Many osteoporosis patients find themselves taking Evista and Boniva even if they have reservations about these drugs. Maybe it’s because their doctors said things like this:
“If you don’t take Evista, your bones are going to get so brittle you’ll get fractures just going up stairs.”
“There are no natural alternatives to Evista. so this is your only alternative.”
“If you don’t take Boniva, you’ll end up hunch-backed due to weakened bones.”
“The tests show that you have osteoporosis. You need to take Boniva to increase your bone density.”
Has your doctor ever said anything like this to you? These are common scare tactics that practitioners of mainstream medicine often use to intimidate their patients into taking osteoporosis drugs. The best way to avoid this type of scenario is to arm yourself with knowledge. So read on!
Hormones: The Good, the Bad, and the Misunderstood
It’s popular to blame hormones for all kinds of things. Women may say we’re “feeling hormonal” during certain times of the month, and men might blame hormones for their “wandering eye.” We talk about hormones as if they are bad, or some kind of unwelcome chemical we wish would leave us alone. But hormones are very important body chemicals that are crucial for your overall health. All body systems, including your skeleton, are affected by hormones.
So let’s get a grasp on the place of hormones in osteoporosis. When we’re young and producing relatively high levels of sex hormones, the bones absorb minerals readily and release them slowly. The cycle of tearing down and building up is normal; estrogen binds to receptors in bone, inhibiting bone-destroying cytokines found in osteoblasts. When estrogen levels drop after menopause, the bone-destroying inhibitor is decreased, leading to an imbalance in the bone regeneration cycle. Research also suggests that low levels of sex hormones in men also result in osteoporosis.
So why not just replace the missing estrogen? Sounds simple, right?
Not really. Replacing the body’s “missing” estrogen with a synthetic version like Evista can bring about a host of unpleasant side effects. You can’t just plug in something artificial and have your body treat it like a natural hormone. Evista is a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM), and it doesn’t even act like natural estrogen in the body. Instead, it selectively “chooses” some tissue in which to act like estrogen while neglecting others.
While there are some natural adaptogens – in other words – “estrogen-like” herbs and foods that bind very loosely to estrogen receptors in cells, there is a big difference between those and Evista. Because natural adaptogens only increase the estrogen effect of a cell if the body needs it.
Evista also increases the risk of blood clots and stroke, which is a tendency among synthetic hormones (birth control pills also increase the risk of these problems). Hot flashes have also been reported by women taking Evista.
Boniva and Evista – Double Trouble
Boniva’s side effects and dangers are, thankfully, becoming more and more well-known. You can read about them on this site in posts like ‘What if Sally Field Told the Truth?' and ‘Boniva Side Effects'. Nonetheless, despite mounting evidence of the dangers of both drugs, physicians have been known to prescribe both Evista and Boniva to be taken as part of an osteoporosis treatment program. Of course, I would never recommend taking even one of these drugs, much less both of them together. Both of them would be working their own form of imbalance in your body, causing a total disruption of equilibrium. The legion of side effects can only be imagined!
With its threats and fear tactics, what mainstream medicine is forgetting here is that menopause and a decrease in estrogen is a natural process. That’s one of many reasons why a natural approach like the Osteoporosis Reversal Program makes sense. It’s a matter of bringing things back into balance, not treating a disease.
Comments on this article are closed.
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I was recently diagnosed with severe osteoporosis. I’m halfway through the save my bones book. I’m taking evista. Should I stop taking it?
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I am 83 and 5 years ago was diagnosed with osteopenia and a thoracic vertebral
fracture I was advised to stop playing golf.
I took Protos for 2 years had another BDT – just the same – I stopped taking Protos as it was making me nauseas.
I would like to play just a few holes of golf but I am frightened I will get another fracture. -
I have been through all the drugs since they started selling them. Each one I am eventually taken off of as they are determined to have dangerous side effects. Now my doctor has me on Prolia. Is this another dangerous drug? I have another injection coming up in June and I am thinking about discontinuing this treatment. I exercise, eat healthy and take bone health supplements. Do you think I would be just as well off stopping the injections? Fortunately, I have not had any fractures.
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I have same Question about Prolia
After taking 3 years of Prolia Injection i noticed in routine blood test my Hemoglobin is getting low and caysing Anemia
So i am confused how to make my Bone density normal and avoid Prolia as Prolia has improved my Bone density though and i feel better in body structure as before was very under weight and looking weak and thin
Please reply and help me
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After my GYN reminding every year at my annual exam that I should be taking the Evista he prescribed I finally decided in late June to start taking it daily as prescribed. Since then I have noticed an increase is right hip and right knee pain-at first not so bad and attributed to amount of walking, climbing stairs, treadmill, zumba usual aches and pains. However, here I am in late September and the pain in my right hip and knee are unbearable and have an appointment to see an orthopedist in two days. I am 61 years old and have always been very, very active and could walk miles a day. I am beginning to think the Evista is at the root of this very distracting pain and think I am done taking it. Any suggestions, insights are welcome and appreciated. Thanks.
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This program gives me hope. Evista did not help. Alendronate gave me vicious heartburn. Hope it is not too difficult to “stay with the program!”
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Lourene, your experience with osteoporosis drugs is only too common. And the Save Our Bones community is here to support you if you have any challenges and questions while following the Program! You can also e-mail Customer Support for any concerns at support@saveourbones.com. Best wishes on your journey to bone health!
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I took Evista, not being able to take biophosphates because of a sensitive stomach. I just found out that one should not take Evista if they have a uterus! My osteopath revealed this to me a few weeks ago, explaining that, though Evista reduces estrogen in the breasts, it increases it in the uterus, and if you have gone through menopause, there’s no way for it to release the build up of blood. Unfortunately and predictably, I got uterine cancer (2008) and had to have major surgery to have all the reproductive organs removed. I never read in any of the literature that cancer was a possible side effect – I never would have taken the drug! I don’t think my doctor knew about this possible side effect at the time, or he wouldn’t have prescribed it. But it’s searchable on the web now.
I’m so glad I found your program, because I still have doctors advising me to take some drug (Prolia or Reclast). -
I have taken Evista for over a yr. After learning I had severe osteoporosis of the spine. I also have been doing many of the the diet things on the Save our Bones program. In a yrs time …per CT scans…my bones went from severe osteoporosis of the spine to just barely Osteopinia. I. Have not had any dire effects from the Evisia at this time. My Dr wanted me to take Prolia. I refused. Did my own research and decided Evista was the best of the bad.. I thank Vivian for her help. But I also am tired of constant articles that have to be paid for. I bought the Save Our Program book. I think that ought to be enough.
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As a small boned woman of 50 in 1999 I was diagnosed with osteoporosis and was put on Estrodiole/Prometrium for 4 yrs, then Actonel for 3 yrs, then switched to Evista because of risk of osteonecrosis of jaw if I needed invasive dental work. After 10 yrs on Raloxifene is it safe to just stop it? I am doing everything suggested for natural bone health. Have studied diet and nutrition health for decades. Thank you.