Prolia discontinuation

Posted by czauderer @czauderer, Dec 12, 2024

Hi, due to an osteoporosis diagnosis, I took two injections of Prolia six months apart and due two side effects, I want to come off of it. I do not want to transition to a bisphosphonate or remain on one. How do I take myself off of Prolia safely? I am not getting a straight answer from my doctor.

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@jheieck

Hi I've posted a few times about my dilemma with trying to transition from Prolia to something else due to complications with dental work and possibility of ONJ, but I've never really read the breakdown of what happens during rebound when you go off of Prolia. This is pretty scary given the fact that I have been on Prolia for 6 years, meaning I've had at least 12 injections if not 13. I am due for a Prolia shot end of December early January but I'm waiting to get into the endocrinologist to evaluate my parathyroid activity, which is elevated, and to see what my options are for weaning off Prolia. This doesn't sound to promising to me. Does anyone on the thread know just how long someone can be on Prolia before there are other long-term effects? I'm only 70 years old. What if I stay on Prolia till I croak? That could be another 15 years and 30 more shots?? Why was this medication even put on the market? Certainly wasn't told that people who have extensive dental work should not go on it, not by my doctor... I found out on my own.

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I am just wondering, did you find another option yet? I had 2 Prolia injections and stopped because of a rash that developed , grew and lingered. So now I am on Alendroniate (Fosamax)
and not liking it much. I am 71 y.o. and have similar concerns.

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No, I have not found an alternative yet. I switched from nurse practitioner/bone specialist to an endocrinologist due to elevated parathyroid and calcium levels in my blood. The bone health specialist was going to switch me to HRT, Evista, to transition off Prolia, as its my only viable option due to the fact that I developed ONJ last year during an implant procedure which had to be reversed. I cannot take what you are taking because of that. Waiting to see if my osteoporosis is related to parathyroid tumors and once that's eliminated or confirmed, we can start to figure out what I can transition to in place of Prolia. But for now I am in limbo. I have been on Prolia almost 7 years and I believe I have other side effects from taking Prolia, including high blood pressure and high cholesterol and severe lower back aches, but I can't prove any of it conclusively. I want to get off Prolia but I don't know if and when I will be able to do that. In the meantime my tooth problem also is unresolved.

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@gently

I'm happy you have a good endocrinologist.
Maybe: ask her to write a note to the infusion center asking them to dilute Reclast for a slower infusion and that they to watch you during the infusion for any side effects, because of your sensitivity to medications. Then midway you could ask that they stop the infusion.
If you aren't familiar with the stop flow on the IV line, you might ask the infusion nurse where it is, explaining that you fear anaphalaxis.
This is better because you won't have to wait and then suffer the process all over again.
Your endocrinologist does sound responsive, I'm never happy to be sidelined to a PA especially one who takes five months to respond.

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Gently, thank you very much. I try new " roads " for myself, I do not know really what to do
after second Reclast, thanks for word ( anaphylaxis, I will use it), may be this famous chiropractor, I have his book, but what can he help with my body, Thymols only, because after Evenity again must be Reclast or to try Atelvia, after breakfast. It needs to have very good endocrinologist with big experience, I am so sensitive to medicines. Calle Mayo clinic, I tried it many times without any success. Jacksonville, they do not take patients at all, lack of endocrinologists. Jacksonville , if you have troubles with stomach and so on, do not go there, I was, waste of time and money, for me it was experience of village hospital. They denied diagnose micro colitis, told that micro colitis could disappear by itself (it was TEST!!! colonoscope ) and wanted to do this test again, called several times to me after.
So I think what to do in future and read this forum and want to try another one, from EU.

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whiteswan, I found this not so useful, but interesting for the instruction about anaphylaxis with Reclast. In case someone denies that it ever happens with Reclast.
It isn't easy to find good care, but there are amazing mds out there. I hope you find them.

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@awfultruth

@janetroberson1 That is amazing that you lost only a small amount of bone density after stopping Prolia. How long had you been on it before you stopped?
Sorry I've not taken Prolia and have not kept up on it's possible side effects like joint pain, so I cannot offer any info on that.

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I was on it for two years before stopping Prolia. After the gap, I have been on it for five years with very good results. How long should I be on it? No one seems to know. I'm going to consult with a new doctor who specializes in osteoporosis and see if I can get some answers.

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@janetroberson1

I was on it for two years before stopping Prolia. After the gap, I have been on it for five years with very good results. How long should I be on it? No one seems to know. I'm going to consult with a new doctor who specializes in osteoporosis and see if I can get some answers.

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“A doctor who specializes in osteoporosis”, I can’t find such a thing. I can’t find an endocrinologist who specializes in osteoporosis taking new patients. Very disheartening to me.
I hope it is a big help to you.

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@mundy

“A doctor who specializes in osteoporosis”, I can’t find such a thing. I can’t find an endocrinologist who specializes in osteoporosis taking new patients. Very disheartening to me.
I hope it is a big help to you.

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Depending on where you live, you might have better luck with a larger facility (hospital, large medical center) that advertises that they treat osteoporosis. You know - they might have a Web page like "Endocrinology: Osteoporosis program" or some such thing.

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@mundy

“A doctor who specializes in osteoporosis”, I can’t find such a thing. I can’t find an endocrinologist who specializes in osteoporosis taking new patients. Very disheartening to me.
I hope it is a big help to you.

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I don't know where you live, but here's a link to Johns Hopkins in Maryland. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/metabolic-bone-center/treatment-options

You may also want to look at the Menopause Society website to find a doctor who has certification to work with menopausal women. Some treat osteoporosis. Here's the link: https://portal.menopause.org/NAMS/NAMS/Directory/Menopause-Practitioner.aspx

Finding new doctors is a challenge. I found an endocronologist who has a special interest in osteoporosis, but I couldn't get an appointment until 9 months from now.

As I've said before (and will countless times over and over again), women's health is not a priority in the USA. And, we all suffer for it.

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Another very good resource is The Bone Health and Osteoporosis Foundation. You can identify doctors on their website.
https://www.bonehealthandosteoporosis.org/about-us/

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@janetroberson1

I was on it for two years before stopping Prolia. After the gap, I have been on it for five years with very good results. How long should I be on it? No one seems to know. I'm going to consult with a new doctor who specializes in osteoporosis and see if I can get some answers.

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I recently hear a talk that the doctor said 3-5 years max

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