Evista--WEIGHT GAIN

[Nadine]

I've been taking Evista for 2 years for breast cancer. I am now 56, I work out 3-4 times a week, eat salads every day for lunch, don't munch out or eat sweets at the office. I've gained 20 pounds over the 2-year period. I hate it. I feel bloated most of the time and its not due to what I eat or lack of exercise. The weight gain, hot flashes, and leg cramps suck. Has anyone ever stopped taking Evista and then re-started it?

[Betty]

I've been reading the comments and am finding them very interesting. I have an insatiable appetite too since starting Evista, and I don't like it either. The hot flashes are miserable too. I was on Fosamax, but because I also have IBS, it made it worse. I have been diagnosed with ostopenia, however my bone mass has stayed the same over the last 5 years. My doctor has been quite adamant that I take the medication, but am also wondering if I should just let nature take it's course, do the best I can. Any thoughts?

[Wendy]

I have been on Evista for 8 years after taking tomoxifen for five after a lumpectomy. The only side affect I see is weight gain. I walk 1/2 hr. daily and swim on the week-ends but can't see to lose the weight. Does anyone have a suggestion?

[Lynn]

I'm 65, taken evista for10 years, gained 50 lbs, butt aches so much I can't walk more than 50 yards. I do water aerobics, but have had to spend most of my last 5 years on my back due to pain. I never thought it could have been the evista that has made me so heavy and painful. I've appreciated the info in this blog and will try to go off the evista and see if I can lose weight. I've had no more than two small meals a day for so long but weight just keeps coming on.

[Pat Indianapolis IN]

I'm 61 and post-menopausal. I have been on Evista for 14 mos. and have gained about 8 pounds. I'm glad to know this could be the cause. I have a "thing" about taking meds every day, forever, so I only take it Mon, Wed. and Fri, and not on weekends. My doctor said the good thing about it is that it protects whenever you take it, so it doesn't hurt to take it that way. Trying that might help some of you with greater side effects. I stopped Fosamax because of bad hip pain, which mostly went away.

[chris]

I've been on Evista for 2 years now. No weight gain problems. Remember our weight gain problems are often related to menopause.

[Elaine]

Lidia wrote:

I have been taking evista since july/07.
i take it for 5 days with a brake on weekends to "flush" some of the side effects.
I have noticed constipation,some weight gain,but that can be managed with more regular excercise.
For past 2 months,though,I have been experiencing jaw pain and my gums on one side are very tender to cold,i notice i clench my teeth more ,so as of this week, i have stopped taking it,and i'm seeing my dentist next week.
I want to know if anyone else has experienced this effect by taking evista.

I have experienced an abcess in two teeth that hae had root canals. I was on Fosomax for 3 months then went off for 6 and then went on Evista. My dentist said this problem could be related but doesn't know for sure. I,m stopping immediately and just continuing to exercise and add more calcium to diet

[Linda]

I too have had an uncharacteristic weight gain over the past few months. Told my doctor it has been since he put me on Boniva. He said he has never had this complaint and doubted Boniva was causing it. So I decided tonight to search "Boniva weight gain" and see if by any chance there is anyoue else out there who suspects the Boniva is causing it. After reading many comments here I think I am going to stop taking it. I have had 2 vertebrea fractures over the past recent years due to a couple horse related accidents and my doctor thought at my age, 58, Boniva would be an extra boost to my bone density.(My scans show my bone density is normal for my age). I am not usually one to go against my doctor but so many of you seem to be having the same problem. Any comments? Appreciate your time. Linda

[Linda]

Marilyn wrote:

Well,I have osteopenia, but I`m not taking anymore Boniva. Between my stomach being upset and the weight gain, I`ve had enough. I`m going to let nature take it`s course, eat healthy and stay active like I have all along. I just don`t like taking pills that are suppose to help one thing yet make you feel miserable along with it. Some things are better left alone.

Marilyn, I see you quit the Boniva over a year ago now. Due to weight gain, I am thinking of stopping as well but curious what you experienced after stopping. Appreciate your comments. Linda

[Linda]

I feel better after reading all of the above remarks on the weight gain from Evista. At 50, I am trying to fight the aging process with all I have. Keeping trim was the one thing I was still winning at. But after having DCIS and a total mastectomy in July, my oncologist put me on this medicine from h---! Hot flashes are another bother also. Wonder why the Evista makers do not list weight gain as a side effect!!

[Betty]

I am been on Evista for at least two years; could not tolerate Fosamax. I am 5.1 and now at 160. I have hot flases but mostly at night. I do take the pill just before bed so I have not noticed the cravings others have mentioned. Right now I am trying to determine if there is a generic as insurance is going up.

Dawn wrote:

Each time I re-try usage of Evista, I notice that I begin to gain weight. I wondered if this was my imagination or not. Then, I ran out of it, and did not use it for 4 months. I had joined Weight Watchers, and was losing steadily. Now that I am back on Evista (and have NOT changed my eating habits) my weight is going back up. What do others think?

[Kathy]

Great, my doctor told me about this wonderful new medication that would not only help with my bone loss but help protect me from breast cancer as I am "High Risk". I'm also overweight. I asked her if it caused weight gain & she said "No". I can't gain any more weight. My bones are crumbling & I'm only 45.

[Joey]

I have osteoporosis and started taking Evista 3 mos. ago after having serious reactions to Fosamax. Am 62 now. Have not noticed any side effects except weight gain of 7 lbs. in 3 mos. I have been the same weight my entire life and this sudden weight gain can only be blamed on the 1 thing I am doing differently - taking Evista. I plan to discontinue immediately and see if excess weight goes away. Will post my results in about a month.

[Linda]

Ok, so I'm not crazy! I have gained weight for no reason over the last few months, and I couldn't understand why. None of my pants fit anymore because my waist is about 3 inches bigger in this short time. Now I know it is because I am taking Evista. Fosamax cause throat pain, so my doctor switched me. I need to call my doctor and look at my options.

[Linda]

Lidia wrote:

I have been taking evista since july/07.
i take it for 5 days with a brake on weekends to "flush" some of the side effects.
I have noticed constipation,some weight gain,but that can be managed with more regular excercise.
For past 2 months,though,I have been experiencing jaw pain and my gums on one side are very tender to cold,i notice i clench my teeth more ,so as of this week, i have stopped taking it,and i'm seeing my dentist next week.
I want to know if anyone else has experienced this effect by taking evista.

I noticed it has been a long time since the above statement was posted but I thought I would respond. I have been on Evista for 3 months. The hot flashes and weight gain are in full bloom ! This has been really hard but now I am having the dental issue as the lady above stated. I am very particular with my dental hygeine so to have sore gums and cold sensitive teeth and sudden night time teeth grinding is quite alarming to me. The dentist says I need 5 root canals since they are so sensitive to cold ! Whatever !! Something is wrong here. I have osteoporosis and am 56. I have NOT ONE risk factor for this and they dont know why I have it. I am so scared. Who wants to take Fosamax or the other biophosphate drugs..any help out there ???

[Maddy]

I just went off of Evista after having been on it for 3 - 4 years. I am suppose to report to my doctor as she suggested going off of Evista after my last dexascan. One side of my hip improved but the other side the osteoporosis became worst. Now I'm having joint pains and feel like a little old lady after having been off of it for 3 months and am afraid of going back to her thinking she may suggest that I go back on Evista. And, yes, I had gained a lot of weight over time but don't know if that has more to do with age as I am 57 and need to take a more proactive approach to exercising. Was once prescribed Actonel because my thyroid wasn't producing enough calcium but had terrible side effects after 4 weeks - thought I was having a heart attack - read up on other peoples complaints and many had the same symtoms. Definitely beware of Actonel.

[shirley]

I have been taking Evista for 6 months and have gained 12 pounds. I stoped taking it 9 days ago. My face started getting red, and I started retaining water. I now have a problem with pain in my thumb and wrist area. I hope I can lose the weight and the pain will subside.

[Bertha]

Hi, I started taking Evista in December for osteopenia. I have noticed being hungry,weigh gane ,anscious and sleeping problems. I was wondering if anybody is experiencing this?
Thanks, Bertha from Texas

[Katy]

I have been taking Evista for 10 years. I am 60, 5.4" and weigh 106. I started taking it after my first bone scan showed bone density loss. I have not had any side affects. I've had two lumpectomies, radiation and chemo thirty years ago. About six months ago I stopped taking Evista due to lack of prescription coverage (there is no generic). In the last two years my annual bone scan has shown improvement but I had also started lifting weights regularly and increased my calcium. My doctor thinks I should resume taking it but I really would prefer not to. I do believe the worst thing for small frames is too much weight so don't want to go there.
I'm thinking of waiting until my next bone scan to see what happens.
Anyone have any comments?

[Peggy]

I just visited my doctor this morning and after 3-4 years on Evista and an average weight gain of 10-15 pounds per year, hot flashes at night that won't quit, I have had enough! I am 5-10', 52 years old and was ALWAYS very thin (140)without trying (friends hated that in me), NOT ANY MORE! I walk regularly, I do Weight Watcher's ... I seemed to have tried it all without much success. As of today, I am no longer taking Evista. We shall see what happens ...weight loss and no more hot flashes I'm hoping!