Making a decision between Tymlos & Prolia

Posted by guinivere @guinivere, Jun 5 5:28pm

am trying to FINALLY make a decision between Tymlos & Prolia as starting treatmment for fairly severe osteoporosiss. Have posted here before but lost track! -- am 86 years old & have fairly severe osteoporosis. One fracture, a year ago in a wrist. My main concern about Tymlos is the necessity for a steady hand which I do not always have.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Osteoporosis & Bone Health Support Group.

@jomck

I was nervous about giving myself shots when I started on Tymlos almost 2 years ago but it's not as bad as it sounds. The trick is to "pinch an inch" of belly fat, then push needle in and depress the plunger part. Real quick--and the needle tip is very small, thank goodness! I went to my doctors office for the first time so she could walk me through it. Maybe you could do that? I also take mine right before bedtime because it tends to make me sleepy. Tymlos will help you build up some bone--while prolia will only hold on to what you have right now. My spine has showed a 12% improvement after 18 months on Tymlos. Good luck!

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Giving myself the shot at bedtime is a great idea. I always read a while before lights out so I could read until drowsy.
I'll be going into mhy UW's medical office to get instructions on this too.
Plus I have a houseful of cats & have had occasion to give shots to them too - especially a diabetic kitty whose needles were tiny!

I am a worry wort = like doing something wrong & having to get to the ER in the middle of the night!

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@lkel

My doctor had a nurse come in and teach me. This included giving myself a "shot" . The needles are small and short. It's almost like you can't miss. In 700+ injections I only "missed" on one and that was because I was distracted while giving it.

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What do you mean by "miss" & what do you do when that happens?

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Replying to myself here! Just wanted to add that the other med I considered was Prolia - which my sister who is inher 70's is taking. Since my doctor & I have more or less agreed that after Tymlos, I would go Prolia forever, it seemed a logical choice if I chickened out on Tymlos.

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@rjd

If it is difficult for you to leave your home, you might look into eligibility for Medicare's home health care. Here is a link with info. https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/home-health-services.

If eligible, it appears that the Tymlos injection could be done in your home.

Another possibility for obtaining nursing personnel visits for an injection might be through your local public health agency.

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This is not a problem for me at all but thanks for the suggestion.

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@guinivere

What do you mean by "miss" & what do you do when that happens?

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".... can't miss doing it right." My needles were 31 gauge and 5mm long. Takes about 10 seconds to inject. They're so tiny that you may not be able to really feel them once they're in, so you have to concentrate so they stay in while infusing (injecting).

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@guinivere

Giving myself the shot at bedtime is a great idea. I always read a while before lights out so I could read until drowsy.
I'll be going into mhy UW's medical office to get instructions on this too.
Plus I have a houseful of cats & have had occasion to give shots to them too - especially a diabetic kitty whose needles were tiny!

I am a worry wort = like doing something wrong & having to get to the ER in the middle of the night!

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Dear Guinevere: I had to give one of my kitties daily shots and I was very frightened especially since I had never used a needle and had to get it in a specific place and not miss and hope my sweet kitty would stay calm. I had someone with me for the first few times who knew about these things. It gave me confidence to have a coach and someone there just in case. I got pretty good at it by myself. Whew. Is there someone who could guide you in the beginning? I had a friend who was a vet tech, anyone with regular experience using a needle. That gave me confidence. I hope it works out for you. I am a worry wort also. Keep us posted.

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I take Prolia and love that I only have to go in every 6 months. The important thing is to remember if you are on Medicare that it is covered if you go to an infusion clinic like an Onocolgy infusion center along with Prolia is much higher than the the pill that is offered.
Please read all the side effects on both for my bff had severe reactions to the pill form.

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May I ask why you don't start with Fosamax? My ILC and letrozole put me deep in osteoporosis at 58 yrs old. I was reluctant to start with IV Reclast given the chance for lingering flu like symptoms etc but given my cancer Reclast was suggested. I will get blood work in 6 months to see if Fosamax is getting absorbed as I do have Chrohns which can limit absorption.

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Fosomax was not an option for me due to its effects on the esophagus which I can't afford due to the condition of my own esophagus, which is not good.

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@bdionne2

I take Prolia and love that I only have to go in every 6 months. The important thing is to remember if you are on Medicare that it is covered if you go to an infusion clinic like an Onocolgy infusion center along with Prolia is much higher than the the pill that is offered.
Please read all the side effects on both for my bff had severe reactions to the pill form.

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to @bdonne, initially I seem to be getting injections. Via Univ of Wisconsin Hospital. My understanding is that Medicare pays the lion's share & UW pays the rest.

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