1. < Osteoporosis & Bone Health

Prolia treatment for osteoporosis: What is your experience?

Posted by Veruska @veriska, Mar 7, 2017

I received the results from my bone test and they have recommended I start Prolia. I have read the side effects and I am concerned. Has anyone use this drug and if so what side effects have you experienced. Thank you

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gravity3 | @gravity3 | Jul 11 5:44am
In reply to @windyshores "If you stop Prolia, there is no choice at this point in time, other than Reclast..." + (show)
@windyshores

If you stop Prolia, there is no choice at this point in time, other than Reclast (the strongest) or alendronate. Prolia has a rebound and you can lose bone density and have increased fracture risk very quickly, according to my doctors, Dr. Ben Leder's YouTube video "Combinations and Sequencing", McCormick's book "Great Bones" and many other sources (just citing my favorites). Reclast or alendronate are needed after every other osteoporosis medicine, actually, to "lock in" gains, but it is especially important after Prolia due to the strong rebound. Maybe you could do a bisphosphonate for one year (one Reclast for instance)-????

It may be as simple as one Reclast infusion but I don't know how long you need bisphosphonates to counter the rebound. McCormick and some doctors will use the CRX bone marker test to monitor when the bisphosphonate is needed, exactly (timing of infusion for instance) and also how you are doing with the rebound risk. For instance if you did one Reclast, the CTX could be done to make sure it is working and then the CTX could be done months later, and continue as a monitoring approach evaluating whether more bisphosphonate is needed. But there may be a standard answer to this already. It's just that you might want to do less alendronate or Reclast because of prior use.

I don't know if there is any research into other sequences after Prolia but I have not seen any. Always ask your doctor! Generally bisphosphonates are taken 3-5 years.. Prolia is also an anti-resorptive. So you have only been on anti-resorptive. I think a situation like yours is complex and needs medical advice. Do you have a good endocrinologist?

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I took forteo for two years then alendronate for 5. Now on my 11th shots of evenity and my endocrinologist wants me on prolia. Thanks

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1 reply
elizabeth44 | @elizabeth44 | Jul 11 8:07am
In reply to @gravity3 "Elizabeth, may I ask how old you are. I am 76 a d my endocrinologist wants..." + (show)
@gravity3

Elizabeth, may I ask how old you are. I am 76 a d my endocrinologist wants me to start prolia after I finish Evenity in several months
I have already had alendronate a d forteo
If I start prolia now and want to get off what can I follow it with..

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I am 79 years old and my endocrinologist wants me to continue with Prolia because it is working and not causing me any side effects not even mild bad effects. There is definitely no reason for me to change it at least for the moment since Prolia has been very effective for the time being. A month prior to my scheduled shot she orders blood tests to check the level of my calcium and so far it has been normal.

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windyshores | @windyshores | Jul 11 8:27am
In reply to @gravity3 "I took forteo for two years then alendronate for 5. Now on my 11th shots of..." + (show)
@gravity3

I took forteo for two years then alendronate for 5. Now on my 11th shots of evenity and my endocrinologist wants me on prolia. Thanks

Jump to this post

@gravity3 depending on your age you could stay on Prolia, as @elizabeth44 is doing. I know folks who are doing Prolia for 10 years.

If you stop after more than a couple of years, Reclast seems to be recommended over alendronate.

So you did Forteo, alendronate, Evenity and now Prolia. I think our doctors are figuring out long term protocols as they go, since some drugs are new and some side effects were not known initially. Good luck

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tessie | @tessie | Jul 12 10:52am
In reply to @windyshores "@sungal some are staying on Prolia 8-10 years apparently but for those of us in our..." + (show)
@windyshores

@sungal some are staying on Prolia 8-10 years apparently but for those of us in our 70's, that means into our 80's and then stopping and doing Reclast....When I am 80+ I would consider Prolia if it was tolerable and if the effect on immune system is okayed by research and MD's (I have lupus). I have a friend who is 83 and taking it for the rest of her life, apparently. She has not been told about a need to stop or rebound and follow-up and I did not enlighten her 🙂

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Me too. I've taken Prolia 8 yrs at 76 years old. Previous GP said it's up to me if I want to continue but he retired. My new GP wants me to continue. Thankfully no side effects but I'm wandering the precise benefits. In Feb. 2024, I had total hip replacement and now the other hip is starting. As far as I'm concerned I'm disabled. Nothing strenuous to prevent dislocation. Getting old isn't a 'golden age'.

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kfmgm | @kfmgm | Jul 13 2:42pm

I experienced sudden and significant hair loss after my third shot.
Also my fingernails have become tissue paper thin.
I am waiting to see a specialist to find out what I should be taking alternatively.
Needless to say, I quit the Prolia shots.

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1 reply
windyshores | @windyshores | Jul 13 3:27pm
In reply to @kfmgm "I experienced sudden and significant hair loss after my third shot. Also my fingernails have become..." + (show)
@kfmgm

I experienced sudden and significant hair loss after my third shot.
Also my fingernails have become tissue paper thin.
I am waiting to see a specialist to find out what I should be taking alternatively.
Needless to say, I quit the Prolia shots.

Jump to this post

@kfmgm are you on Reclast or Fosamax to prevent rebound after quitting Prolia?

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