My Experience on Evenity for Treating Osteoporosis

As kmichels writes one has to be proactive but it sure can be tough / confusing. In my case I wish I could get a second opinion as far as post-Evenity plans but as that means waiting months for an appointment that's off the table.

I am two months after my last Evenity year of shots and sounds like most people here were told to be concerned about losing their gains and go into another treatment soon after. I had my scan 6 weeks after and doctor appointment 7 weeks after (tried hard to get it sooner but no luck) and the endocrinologist insisted that gains remain for 3 months and seemed totally chill on the subject… seems we all are told such different things!

He’s encouraging me to go with Reclast saying 30% feel sick the first few days and then are fine and yes heart issues are rare but possible (didn’t mention the serious kidney issue risks) … or I could go with Fosomax but that it’s less effective. My dentist said Reclast is very potent stuff and better in general to take another option.
...I’m 64 and changes after Evenity (6 weeks later) were spine -3.7 to -2.4, hip -3 to -2.7, f.neck -3.4 to -3.1 and arm -2.2 to -2.4.

This doctor is in a well known big hospital. Years ago I was sent by the head of another department for a put in as urgent MRI — they saw me late at night that same day — for something all doctors said after was obviously unnecessary. It left me with a fear that I’m trying to get over that there’s incentive to push for whatever they can bill for and not necessarily what's best there. They get nothing from Fosomax as we get that from any drugstore. So I’m nervous that just as the department seemed lackadaisical about my appointment timing now might me about the treatment options.

Or maybe he’s on the ball with all of it and weighs sensibly risk vs gains?

I had a female endocrinologist initially who was detail oriented and got into the weeds with her concerns and explanations but she chose to go into another specialty. So wish I had her ear now!

But what to do next with confidence: I just don’t know.
It’s great to be able to read other’s thoughts and experiences though.

@spiderplant I have a lower dose but more frequently- of Reclast. I have kidney disease and get IV hydration (but really two big cups of water are the same) and an infusion over an hour. The first time I had a fever and was fluish but have been fine since. I react to everything but Reclast has been fine.

My doctor wanted me to have Reclast before two months was up after Evenity but I only did 4 months of Evenity (after Tymlos) so the antiresorptive effect of Evenity for me may have been lower.

It's fascinating here on the different recommendations we have received from our respective physicians.

I see an endocrinologist. I had an appointment with him on November 25. I did 12 months of Evenity injections and finished those on October 31. My endocrinologist told me that the gains that I made on Evenity as evidenced by my bone density scan results of November 18 (6% gain in my left hip which is significant and 4% gain in lower spine which isn't significant but still a gain) would rapidly decrease the longer that I wait to start the biophosphonate to lock in those gains. He said that by 3 months after Evenity much of the gain is lost and it's best to start the next step of biophosphonate within one month of finishing Evenity. This assumes, of course, that one can get everything lined up perfectly such as bone density scan and appointment with your doctor.

I am getting my first Reclast infusion on December 4. The plan is to do this annually for 3 doses. My endocrinologist said I may experience flu-like symptoms for a day or two and to take Tylenol if that occurs. He did not say anything about taking Claritin prior to the infusion. I take a daily certrizine (Zyrtec) for allergies and I won't add Claritin on top of that. I see no harm in proactively taking a 1000mg of Tylenol prior to the infusion.

If I experience side effects from the Reclast infusion I'm hoping these are short-lived. Side effects are far preferable to frailty, pain, and the compression fractures that my mother experienced when she was my age (72 years old). For my mother, this was in the 1980's and early 1990's before there were the options that we have now. My mother's quality of life would have been so much better had she had the options that we have now.

Maybe you could request a lower dose of ReClast. That is something I will be giving serious consideration to.

Due to hypercalcium level related to parathyroidism.
Had a parathyroidectomy ,
x1 in 2022. Reclast was not working so Dr said Evenity was only one left that does not stimulate parathyroid to release. More ca to bone. Only 3 shots left...yahoo

It's fascinating here on the different recommendations we have received from our respective physicians.

I see an endocrinologist. I had an appointment with him on November 25. I did 12 months of Evenity injections and finished those on October 31. My endocrinologist told me that the gains that I made on Evenity as evidenced by my bone density scan results of November 18 (6% gain in my left hip which is significant and 4% gain in lower spine which isn't significant but still a gain) would rapidly decrease the longer that I wait to start the biophosphonate to lock in those gains. He said that by 3 months after Evenity much of the gain is lost and it's best to start the next step of biophosphonate within one month of finishing Evenity. This assumes, of course, that one can get everything lined up perfectly such as bone density scan and appointment with your doctor.

I am getting my first Reclast infusion on December 4. The plan is to do this annually for 3 doses. My endocrinologist said I may experience flu-like symptoms for a day or two and to take Tylenol if that occurs. He did not say anything about taking Claritin prior to the infusion. I take a daily certrizine (Zyrtec) for allergies and I won't add Claritin on top of that. I see no harm in proactively taking a 1000mg of Tylenol prior to the infusion.

If I experience side effects from the Reclast infusion I'm hoping these are short-lived. Side effects are far preferable to frailty, pain, and the compression fractures that my mother experienced when she was my age (72 years old). For my mother, this was in the 1980's and early 1990's before there were the options that we have now. My mother's quality of life would have been so much better had she had the options that we have now.

Thanks again for your story. If you don't mind, which country are you in? I'm in Canada and the Evenity would be $800 a month, and I'm not sure if any insurance company would cover that, so that's why I'm wondering if you were denied insurance in Canada? (and if they know ahead of time that I'd be doing this drug they certainly wouldn't be interest in taking me on!)

Thank you ... that's an idea. Just seeing articles suggesting the currently recommended dose might even be an over-treatment.

I've also been seeing that the irregular heart beat risk can be more of an issue with a leaky heart valves (which I have but is mild and supposedly quite common... apparently many have it and don't even know)...another reason for a smaller dose perhaps. So wish there was more data on all this.

I can imagine this doctor saying with irritation that if he thought a lower dose would have been better he'd have suggested it in the first place... unlike some who would be up for discussing it. But something to keep in mind! Am curious if you look into it or do it how that will turn out...!