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Depression and Tymlos

Posted by idlehands @idlehands, Aug 10, 2025

I'm wondering if others have experienced an onset of depression after being on Tymlos. I'm in my 9th month and have recently found myself having thoughts and feelings of hopelessness that seem to come and go without my bringing them on. Mostly overnight, and they can ruin an otherwise good night's sleep. Occasional intrusive thoughts that being dead would be better - no! I'm not suicidal - and other DSM symptoms of a depressive episode. Since I've never had any of this before I have to think it's associated with the Tymlos. Also, it coincides with significant weight loss over the past month - from 151 to 143 - which is a side effect that's reported often enough that I accept it being from the Tymlos. Depression is rarely mentioned as one, but still.... So I'm wondering what others have experienced in the real world of Tymlos, outside the drug company literature. I'm seeing my osteo doc in a couple days to see what he says, but like many readers on this chat, I'm not expecting him to have much experience with these symptoms. Thx

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msediet | @msediet | Jul 17 1:30pm

I also had a total thyroidectomy February 26, 2026. I had nine nodules removed prior to surgery. We did the biopsies. They said no cancer. After the removal three of the nine nodules turned out to be stage one cancer. They say they were able to remove it all. But now not having a thyroid send your body haywire and all kind of directions trying to get used to everything. So four months after being diagnosed with thyroid cancer, I was diagnosed immediately with severe osteoporosis and they put me on this medication so I don’t know if it’s the medication or the surgery. All I know is I feel bad shit crazy

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gowalking | @gowalking | Jul 17 4:55pm
In reply to @gowalking "@casher Please, Please, Please do not give up!! I had no side effects, but I know..." + (show)
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@casher

Please, Please, Please do not give up!!

I had no side effects, but I know everyone is different.

Six spinal fractures and two years of TYMLOS later, got my bones strong enough for a very precise, risky and complex spine surgery. Five weeks out and I'm doing well. I feel so much better and stand straight now.

I never thought I would have to go through this, but I had no choice. A delay would make it worse.

If you have already had a Laminectomy, you know spine surgery is rough and you would like to avoid it.
So please do the TYMLOS if you can, even the half dose is better than nothing and you may slowly be able to build up to a full dose. It will work out. I know some people take the shot then get light headed, vertigo or their blood pressure changes. I was afraid that might happen when I began so I took my shot at bedtime. I sat on the edge of the bed, took the shot, rolled over, pulled up the blankets and good night....so I never had any of those problems. That's really the only helpful hint I can give you other than to be strong and keep telling yourself "I can do this, I can do this" take a deep breath, relax and do it again tomorrow and the next day and the next day and the next day............

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@gowalking

So how are you feeling now? Are you taking the Tymlos? Are you taking the full dose? No side effects?

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Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Jul 17 8:53pm
In reply to @msediet "Greetings, I’m on my first month about to complete my first pen. For the last couple..." + (show)
Profile picture for msediet @msediet

Greetings,
I’m on my first month about to complete my first pen. For the last couple of days, I’ve been having suicidal thoughts and didn’t know why.
Just spoke to my friend and she said maybe it’s because of that medication that you’ve just started. I never read anywhere that that could be a side effect of this medication. I literally feel that. I’m better off dead than alive. I had a seven level spinal fusion seven years ago fuse from my T1 to my S1. Surgery was totally successful, but now recently diagnosed with severe osteoporosis has taken me on a whirlwind. Was not thinking suicidal or life is no longer worth living until recently. I’m left speechless.

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@msediet, thinking suicidal thoughts sounds out of character for you and must be very scary. If you are feeling this way and need help, don't hesitate to call or text 988 https://988lifeline.org/

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roseincalifornia | @roseincalifornia | Jul 17 9:25pm

Since age 12, I have had a very long history of depression. I started taking tymlos 13 months ago, and fortunately, did not notice any increases in depression. But I am only a single data point. I hope those who are struggling with depression onset due to Tymlos are able to find a solution.

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lisaberkowitz | @lisaberkowitz | Jul 18 6:36am

My metabolic bone specialist put me on Tymlos & I just got approved for financial assistance. Without it, I was looking at $950 per month with insurance! I'm very nervous about self injection & potential side effects. I was on Evenity for 11 months (now osteopenia lowest end of osteoporosis), zero side effects, transitioned to Fosomax for 2 months & will start Tymlos next week. Fingers crossed.

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2 replies
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gravity3 | @gravity3 | Jul 18 7:32am
In reply to @lisaberkowitz "My metabolic bone specialist put me on Tymlos & I just got approved for financial assistance...." + (show)
Profile picture for lisaberkowitz @lisaberkowitz

My metabolic bone specialist put me on Tymlos & I just got approved for financial assistance. Without it, I was looking at $950 per month with insurance! I'm very nervous about self injection & potential side effects. I was on Evenity for 11 months (now osteopenia lowest end of osteoporosis), zero side effects, transitioned to Fosomax for 2 months & will start Tymlos next week. Fingers crossed.

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@lisaberkowitz

Hope all goes well. Let us know, okay?

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mayblin | @mayblin | Jul 18 8:26am
In reply to @lisaberkowitz "My metabolic bone specialist put me on Tymlos & I just got approved for financial assistance...." + (show)
Profile picture for lisaberkowitz @lisaberkowitz

My metabolic bone specialist put me on Tymlos & I just got approved for financial assistance. Without it, I was looking at $950 per month with insurance! I'm very nervous about self injection & potential side effects. I was on Evenity for 11 months (now osteopenia lowest end of osteoporosis), zero side effects, transitioned to Fosomax for 2 months & will start Tymlos next week. Fingers crossed.

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@lisaberkowitz
Could you share why your doctor recommended Tymlos after Evenity, especially since Evenity already brought you into the osteopenia range? Thanks!

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lisaberkowitz | @lisaberkowitz | Jul 18 9:06am

It was actually my neurosurgeon who put me on Evenity, not my endocrinologist. My Dexa a year ago put me squarely in the moderate stage of osteoporosis. I need a second spinal fusion surgery & Evenity would strengthen my bones quickly in preparation. Now I'm bet osteopenia & osteoporosis and Prolia was recommended. After researching options, I chose Tymlos because I have autoimmune diseases & it's the only injectable biophosphate that won't aggrevate the conditions I already have. THANK GOODNESS FOR CHATGPT!

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1 reply
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idlehands | @idlehands | Jul 18 9:55am
In reply to @msediet "Greetings, I’m on my first month about to complete my first pen. For the last couple..." + (show)
Profile picture for msediet @msediet

Greetings,
I’m on my first month about to complete my first pen. For the last couple of days, I’ve been having suicidal thoughts and didn’t know why.
Just spoke to my friend and she said maybe it’s because of that medication that you’ve just started. I never read anywhere that that could be a side effect of this medication. I literally feel that. I’m better off dead than alive. I had a seven level spinal fusion seven years ago fuse from my T1 to my S1. Surgery was totally successful, but now recently diagnosed with severe osteoporosis has taken me on a whirlwind. Was not thinking suicidal or life is no longer worth living until recently. I’m left speechless.

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@msediet I don't believe suicidal ideation is reported with any frequency as a side effect from being on Tymlos, but if it coincides with your starting the injections then you can't ignore the possibility that they're correlated. If it was me - and it was - I'd see the doc who prescribed it, immediately. I'm not a doctor and can't advise you to stop taking a medication, but if you hold off for a couple days until seeing yours, you might find yourself feeling better re: the suicidality, and it won't likely harm whatever progress the Tymlos has given you, and then you and the doc can consider the best path forward. A number of readers on these chats have anecdotally described having to pause their injections for a day or several due to side effects or other medical issues, or have reduced their dosages - set the pen for fewer clicks - and have done fine with it. It's bad enough that you've got all your medical problems, you don't need medication-induced ones on top of them.

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