Evista/Raloxifene

And talk to your dentist about Fosamax and onj. My dentist isn't fond of any of these osteo drugs, the problem is when you need an extraction or dental work, these meds can create issues with bone healing. Best to you.

@cmdw2600 Hi Cindy - What did you endo say about Evista and did you have a Dexa with improvement while on Evista?

@active1 So how is it going on Evista? Also, did you do any hematology or cardiology consults before starting it? I just saw that you did a coronary calcium test, was that sufficient?

@loplady One year in, I just have some occasional hot flashes, if you can even call them that - I just seem to “run hotter” a bit these days. And some leg/foot cramping - but I probably don’t drink enough water! I had the coronary calcium test done for my own peace of mind before starting, at the suggestion of nurse friends. If the result had been anything other than zero (excellent), I may not have started the drug, due to some history on one side of the family.

@loplady Without diving into portals or digging out paperwork, the short answer is “no”. After several years of taking Evista, I have had a slight backslide in dexa scan and my CTX score remains high (mid 600’s). I am not due for another scan until about a year from now.

My endocrinologist (who is excellent) questions continuing to take it if it’s not effective. When I saw her last month, I elected to stick with it anyway as there are no options that I feel comfortable with. (I did see improvement within Prolia but it made my hair fall out.)

Because of this forum, I asked her about AlgaeCal and similar products as a substitute. Guess what she said…those products are used in Europe but are not FDA approved in the US.

So, I finished my bottle of raloxifine, and am now using up a bottle of New Chapter Bone Strength. May continue with that or purchase AlgaeCal Plus. I also take D3, K2 and magnesium and eat 5-6 prunes a day.

Please don’t use me as an example. I am 73, had triple negative breast cancer in 2019, have elevated heart rate currently, GI issues and recently brain MRI for head pain. So I view my bones as a lower priority even though that is faulty thinking. I simply don’t want to use a pharmaceutical drug for this issue.

Best wishes,
Cindy

It’s funny—I was prescribed Evista 30 years ago and took it successfully for two years until I read the label more carefully. I realized it was only for postmenopausal women, and I wasn't postmenopausal at that time, so I stopped taking it. Now, I find myself in a situation where I’ve had bad side effects from Evenity, Tymlos, and Prolia. I'm now postmenopausal, and I restarted Evista two weeks ago, and I haven't experienced any side effects so far. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. i’ve had three compression fractures so that’s why I’m taking the medication.

@active1 Thank you for responding. When is your next Dexa?

@cmdw2600 Looking at AlgaeCal Plus, it contains the usual vitamins & minerals you can get from many supplements or individually. New Chapter Bone Strength is also plant based calcium with D, K etc, nothing out of the ordinary. What products are used in Europe but are not FDA approved in the US that your endo mentioned. I wonder if you are talking about Strontium in the AlgaeCal Stontium Boost product. Would love to know...

@loplady My next DEXA is next June/July (2026). I’ll report back! (FYI, I’ve significantly changed my diet in the interim - was vegan for about 5 years, definitely lacking protein, calcium), so I expect better results, or at least not worse! Fingers crossed.

@loplady I casually mentioned the AlgaeCal as an option toward the end of the visit when my endocrinologist expressed that she didn’t know if there is a benefit to continuing Evista. She simply said “it’s used in Europe…”.

So, after I complete the New Chapter Bone, I am going to compare that with the AlgaeCal and AlgaeCal Plus. As I already take many supplements, I must take precautions not to overdo any one element.

Sorry that was not more helpful. Cindy