Compare Forteo vs. Evista
Head-to-head comparisons of medication uses, side effects, ratings, and more.
Prevents bone loss.
Forteo (Teriparatide) is a good second-choice medication to treat bone loss, but it's only available as an injectable.
Prevents bone loss and lowers your risk of invasive breast cancer.
Evista (raloxifene) helps to reduce bone loss and lower the risk of breast cancer in post-menopausal women, but it can cause blood clots.
Upsides
- If you're unable to use bisphosphonates or are still having fractures despite being on other medications, Forteo (Teriparatide) can be a good alternative.
- You can start using Forteo (Teriparatide) as soon as you stop using bisphosphonates.
- Evista (raloxifene) is a good choice for prevention of bone loss for postmenopausal women. Evista (raloxifene) can also reduce your risk for invasive breast cancer.
- Unlike bisphosphonates, Evista (raloxifene) is easier on your stomach.
- Although Evista (raloxifene) acts like estrogen, it doesn't increase the chances of uterine or breast cancer.
- If you are having hot flashes, Evista (raloxifene) may help relieve them, unlike some alternatives.
Downsides
- Only available as a brand medication, so it can be expensive.
- You have to inject this every day, so it may not be a good option if you don't like needles.
- Shouldn't take this longer than 18 to 24 months since it can increase the risk of bone cancers.
- Evista (raloxifene) can cause side effects similar to estrogen such as clots and hot flashes, which doesn't happen with bisphosphonate alternatives like Fosamax (alendronate).
- Premenopausal women cannot take Evista (raloxifene) for breast cancer prevention.
- It is not the first choice treatment for osteoporosis unless you cannot take bisphosphonates.
- Your doctor may ask you to take this medicine for years to prevent bone loss.
- If you are on a blood-thinner called warfarin, you may need to do a blood test before starting this medicine.
Used for
- Post-menopausal osteoporosis
- Breast cancer prevention
Dosage forms
- Injection
- Pill
Price
Lowest price
$3270.16
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$64.28
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Side effects
The Forteo (Teriparatide) FDA package insert doesn’t have numbers about how common side effects are.
45possible side effects
- Hot flashes25%
- Joint pain16%
- Flu-like symptoms15%
- Infection11%
- Stuffy nose10%
- Difficulty breathing10%
- Sinus infection10%
- Headache9%
- Increased cough9%
- Nausea9%
- Weight gain9%
- Muscle pain8%
- Sore throat8%
- Leg cramps7%
- Diarrhea7%
- Stomach pain7%
- Indigestion6%
- Depression6%
- Difficulty sleeping6%
- Rash6%
- Vaginal bleeding6%
- Vomiting5%
- Swelling5%
- Fever4%
- Tendon disorder4%
- Vertigo4%
- Chest pain4%
- Arthritis4%
- Bladder infection4%
- Breast Pain4%
- Sweating3%
- Uterine disorder3%
- Urinary tract disorder3%
- Flatulence3%
- Stomach and intestinal disorders3%
- Stomach flu3%
- Swelling in arms or legs3%
- Pneumonia3%
- Vaginal discharge3%
- Endometrial disorder3%
- Fainting2%
- Stabbing nerve pain2%
- Pink eye2%
- Migraine2%
- Inflamed vocal cords2%
Risks and risk factors
- Malignant tumor of the bone
- Paget's bone disease
- Young people with open epiphyses
- High calcium blood levels
- Hypercalcemia
- Hyperparathyroidism
- Kidney stones
- History of kidney stones
- Positional low blood pressure
- Drug interactions
- Digoxin use
- Increased risk of blood clots and stroke
- History of blood clots or stroke
- History of heart disease
- Long-distance travel
- Major surgery
- Prolonged immobilization
- Smoking
- Heart failure
- High blood pressure
- Premenopausal women
- Breast cancer
- History of breast cancer
- Overdose
- History of liver disease
- History of kidney disease
- Taking estrogen