Evista

[jah]

Has anyone ever taken Evista? I am wondering if it can help with burning?

[sami4]

Jah

I am assuming you mean by burning, burning in the urinary tract? Evista is a SERM or selective estrogen receptor modulators which are a synthetically created compound that selectively stimulate or blocks estrogen receptors in bone, uterus or breasts and provides some estrogen effects such as to increase HDL cholesterol. SERMS have been very aggresively marketed and a lot of the side effects down played.
Evista was approved by the FDA for both prevention and treatment of osteoporosis although it has only about half of the bone benefit that estrogen does. Both Tamoxifen and Evista do not help with hot flashes, insomnia, memory problems. Both of them block estrogen receptors in the brain which is why women often complain about memory problems being exacerbated with them. They also have an increased incidence of blood clots when compared with placebo, so they dont help with this problem.
Each SERM blocks estrogen in different areas of the body or stimulates different parts to the body.
I have never seen a study about Evista and bladder but would highly doubt it would help much, as the bladder is full of estrogen receptors as most women can tell you; menopause does effect urinary tract and vaginal dryness. So blocking estrogen receptors will not help lubricate either the vagina or the urethra.
Everyone is different, you just have to try and see how you do. There must have been some reason your Doctor put you on this instead of just a low dose natural estradiol?
Studies have shown Evista is not as effective at preserving bone loss or increasing bone as Fosamax is. If I were concerned about bone I would take Fosamax along with estrogen, thats just me, not you or your situation.
By blocking estrogen receptors women will have more memory problems, depression, hot flashes. If you fall under the category of hormonal positive breast cancer then the studies done with Tamoxifen seemed to be impressive, but they are still working on more information to come in this area, and like all things you trade one set of problems to endure another.
Sammi

[SrMaggie]

I take Evista. I don't know that it helps with burning. I dont' even remember, now when I started taking it, but it was after I was diagnosed with IC. So maybe it's been 4 years. I use pyridium for burning and drink more fluids. Then I don't use toilet paper. I use a water bottle to rinse and sometimes just put a cold wet wash cloth in there and hold it till I feel some relief or repeat the process.