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Evenity and side effects: What helps joint and muscle pain?
Hi All,
I received my first Evenity injection two weeks ago. Everything was going well, did not even have injection site pain. But the last couple of days I have had joint and muscle pain especially in my neck and upper back, Lower back and arms. I've read the drug peaks around 7 to 14 days. I am wondering if this is normal, has anyone else experienced this and if these side effects subside? Is there anything you take before or after the injection to relieve this pain? It is very uncomfortable. Thank you!
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Hi @mollylyn I guess you had some sizeable reactions if you had to push thru them. It's hard for me to imagine how super sensitive me got away with close to zero reaction wise with Evenity and others in online groups seem to have so much trouble. Oh well. I hope those reactions go away for you.
As to what drug I'm using Risedronate monthly tablet. BTW I'm taking it twice monthly now because I got my CTX marker tested each month and saw that once monthly was not enough to keep my CTX down. Twice is.
Risedronate is not mentioned as much as Alendronate (Fosamax) these days but I chose it because it suppresses normal bone turnover the least of the bisphosphonates and for the shortest period of time. The idea being that I want to take Evenity again after a year's gap. And I want Evenity to be able to function effectively and not be fighting strongly suppressed bone turnover like with Reclast or even Fosamax. And I don't want to mess with Prolia at all.
I want to try to gain more bone density and Evenity worked very very well for me - so I want to try again. There is a study showing that Evenity can return to full effectiveness after a one year gap. In that study they took a year off Evenity with no drugs, lost most all their initial gains (12%) and then took it again after the one year gap and gained the same 12% again. This use of Risedronate to help with multiple rounds of Evenity is not my brilliant idea but comes from Dr Michael McClung in a panel discussion at the 2024 Santa Fe Bone Conference.
Good luck to you
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5 ReactionsThank you so much for the detailed message. Sounds like Evenity worked wonders for you, that is great. I don't know if I can continue, having issues. Dr said she'd put me on Fosamax if cannot tolerate this Evenity. I need to build bone, but not sure what to do at this point. I'm so frustrated and frightened, honestly. It is great to hear you had good success without side effects. Did you get the shots in your arms or stomach? Again, the best to you and thank you. God Bless.
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3 Reactions@mollylyn Again, sorry you are having significant issues with Evenity. It's really hard for me to understand that being reported so often in these online sites. It did not happen in the trials as best I can tell.
Anyway if you need to build bone (as I certainly did) then Evenity is the best. The other options are Forteo and Tymlos. Some folks do better with one of these than the other.
As to shots I always had mine in my tummy with no problems. I avoid shots in the arms as much as possible because I once had a frozen shoulder like reaction to a covid shot in my arm. I just guess there is way less tissue of structural importance to hit when you do a tummy shot properly. In the arm there's tendons and ligaments and muscle etc and a lot less loose skin to use.
I wish you the best of luck and if Evenity does not work out you might do fine with Tymlos or Forteo.
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2 ReactionsHi, @mollylyn, I am replying because I am hoping by reading this, you will not feel alone. Let me say, I am so terribly sorry that you are having issues.
I began Evenity on November 6, 2024. My last injection was late March 2025. I was hoping to get through to number 6 but there was no way I could tolerate any more. I am STILL suffering side effects. I talked to the pharmacist at my insurance company’s pharmaceutical department. He said that he would expect the side effects to be resolved by late June or late July. I pray it doesn’t last longer. I went from being a healthy, active woman to being overcome with muscle soreness in multiple parts of my body, often at the same time. And I also had a little bit of deep joint pain (but not as widespread at all.)
The extreme discomfort usually began on day 5, following the injections, and would go away as quickly as it appeared…usually by day 13. However, after the 5th set of injections, I still am having side effects, although not as intense in the last couple of weeks.
In addition to osteopenia in my spine and osteoporosis in my hip,
I have very severe osteoarthritis throughout my body. I am able to tolerate it with diet…basically eating lean and green and avoiding sugar, potatoes, rice, pasta and packaged foods.
I am unable to take anti-inflammatory medications, but diet keeps it pretty much under control.
Well, Evenity for me has been like intense arthritis that is out of control. I will NEVER complain about arthritis pain again because for me, Evenity discomfort is in a class of its own!
I am wondering if people who suffer from osteoarthritis have more trouble with Evenity side effects. I feel that I have already given up 6 months of my life. I hate being an outlier when so many people have wonderful results. I am 77.
I pray your issues will completely resolve. For many people, this is the case.
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4 ReactionsI was prescribed RISERONATE in November of 2024. No problem until 6 weeks ago when I took pill #6! About 5 days later the pain, muscle weakness and stiffness started. I can not bend over to pick something up off the floor. My doctor told me to stop the medicine hoping when it is our of my system the issues will go away.
Have any of you found that to be true? What worked best to treat the side effects? Don't need to tell you this is no fun.
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1 ReactionI am so sorry that you are going through such pain and bad side effects. I, too, have muscle and joint pain in hips, back, thighs and have severe headaches and dizziness. I have osteoporosis in spine and hips and need to build bone, but not sure if I get take 6 months of it. Reading your experience is scary and I'm so sorry. I never had such pain in my hips, back, and thighs until after my shots. The pharmacist told you it would be June or July for your side effects to subside from the March shot, that is quite some time for you to be feeling so bad. I appreciate you sharing your experience. I pray that you start to feel better and these side effects will subside for you soon. God Bless.