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Switching from alendronate to something else
Osteoporosis & Bone Health | Last Active: May 11 8:58am | Replies (14)Comment receiving replies
@oopsiedaisy What anabolic did you switch to? I am 66 years old and in March last year (2024) I finished 5 years of Fosamax. Before I started Fosamax, my hip was -2.5 and spine was -2.2. My DEXA in June this year showed my hip is back at -2.5 and my spine is -2.7. My rheumatologist first recommended Prolia, but I have moderate to advanced scoliosis and was terrified of possible fractures if I had to stop Prolia for some reason. Then she mentioned Reclast but I questioned whether bisphosphonates make future anabolics less effective, to which she said yes, they blunt their effect. She felt Forteo and Tymlos would not be effective for me as my intact parathyroid hormone level is 53. So we decided on Evenity, even though it scares me with increased heart attack and stroke risk. I don't have any heart issues and a recent CT heart calcium score was 0, but I do have 218 total cholesterol with 149 LDL. And I have always been a worrier with anxiety off and on, but lately the fear of these medicines has caused me more anxiety to the point of chest pains. I have since started on Lexapro. My rheumatologist felt that as long as I did not have a heart attack, stroke, or clots within the past 6 to 12 months, Evenity was an option for me. I will get my first dose in December so fingers crossed!
Replies to "@oopsiedaisy What anabolic did you switch to? I am 66 years old and in March last..."
@chiefsmom both my daughter-in-law (an endo) and my own endocrinologist said evenity is safe and the heart problems aren’t a troubling warning. Their patients do well on it and they don’t hear complaints. I would’ve chosen it but my insurance was not going to pay much.
@chiefsmom I was started on Tymlos and took it for four months before my insurance cancelled my authorization. I moved to generic Forteo but stopped after 2.5 months due to side effects.
At that point, I switched to an endocrinologist and started on Evenity. I have had seven shots so far. I have tolerable side effects from the Evenity (joint pain for the first two weeks after an injection).
I do not have any history of heart issues so I was cleared to take it from that perspective.
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@chiefsmom I don’t have an appointment with a rheumatologist, but I will see an orthopedic doctor in December (for left hip and low back pain) and then an endocrinologist the week after that. I’d like an orthopedic doctors opinion on all of this. My mom had a hip replacement in her early 70’s, and I’m expecting I will need one. I’ve researched Medicare prescription plans and none of them cover Prolia or Evenity. I would have to find a doctor that orders the med and administers the shot in their office. My primary care said usually patients get the prescription at a pharmacy and bring it to the office. These meds cost $2100/year through part D. Can’t commit to that. I might wait until my next DEXA scan, eat healthy, exercise and use OTC supplements. If my numbers are the same next fall, maybe I can wait this out some more. These meds might be nice if you can afford them.