Evista--WEIGHT GAIN

[Jaema]

Hi everyone. I am new to this forum. I'm 56 and was just diagnosed with osteopena and osteoporosis. My doc wanted to put me on Fosamax but my dentist warned me that due to boneloss in my jaw that it could cause necrosis of the jaw. So my doc started me on Evista which I started this morning. I weigh 138 and am 5'7". She didn't tell me that weight gain would be a side effect. She mentioned hot flashes. Yikes! So I'm glad to find your forum and hear your experiences. I watched my Mom become crippled by osteoporosis. By the time she was 68, she could barely walk. Has anyone noticed that exercise has helped increase bone density? Not crazy about side effects but willing to put up with some if it helps the bone improve.

[Patricia]

Glad to have found this site. I started Actonel for a few months and then was switched to Boniva and was on for a total of 12 months. After reading all the negative reviews will not take anymore. I have gained 55 plus pounds in the 12 months I have been on it.!!! very depressed over it and had no idea it could be the boniva. Also knee joints have gotten so stiff I cant get up if I get down on the floor and alot of pain even getting up from a chair since being on it. My last dexa scan showed improvement but not worth is weight I have put on and cant seem to loose no matter what I do !

[Nancy]

Cathy wrote:

I have had side effects with other osteoporosis Rx, such as severe bone pain, has any one experienced this with Evista?

Cathy, I have been taking Evista for 2 1/2 weeks. I began having severe bone pain in my shin twice a day a week ago. It stopped after 3 days and then began again last night. I considered last night that it might be the Evista and called the pharmacist. Muscle pain in a leg is alisted side affect, but not bone pain. I was relieved when I did a search to find someone else had bone pain too! I'm going to stop taking Evisa as the pain, though momentary, is excruciating! I'll talk to my surgeon to see if it might be a symptom that will go away.

[Carleen]

I find this so interesting, I started Evista last September and am 16 lbs. heavier. I have a dr.'s app't. tomorrow to discuss going it on my own with diet, exercise, calcium and Vitamin D.

I have never weighed this much and I am 66 years old.

[Brenda]

shirley wrote:

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.

I've been on Evista for about a year and half - I had breast cancer and had to go off HRT so my Dr. suggested the Evista. I didn't realize till last week that the 15 lbs. I've put on since starting this could be due to the Evista -- also the thumb/wrist pain. I saw a hand surgeon for this and said it was arthritis - got a cortisone shot and it has helped a lot. My oncologist said the joint where I have the pain could also be related to Evista. I stopped taking it 3 days ago so I'm anxious to see any improvement.

[Brenda]

Oh, and I forgot to mention the hot flashes have been HORRIBLE...

[Sheila]

I've been on Evista for less than 2 months. I haven't noticed any weight gain in that time, but I have gained nearly 20 lbs over the last 8 years which I've attributed to early menopause (at 40)and lack of excercise. I have noticed every morning when I get out of bed, the back of my heels and my calves are very stiff and a bit painful. I'm on Evista as I have osteopenia, but primarily as a prevention for breast cancer as I have atypical hyperplasia in ducts and lobes of one of my breast. I too hate taking meds so we'll see. Do those of you who take it less than once a day notice a decrease in some of the side effects (hot flashes, bone pain and weight gain)?

[Brenda]

I have been off Evista for two weeks and feel much better -- the hot flashes are much better -- haven't lost any weight yet, but now I feel more like getting active. I have not been diagnosed with any bone problems yet, I'm 60 years old -- I eat healthy, take extra calcium and vit. D -- lots of leavy green veggies and I have yogurt every day. I hope this will keep it away...My gyn thinks I should have stayed on HRT but my oncologist said no - so I was torn but decided I would sleep better at night with my oncologist's decision. Oh, speaking of sleeping -- since I've been off Evista, I'm sleeping better too. AND, I noticed my skin looks better -- dark spots are fading...

[Gill]

I have taken Evista for 10 years as a preventative for breast cancer (which i had insitu in one breast). i do not have a history of family breast cancer. Recently i had a hip replacement and have been off Evista for 6 weeks. I have lost 5 lbs, and I am eating and drinking without counting carbs, calories or fats. Now i have to decide if i should return to taking Evista.

[Brenda]

Gill wrote:

I have taken Evista for 10 years as a preventative for breast cancer (which i had insitu in one breast). i do not have a history of family breast cancer. Recently i had a hip replacement and have been off Evista for 6 weeks. I have lost 5 lbs, and I am eating and drinking without counting carbs, calories or fats. Now i have to decide if i should return to taking Evista.

Gill, I, too, had breast cancer insitu but do have heavy family history. Since I stopped about 6 weeks ago, I still have not noticed any weight loss; however, I have more energy and have joined a new gym with a personal trainer so that is helping. The hot flashes are still much better and for that, I am very thankful...

[Karen from PA]

I started taking Evista about 6 months ago, I've gained about 15 pounds. I went up 1 size. I walk 3/4 times a week, and it is becoming more difficult because I get out of breath. Just going up the stairs I'm out of breath. I see my Endo. this week and I'm going to discuss this nasty side effect. I don't feel well. My bone scan is to be repeated in January, if I stay on the medicine till then I'll be as big as a house.

[PPS]

Bertha wrote:

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

I have the same symptoms in addition to edema in abdomen and hands. I started taking Evista in November and was at a perfect weight and now weigh 10 lbs more for absolutely no reason. I ecercise HARD six days a week and the insomnia nearly did me in. I am stopping it tomorrow even though I have osteopenia!

[Jan]

has anyone taken protos 2 and if so any side effects like weight gain etc.

[tina]

I was on Actonel for 1yr, never gained even 1Lb, no side effects. My tests showed great results. My Dr. changed the rx to Evista and BAM! gained 4lbs in the 1st week, w/o changing eating habits, doing more excercise than ever. Today I've read the reviews on this site and feel that I was much better off with the Evista.. later....gator

[tina]

Bertha wrote:

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

I just started taking Evista, less than 1m onth. Since then I do not sleep well, have gained 4lbs, body/joint aches, constipated.. Hello.. WHAT was my Dr. thinking? I actually felt GREAT before EVISTA. Actonel helped my Osteo and since my tests results were better he switched me to this RX. I have read most of the posts here, and have decided that I will stop taking this med. Vitamins and Excercise will have to do. Hopefully I can shed the weight as fast as I gained it!

[Evelyn]

I have recently gone back on Evista after taking it for years. I am almost 80 and I'm beginning to think that my osteoperosis is not serious enough forgaining the weight. Although I've only gained about 4 pounds in 3 months...that's 4 pounds too many. Besides that, it is so very expensive! It appears a generic may be on the way, but I still don't like the weight gain. By the way, I do have (and have had since a very young age)fibrocystic disease. Of course I am way-far post-menopausal but the lumps are tender unless I take Vitamin E regularly. A doctor suggested that years ago and I didn't realize how well it works until I ran out and didn't have it for a couple of weekss! God bless you all!

[Jennifer]

For those of you who continued to take Evista, I just have one question: did your bone density improve, or did the medicine not have any effect? I have been taking Evista for about 6 months for osteopenia and have put on 6 pounds. If my next bone density scan does not show any improvement, I will definitely stop taking the Evista.

[hong]

I have been comsuming Evista for more than three years.
I have no weight gain problem.
What i afraid of is if i will cause breast cancer?

[Clare]

Betty wrote:

I HAVE GAINED 10 LBS IN 2 MONTHS WHEN I STATRTED TAKING EVISTA AND HAVE TERRIBLE HOT FLASHES AND SWEATS I AM CONSIDERING STOPPING THE MEDICATION ALSO MY VISION IS VERY BLURRY and i have bad dizzy spells

If you have blurry vision, you see your doctor asap. I was just given a sample of Evista and after reading about the weight gain I don't plan to use this product.

[Maria50]

I find site with Evista description - drug uses, side effects, dosage, precautions, storage - http://pills-meds.com/order-evista-online.htm... Hope, this information about this medication will be useful for you