Loss of hearing left ear after 18 doses of Evenity and 2 of Prolia any

Posted by bones1957 @bones1957, Jul 11 5:00pm

Hi,
Has anyone else experienced sudden hearing loss. I have had 18 doses of Evenity and follow up Prolia (2 times PA missed 2nd dose after 12 injections of Evenity) broke 2 vertebra in spine and lost over 3 inches of height and extremely painful. I am now at the point of finishing up the Prolia and in August have to decide if I want my 19th dose of Evenity. I recently experienced sudden hearing loss in my left ear apx. 20+ percent with back round buzz. Annoying. 2 shots in my ear of steroids got a slight improvement with the first injection nothing noticeable with the 2nd so Dr. did not want to do a 3rd. I wish I had never started Evenity. Be careful this medicine has not been on the market long. I am only 69 years old and it has been a nightmare after starting Evenity. Prolia lowers your resistance to infection. Be Careful. NOone told me these things when I started Evenity. I am a sad mess, and for my whole life I worked out and lifted weights, dedicated myself to be prepared for old age. This is not right. I have an MRI on Monday to see what is happening in my head.

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Profile picture for m90 @m90

I was so sorry to read about your spinal problems and also the sudden hearing loss.
The best to you in your quest.
I used Diclofenac topically for fibromyalgia pain. I experienced some tinnitus then a hearing loss bilaterally.
It affected the auditory nerve ( 8th peripheral nerve). It doesn't affect the ossicles in the middle ear. This would be true for the over the counter product Volteran.
Both of these can be ototoxic! Neither of these are listed as ototoxicity as a side effect. I now sport $7,000 hearing aids. It has changed my life.

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@m90
Thank you that is very interesting about the Voleran.. I use that for the pain in my lower back.
I will stop that as well. and see what happens. But I have used that for about a 1.5 to 2 years and this is the first time I ever had sudden hearing loss.

Thank you for this information!
Bones 1957

REPLY
Profile picture for gently @gently

@bones1957, It is hard to like your post. Your care has been egregious.
You probably already know this now, but:
Prolia works by preventing the cells that break down bone from the final stage of development. Prolia doesn't cause those cells to self destruct, as Reclast does, instead it allows them to continue to develop and collects them ( in what the literature calls a reservoir) at the final stage. As soon as you stop Prolia they all mature and are released on your bones without restraint. People experience cascade fractures after Prolia one vertebra after another. One drug is proven to stop this onset. It is Reclast.
Evenity after Prolia is a bit of an experiment. In some few, 12 months of Evenity after Prolia have proven effective.
It may have been the missed doses of Evenity that caused the fractures, but I suspect that Prolia to Evenity is a faulty sequence.
You could take the August Prolia, but consider not taking another 6 doses.
I would ask to take Forteo with Prolia given that the prescribing doctor is receptive to new methods of treatment ( and probably owes you). Forteo often helps with the pain of fractures because it accelerates healing. It is also the one osteoporosis drug that is given to help heal osteonecrosis (hoping you don't have that in the ears) Forteo with Prolia yields better increases in bone density, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6980341/ but Forteo also build the best bone in the other measures of bone strength.
I would be as eager as you are to get off Prolia. Still, it wasn't starting Prolia that caused the bone loss. It was stopping Prolia.
I think you are in a good position to insist on adding Forteo.
Without regard to whether you choose to stay on Prolia for one or six more injections. You absolutely have to transition to Reclast. And Reclast has it's own set of hazards.
I am so sorry this happened to you.

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@gently Wow this is alot of great information. Last July and August noone knew what to do with me, it took precious time to get answers and a new plan....and I was in extreme pain, and inability to move. Where did you learn to use Forteo with Prolia I will read the article as well. At this point I am at a loss of which Doctor to trust. I am reading everything I can now and also watch Dr. Doug on my phone. THANK YOU SO MUCH!

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Profile picture for bones1957 @bones1957

@gently

1. I had 6 months of Evenity then a shot of Prolia the nurse said it lasts 6 months.
2. I had 6 more monthly injections of Evenity, then No Prolia and they the Dr.s said just go back on Evenity (nothing April May June July mid August (4.5 months) then started 6 more months of Evenity a total of 18 injections to date of Evenity) Broken T-12 and other spine failures July of 2025 and another fracture Dec. 2025.
3. Then another dose of Prolia Feb. 2026.

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@bones1957, you shouldn't have had April May June July mid August without medication. Evenity needs to be followed because you lose the bone gained very rapidly. Prolia should always be followed though the single dosing is "thought" not to be problematic as far as rebound is concerned.

The administration of your drugs was unusual. I like the six months of Evenity because that is where the most bone is gained.
So after the spinal fracture at T12 and other spine failures in July. They didn't know what to do? And a month or so later restarted Evenity which didn't prevent the December fracture. And you had additional leg fractures in February?
I'd be curious to see your dexa information before treatment and during the treatment period.
If you have bone markers those would be interesting, too. If you aren't getting bone markers,
you might request (or demand) them.
I've heard of other doctors doing unusual rotations between these two drugs.

REPLY
Profile picture for bones1957 @bones1957

@m90
Thank you that is very interesting about the Voleran.. I use that for the pain in my lower back.
I will stop that as well. and see what happens. But I have used that for about a 1.5 to 2 years and this is the first time I ever had sudden hearing loss.

Thank you for this information!
Bones 1957

Jump to this post

@bones1957
I use Aspercreme now, when needed, with no side effects.

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Profile picture for bones1957 @bones1957

@doxiemimi10 Thank You how are your bones? I also go to Osteo Strong now but no lifting yet.

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@bones1957 I have to admit I’ve not used any meds since those few Evenity injections. My osteoporosis is considered “severe” per my Dr. -3.8
To be fair I was diagnosed with cancer in Oct ‘25 and went through 6 weeks of Chemo/radiation treatment that ended in March. Because it was in the pelvic area there is concern it may worsened the osteoporosis. No scans yet. I have an appt with an Endo at Duke in Sept to discuss. I don’t want to take meds for a million reasons but we’ll see…
I’ve considered Osteo Strong, is it helping??

REPLY
Profile picture for m90 @m90

I was so sorry to read about your spinal problems and also the sudden hearing loss.
The best to you in your quest.
I used Diclofenac topically for fibromyalgia pain. I experienced some tinnitus then a hearing loss bilaterally.
It affected the auditory nerve ( 8th peripheral nerve). It doesn't affect the ossicles in the middle ear. This would be true for the over the counter product Volteran.
Both of these can be ototoxic! Neither of these are listed as ototoxicity as a side effect. I now sport $7,000 hearing aids. It has changed my life.

Jump to this post

@m90
I'm wondering if it was a coincidence with your hearing loss. Did a doctor tell you that topical Voltaren caused your hearing loss?
I experienced the tinnitus then went for a hearing test and found out I could use hearing aids. In my case it was either because I am over 65, hearing loss is not uncommon. The cost of your hearing aids is not uncommon either! I think mine ended up being $6000. But you're right, they're great. Mine have Bluetooth so I can listen to music and no one even knows(!) It was an adjustment, like everything with aging. But it's great to hear clearly.

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I experienced tinnitus then the drop in hearing. My otologist confirmed the suspicion that it was the diclofenac.
It has an enzyme that inhibits blood flow to the cochlea .
Both Volteran and Diclofenac have the same ingredients.
I use Aspercreme now.

REPLY
Profile picture for bones1957 @bones1957

@gently Wow this is alot of great information. Last July and August noone knew what to do with me, it took precious time to get answers and a new plan....and I was in extreme pain, and inability to move. Where did you learn to use Forteo with Prolia I will read the article as well. At this point I am at a loss of which Doctor to trust. I am reading everything I can now and also watch Dr. Doug on my phone. THANK YOU SO MUCH!

Jump to this post

@bones1957 I'm not sure who to send a reply to about hearing loss with bone building drugs but I was told that a drug to increase bone means it increases bone everywhere including the canals that allow blood and nerves to ago through...the holes become narrower thus affecting supply of blood and nerves. That might be why these drugs are used for only a short time, not sure. Dealing with treatment for osteoporosis/osteopenia is becoming very difficult. I, myself, am having to force down protein foods when I am not hungry or don't even like those foods just to get the protein in me. I'm sorry about your hearing problems and I DO hope you can work through it. Blessings....

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I'm with you gracie7. It's chicken, chicken. chicken. Pineapple chicken, tandoori chicken, apricot chicken, artichoke chicken, chicken Cacciatore, garlic chicken, anything so I don't taste the chicken. Why you'd have to take 70 protein pills to get 70 grams of protein.
The specific ear trouble with the bones in when you take the osteoporosis drugs that are antiresorptive. The bones they leave you with are avascular and become brittle, usually after a long time, as you mention.
Osteonecrosis of the bone from these drugs in these tiny inner ear bones bones is rare and even rare in the outer bones of the auditory canal. Otosclerosis (again, as you mention) is the condition that benefits from those antiresorptive osteoporosis medications.
Osteonecrosis being the death of bone from infection. Otosclerosis being the consolidation or fusing of the bones in the inner ear limiting the vibration needed for hearing.

REPLY
Profile picture for gently @gently

@bones1957, It is hard to like your post. Your care has been egregious.
You probably already know this now, but:
Prolia works by preventing the cells that break down bone from the final stage of development. Prolia doesn't cause those cells to self destruct, as Reclast does, instead it allows them to continue to develop and collects them ( in what the literature calls a reservoir) at the final stage. As soon as you stop Prolia they all mature and are released on your bones without restraint. People experience cascade fractures after Prolia one vertebra after another. One drug is proven to stop this onset. It is Reclast.
Evenity after Prolia is a bit of an experiment. In some few, 12 months of Evenity after Prolia have proven effective.
It may have been the missed doses of Evenity that caused the fractures, but I suspect that Prolia to Evenity is a faulty sequence.
You could take the August Prolia, but consider not taking another 6 doses.
I would ask to take Forteo with Prolia given that the prescribing doctor is receptive to new methods of treatment ( and probably owes you). Forteo often helps with the pain of fractures because it accelerates healing. It is also the one osteoporosis drug that is given to help heal osteonecrosis (hoping you don't have that in the ears) Forteo with Prolia yields better increases in bone density, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6980341/ but Forteo also build the best bone in the other measures of bone strength.
I would be as eager as you are to get off Prolia. Still, it wasn't starting Prolia that caused the bone loss. It was stopping Prolia.
I think you are in a good position to insist on adding Forteo.
Without regard to whether you choose to stay on Prolia for one or six more injections. You absolutely have to transition to Reclast. And Reclast has it's own set of hazards.
I am so sorry this happened to you.

Jump to this post

@gentlyThe side effects of osteoporosis are horrid, but I had no choice. You have to "pick your poison" when you choose one of these drugs! I will say that Forteo made a huge difference in my spine. I have DDD and need lumbar surgery. I wouldn't have been able to have the surgery without the improvement provided by two years of Forteo injections. I am now on Evenity. My second infusion produced huge welts at the injection site, but no other reactions. I will have to use Prolia or Reclast after Evenity is done. I am fearful of both of them. Reclast is hard on the kidneys and osteonecrosis of the jaw bone is always a risk.

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