Forteo and Prolia in Combination

Posted by bonz @bonz, Jan 10, 2019

I have been on Forteo for a year, and had some modest improvement in spine ( 7.8%)- nothing to speak of in the hip but apparently that is to be expected in year 1. The side effects are moderate. ( bone pain and nausea/dizziness) I have recently seen research that shows that prolia and forteo TOGETHER show significantly better results... any experience. I am most concerned with side effects of the two in combination - especially because some people report that Prolia side effects go on for months...

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Justin McClanahan, Moderator | @JustinMcClanahan | Jan 30, 2019

Hello @bonz, I apologize for the late response. @bonz, I was unable to find any members who have tried this medication together at the same time. Many members have talked about trying both medications, https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/prolix-treatment-for-osteoporosis/ & https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/forteo-vs-tymlos-1/, but at different times. If you are OK sharing, has this been discussed with your medical provider? Each medication, as you mentioned, comes with potentially serious side-effects, which is why I am assuming there is little research about it.

barblonghofer | @barblonghofer | Jan 31, 2019

I am wanting to know others experiences taking both at the same time as well. I have just been advised to do this.

Justin McClanahan, Moderator | @JustinMcClanahan | Jan 31, 2019

In reply to @barblonghofer "I am wanting to know others experiences taking both at the same time as well. I..." + (show)

@barblonghofer, would you mind sharing who advised you to do this and were the benefits/risks discussed with you? I think a lot of members will be interested to hear your experience.

dkapustin | @dkapustin | Mar 7, 2019

I honestly don't think you can take them together but certainly check with your doctor. Insurance companies won't pay for them both at the same time either. In fact, my insurance company reclassified Forteo and it's not covered under my plan at all anymore.

buschmandonna | @buschmandonna | Jan 24 12:15pm

I did daily Forteo injections for 2 full years, Dexa did not show high enough improvement so Dr. put me on Prolia injections every 6 months. After 8 years of this, I am begging Dr. to let me discontinue the shots.. She says no because my Dexa numbers are still lower than she wants. I want to stop asap. I am 80 years old. What can I do?

cpd54 | @cpd54 | Jan 25 5:42am

In reply to @buschmandonna "I did daily Forteo injections for 2 full years, Dexa did not show high enough improvement..." + (show)

@buschmandonna
According to Dr Keith McCormick, you shouldn’t stay on Prolia longer than 2 years. He does online consultations so it might be worth your time and $ to consult with him. Or at least read his 2 very informative books, The Whole Body Approach to Osteoporosis and Great Bones.
Hope you find an answer.

gravity3 | @gravity3 | Jan 25 7:22am

In reply to @buschmandonna "I did daily Forteo injections for 2 full years, Dexa did not show high enough improvement..." + (show)

Get a second and third opinion if needed. Do you have a endocrinologist who is an expert in osteoporosis and medication sequencing? And most of all trust yourself and listen to your body and your internal "knowing"

buschmandonna | @buschmandonna | Jan 25 8:21am

In reply to @gravity3 "Get a second and third opinion if needed. Do you have a endocrinologist who is an..." + (show)

Thank you @gravity, Cleveland Clinic is our local Health System. I am not pleased by Doctors in their system but it's not easy to find doctors that I feel are really interested in my kind of problems. I will search for an Endocrinologist nearby.

gently | @gently | Jan 25 8:30am

In reply to @barblonghofer "I am wanting to know others experiences taking both at the same time as well. I..." + (show)

Small study (76) https://asbmr.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/jbmr.4161. Harvard MGH, though .
No experience, here . There was someone on this site last summer with experience.
Prolia just scares me.
I'd like to know your endocrinologist; they are keeping up with the interesting ideas.

buschmandonna | @buschmandonna | Jan 25 8:30am

In reply to @cpd54 "@buschmandonna According to Dr Keith McCormick, you shouldn’t stay on Prolia longer than 2 years. He..." + (show)

@cpd64. Thank you for your suggestion on Dr. McCormick. I have been dealing with this since I was 38 when I was first fund to be high probability of developing chronic osteoporosis. By 42 it was Fosamax. I developed the Jw issues so off of the drug. Then Boniva, then Celebrix, all of which were not very effective. Next was 2 full ears of daily injections of Forteo which worked for about 2 year, then the Dexa numbers collapsed. So, 8 years now and moderate results from the Prolia but the side effects are terrible on me. o tired of pain all of the time.