Side effects of Evenity: Regular, severe, and lasting impacts
News Article: A Comparative Analysis of Evenity and Prolia
Evenity (romosozumab-aqqg) and Prolia (denosumab) are two medications commonly used to treat osteoporosis, a condition that weakens bones and increases the risk of fractures. However, these drugs have distinct side effects and risks that patients and doctors should be aware of.
Evenity, a biologic sclerostin blocker, is known for causing common side effects such as joint pain, headache, muscle spasms, swelling in the arms and legs, weakness, neck pain, trouble sleeping, and tingling sensations [3]. A significant concern with Evenity is an increased risk of heart-related events, including heart attack, stroke, and heart-related death. This risk is particularly high in women who have had a recent heart attack or stroke within the past year, making it contraindicated in such cases [1][3][4]. Evenity can also cause low blood calcium levels, especially in patients with kidney problems or those on dialysis, necessitating calcium and vitamin D supplementation and monitoring [1][3].
On the other hand, Prolia shares some common side effects with Evenity, such as back pain, extremity pain, musculoskeletal pain, headache, and pain in the arms or legs. However, it has a higher incidence of dermatologic adverse reactions, including dermatitis, eczema, and rashes, compared to placebo, and severe musculoskeletal pain has occasionally been reported [2]. Prolia significantly suppresses bone remodeling, the long-term effects of which are not fully known, raising concerns about possible consequences like osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ), atypical fractures, and delayed fracture healing [2][3].
In comparison to Prolia, Evenity has a unique and notable risk of serious cardiovascular events such as heart attack and stroke, which Prolia has not been associated with [1][2][3]. Conversely, Prolia may more commonly cause dermatologic reactions and has uncertain long-term effects on bone remodeling [2][3].
Both medications require careful medical supervision and calcium/vitamin D supplementation, but the choice may depend on a patient's cardiovascular risk profile and individual factors. It's crucial for patients to discuss their health history with their doctor before starting either medication, as Evenity may not be the right treatment option for those with certain medical conditions or risk factors.
Here's a side-by-side comparison of the two drugs:
| Aspect | Evenity (romosozumab) | Prolia (denosumab) | |-------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------| | Common side effects | Joint pain, headache, muscle spasms, swelling, weakness, neck pain, tingling, trouble sleeping | Back pain, extremity pain, musculoskeletal pain, headache, arm/leg pain, dermatologic reactions (eczema, rashes) | | Serious side effects | Increased risk of heart attack, stroke, heart-related death; low calcium levels | Rare osteonecrosis of jaw, low calcium levels, possible severe musculoskeletal pain, potential long-term bone remodeling suppression consequences | | Cardiovascular risk | Yes (contraindicated if recent heart attack/stroke) | No known increased cardiovascular risk | | Bone remodeling effects | Not significantly suppressive | Significant suppression, long-term effects unknown |
In the event of mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, patients are advised to call their doctor right away. It's essential to remember that both Evenity and Prolia may cause similar side effects, but Evenity may also cause joint pain, headache, and swelling of the arms or legs, while Prolia may cause high cholesterol, back pain, and muscle or bone pain.
References: [1] Food and Drug Administration (FDA). (2017). Evenity (romosozumab-aqqg) prescribing information. Retrieved from https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2017/761067s000lbl.pdf [2] Food and Drug Administration (FDA). (2014). Prolia (denosumab) prescribing information. Retrieved from https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2014/125506s036lbl.pdf [3] National Osteoporosis Foundation. (2021). Evenity (romosozumab-aqqg) and Prolia (denosumab) comparison. Retrieved from https://www.nof.org/patients/treatment/medications/evenity-romosozumab-aqqg/evenity-prolia-comparison/ [4] U.S. National Library of Medicine. (2021). Romosozumab. Retrieved from https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a613045.html
- When considering the long-term impact on health and wellness, it's essential to consider the effects of both Evenity and Prolia on chronic diseases and medical conditions beyond osteoporosis, as Evenity may increase the risk of heart-related events, including heart attack, stroke, and heart-related death, while the long-term effects of Prolia's suppression of bone remodeling are still uncertain and may lead to complications like osteonecrosis of the jaw, atypical fractures, and delayed fracture healing.
- In the realm of predictive science, a comprehensive evaluation of a patient's health history should account not only for their risk of chronic diseases like osteoporosis but also their susceptibility to heart-related events when considering the use of Evenity, as this medication is associated with an increased risk of serious cardiovascular events compared to Prolia.
- Integrating a holistic approach to health care and wellness, it's crucial to understand the potential side effects and risks of medications used to treat chronic diseases, such as Evenity and Prolia, to ensure the best treatment decisions in the management of medical conditions like osteoporosis and the prevention of other chronic diseases, such as hepatitis, which may be exacerbated by certain medications that can cause liver problems.
