Evenity Treatment and Side Effects

[Crowmaven]

I’m new here. My Rheumatologist has recommended Evenity for my osteoporosis. After procrastinating for 4 months (fear of side effects ie., black box warning for cardiac events), I have started treatment. This consists of 2 subcutaneous injections given once a month for 12 months. I’m 62, active with no cardiac history. My first injections (in my abdomen) were fairly painless. I experienced some fatigue for a couple of days, then was fine. I just had my second injections and OMG-it felt like molten glass was being shot into me. I developed itchy, painful welts at the injection site, have had a non stop low grade headache and traveling joint pain, Full disclosure, I received my Covid booster shot 2 days prior to my second go with Evenity.

Anyone who has had multiple monthly treatments…do the side effects decrease or worsen as the treatment goes on? Or was this a fluke do to the Covid booster?

[Met00]

I would speak to your doctor about the localised reaction as that could be an allergy to the injection. Just out of interest, why were you prescribed Evenity? It's intended for "women after menopause who are at high risk of fracture, or cannot use another osteoporosis medicine or other osteoporosis medicines did not work well" (from the Evenity website). Were you also told that you need to go onto another medication when you stop using Evenity?

[Crowmaven in reply to Met00]

Yes. For the last year, I have been under treatment for polymyalgia rheumatica, which consists of fairly high to tapering dose of daily prednisone. My rheumatologist ordered a dexa scan last June, due to the side effect of prednisone causing bone loss.The results were disheartening to say the least.

In the last 5 years, I have had 2 vertebrae breaks and a colles fx in my wrist. I was having what I thought was age related joint pain. The scan revealed severe osteoporosis. My rheumatologist pushed for me to start Evenity. After 4 months of debating with myself, and reading all I could find on Evenity, I was basically left with the choice of having my bones slowly crumble resulting in traumatic fractures and lifetime pain, or trying something risky but possibly beneficial.

So, here I am, post menopausal, 62 years old with no history of health problems and keeping my fingers crossed that this treatment prevents or slows my skeletal degeneration!

And yes, I know after 1year on Evenity, I will have to go on other medication to preserve any gains I make.

[HeronNS in reply to Crowmaven]

I would like to suggest that when you feel up to it you read my story. Google 'healthunlocked my osteoporosis journey' don't bother with the HU search function. You'll get some ideas about how to help yourself which should improve outcomes from any meds.

I hope your doctor ran all the tests for secondary causes of osteoporosis and didn't just assume it was all due to taking pred.

[Mark_ABH]

Hi Crowmaven, thank you for sharing your experience on the forum. Here is some information about Evenity, which was approved for use in the U.S. about two years ago. Note there is mention that injection site reactions have been observed. Women at risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke should not take Evenity, especially if they have had a heart attack or stroke in the past year.

More information about USFDA-approved osteoporosis treatments here: americanbonehealth.org/fda-...

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Evenity (romosozumab-aqqg) to treat osteoporosis in postmenopausal women at high risk of breaking a bone (fracture). These are women with a history of osteoporotic fracture or multiple risk factors for fracture, or those who have failed or are not able to take other osteoporosis medicines.

Evenity, developed by Amgen, is a monoclonal antibody that blocks the effects of the protein sclerostin and works mainly by increasing new bone formation.

One dose of Evenity consists of two injections, one immediately following the other, given once a month by a health care professional. The bone forming effect of Evenity decreases after 12 doses, so the treatment is stopped at the end of a year. To maintain the gains in bone density from Evenity, patients will be prescribed another osteoporosis medicine that reduces bone breakdown.

Common side effects of Evenity included joint pain and headache. Injection site reactions were also observed.

Evenity contains a boxed warning on its labeling stating that it may increase the risk of heart attack, stroke and cardiovascular death.

Patients who have had a heart attack or stroke within the previous year should not use Evenity.