Evenity vs Prolia: Which is right for you?

Evenity (romosozumab-aqqg) and Prolia (denosumab) are two injectable medications that help lower the risk of bone fracture. When deciding which treatment option is best for you, it is important to consider factors such as who these medications are approved for, dosing, and side effects.

What are Evenity and Prolia?

Both Evenity and Prolia are medications that may be used to lower the risk of bone fracture by treating bone loss. However, they work differently and have unique side effects. They’re also FDA approved for different people.

Evenity is a sclerostin inhibitor that is FDA approved for treating osteoporosis in postmenopausal women who:

• Are at high risk for fracture
• Are not able to take other osteoporosis treatments
• Have taken other osteoporosis treatments that did not work well enough

Prolia is a RANK ligand (RANKL) inhibitor that is FDA approved for treating:

• Osteoporosis in postmenopausal women who are at a high risk for fracture
• Osteoporosis in men who are at a high risk for fracture
• Osteoporosis caused by steroids in men and women who are at a high risk for fracture
• Bone loss in men at high risk for fracture who are taking androgen deprivation therapy for nonmetastatic prostate cancer
• Bone loss in women at high risk for fracture who are taking add-on aromatase inhibitor therapy for breast cancer

How are Evenity and Prolia given?

Evenity and Prolia must be given by a trained healthcare professional. Both medications are given as an injection under the skin.

The usual dose of Evenity is 210 mg injected under the skin on the stomach, thigh, or upper arm once a month for 12 doses.

The usual dose of Prolia is 60 mg injected under the skin on the stomach, thigh, or upper arm once every 6 months.

Related questions

• What is the billing J Code for Evenity?
• What happens when you stop Evenity?
• Does Evenity cause dental problems?

What are the side effects of Evenity and Prolia?

When comparing Evenity and Prolia, most side effects are unique.

During clinical trials of Evenity, the most common side effects patients reported were:

• Joint pain
• Headache
• Muscle spasms
• Swelling in the arms and legs
• Weakness
• Neck pain
• Trouble sleeping
• Tingling sensation

The most common side effects reported by people taking Prolia during clinical trials were:

• Back pain
• Joint pain
• Bone and muscle pain
• Pain in the arms or legs
• Headache

More rare but serious side effects of Prolia and Evenity include low calcium levels and osteonecrosis of the jaw.

In addition to the side effects listed above, Evenity was found to have a higher rate of major heart events (e.g., heart attack, stroke) compared to patients taking another bone medication called alendronate. This risk has not been identified with Prolia. As a result, Evenity is not recommended if you have had a heart attack or stroke within a year of starting treatment.

These are not all possible side effects from taking Evenity and Prolia. Review all side effects with your healthcare provider or refer to the product labeling for more information.

This is not all the information you need to know about Evenity (romosozumab-aqqg) and Prolia (denosumab) for safe and effective use and does not take the place of your doctor’s directions. Review the full product information and discuss this information and any questions you have with your doctor or other health care provider.