordinator. SPARK, the Support Program for Access and Reimbursement for Korlym, is a specialty pharmacy that handles the fulfillment of Korlym prescriptions.
SPARK Care Coordinators are available to help explore financial assistance options, like:
Co-pay and deductible assistance for eligible patients
No-cost Korlym for eligible patients who are seeing reimbursement approval, have no insurance, or have been denied coverage
Referrals to third-party organizations who provide financial support for co-pays and qualifying medical expenses
SPARK Care Coordinators are also available to help navigate insurance coverage, verify insurance benefits and, if needed, research and review eligibility for additional coverage options.
To speak with a SPARK Care Coordinator, call 1-855-4KORLYM (1-855-456-7596).
Learn more about financial assistance and the support provided by SPARK Care Coordinators
What sort of improvements can I expect from taking Korlym?
It’s important to understand that everyone’s experience with Korlym may be different.
When Korlym was studied in a clinical trial, people experienced:
Improvements in blood sugars
Less need for antidiabetic medicine
Improvements in mood and focus*
It is uncertain whether these changes were the result of the effects of Korlym. Participants in the clinical trial reported various symptoms and results throughout the study.
Your healthcare provider may need to adjust your dose of Korlym based on how you respond to treatment and the improvement of symptoms associated with endogenous Cushing syndrome (also known as hypercortisolism). Some improvements may happen quickly, while others may take more time. Therefore, it is important to review your symptoms and improvements with your healthcare provider at each visit so they can help you reach your treatment goals.
Is Korlym an FDA-approved medication?
Korlym® (mifepristone) was approved by the FDA in 2012.
Korlym is a prescription medicine used to treat high blood sugar (hyperglycemia) caused by high cortisol levels in the blood (hypercortisolism) in adults with endogenous Cushing syndrome (also known as hypercortisolism) who have type 2 diabetes mellitus or glucose intolerance and who cannot have surgery or for whom surgery has failed. Korlym is not for people who have type 2 diabetes mellitus not caused by Cushing syndrome.
My healthcare provider wants to write me a prescription for Korlym, but doesn’t know how to get it filled. They called my local pharmacy and they said they don’t carry it. How do I go about getting my prescription filled?
Korlym is not available at local retail pharmacies. It is only available through a specialty pharmacy called SPARK, the Support Program for Access and Reimbursement for Korlym, which handles the fulfillment of Korlym prescriptions and will send Korlym directly to patients.
Your healthcare provider will need to complete a SPARK Patient Enrollment Form for Korlym. This document serves as a prescription for Korlym. Once this form is completed, signed, and faxed to the specialty pharmacy, enrollment in SPARK happens automatically.
To learn more about SPARK and how to fill a Korlym prescription, call a SPARK Care Coordinator at 1-855-4KORLYM (1-855-456-7596).
My healthcare provider wants me to go on Korlym, but my insurance doesn't cover it and I can’t afford it. How can I go about getting this medication?
Corcept Therapeutics offers a comprehensive program called Corcept Cares that provides individualized support and financial assistance to people prescribed Korlym.
Through the Corcept Cares program, every person has access to a SPARK Care Coordinator.
SPARK Care Coordinators are available to help explore financial assistance options, like:
Co-pay and deductible assistance for eligible patients
No-cost Korlym for eligible patients who are seeking reimbursement approval, have no insurance, or have been denied coverage
Referrals to third-party organizations who provide financial support for co-pays and qualifying medical expenses
To speak with a SPARK Care Coordinator, call 1-855-4KORLYM (1-855-456-7596).
Learn more about financial assistance and the support provided by SPARK Care Coordinators
