Has this happened to you? BMD declines with both Prolia and Evenity

Posted by brandysmom @brandysmom, 6 days ago

After 2-3 years taking Prolia with consistent BMD increases, a year ago my bone density test showed a decline on both femoral necks. So, my doctor switched me to Evenity. I was shocked to learn today that my BMD further declined by 2% across the board after a year on Evenity. I am consistent about getting 150 minutes/week of weight-bearing exercise, getting adequate calcium & vitamin D, and making sure I get my injections on time. This is so frustrating!

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Osteoporosis & Bone Health Support Group.

I don't recall where I read regardless of whether or not the medication caused hyperactivity, it adversely affected bone density. When I researched osteoporosis, whatever I read motivated me to make an appointment with an endocrinologist to supervise me while discontinuing it. A GP said just to stop taking it. (Hmm.)

In my experience, I've found it helpful to seek medical opinions from a few specialists when it is for something important. This has made a huge difference for me, and I once decided against surgery because of a third doctor's diagnosis.

I quickly searched on Google Scholar and found these:

"In postmenopausal women TSH suppressive therapy is associated with a decrease of bone mineral density, deterioration of bone architecture (quantitative CT, QCT; trabecular bone score, TBS), and, possibly, an increased risk of fractures." (Not in premenopausal women. My prescriptions suppressed my thyroid activity.)
https://ec.bioscientifica.com/view/journals/ec/9/7/EC-20-0167.xml
Old paper:
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/article-abstract/620592?resultclick=1
"Conclusions The lack of association between fracture and levothyroxine prescription in the whole cohort is reassuring, although an independent association between levothyroxine prescription and fracture occurrence in male patients suggests that levothyroxine may contribute to fracture risk in this specific group."
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/211045?resultClick=1
https://www.thyroid.org/warning-too-much-thyroid-hormone-increases-bone-fractures-in-the-elderly/
"Main outcome measure Primary outcome was fracture (wrist or forearm, shoulder or upper arm, thoracic spine, lumbar spine and pelvis, hip or femur, or lower leg or ankle) in relation to levothyroxine use (current, recent past, remote). Risk among current users was compared between those prescribed high, medium, and low cumulative levothyroxine doses in the year before fracture."
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3084377/
Another viewpoint:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK585648/
"Of 798 770 subjects fulfilling the inclusion criteria, 11.7% took thyroxine regularly and belong to the exposure group. The final cox regression showed that subjects taking thyroxine have a 6.3% higher risk (HR 1.063; CI 1.046–1.080, p = < .0001) than members of the control group."
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S8756328216300564
Happy reading and I hope you find the answers you're seeking!

REPLY
@drsuefowler

Where did you read this about thyroid meds? I am taking them and my TSH levels are always at about 2.4. I was borderline about needing the medication 20 years ago, but have been taking it ever since. I asked my Endo about decreasing, but it's not happening. Since I am having so much trouble with my Osteoporosis and he is overly busy, he doesn't seem to want to mess with it.

Jump to this post

Here is a review article regarding the influence of thyroid pathology (hyper or hypo) on osteoporosis and fracture risk:
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7151086/
In hypothyroidism, over treatment with levothyroxine is the main negative factor for bone health as this paper suggests.

REPLY
@mayblin

Here is a review article regarding the influence of thyroid pathology (hyper or hypo) on osteoporosis and fracture risk:
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7151086/
In hypothyroidism, over treatment with levothyroxine is the main negative factor for bone health as this paper suggests.

Jump to this post

Thanks @mayblin for this very interesting article. I don't know if I'm being over treated. It's something to discuss with my endocrinologist.

REPLY
@drsuefowler

Where did you read this about thyroid meds? I am taking them and my TSH levels are always at about 2.4. I was borderline about needing the medication 20 years ago, but have been taking it ever since. I asked my Endo about decreasing, but it's not happening. Since I am having so much trouble with my Osteoporosis and he is overly busy, he doesn't seem to want to mess with it.

Jump to this post

I have been taking thyroid meds my entire adult life. Currently my TSH is 2.5 and I feel tired, no stamina most of the time (i have hashimoto's thyroiditis). Would like to decrease meds because of osteoporosis, but don't want to feel even more tired. My endo says my TSH should be between a 4 and a 6 (even though 6 is considered hypo) because of my age (73) and having osteoporosis. I have resisted decreasing the thyroid meds. I have always read that the thyroid meds don't affect your bones unless you are taking too much and it is making you hyper thyroid.
Aren't you afraid to decrease meds and then have hypo symptoms?

REPLY
@violetangel1111

I have been taking thyroid meds my entire adult life. Currently my TSH is 2.5 and I feel tired, no stamina most of the time (i have hashimoto's thyroiditis). Would like to decrease meds because of osteoporosis, but don't want to feel even more tired. My endo says my TSH should be between a 4 and a 6 (even though 6 is considered hypo) because of my age (73) and having osteoporosis. I have resisted decreasing the thyroid meds. I have always read that the thyroid meds don't affect your bones unless you are taking too much and it is making you hyper thyroid.
Aren't you afraid to decrease meds and then have hypo symptoms?

Jump to this post

Yes, I'm afraid too, because I'm tired all the time. I'm thinking that the Forteo makes me more tired. I have also gained weight in Tymlos and Forteo. I'm afraid that I might gain weight on less Thyroid med. But I have broken 5 bines in 18 months so really need to take care of my osteoporosis. It is interesting that your endo wants your TSH higher because of your age. I am 74 and none of my endoscsaid anything. I think they are motivated to do as little as possible. On Thursday, my endo said no more tests, come back in 6 months, and he was out the door!

REPLY
Please sign in or register to post a reply.