Osteoporosis meds: How do they work?

evysar26- If I were you, I would ask your doctor why she/he selected Prolia. I know that it is a monoclonal antibody, and think it is often prescribed for patients who cannot sit up for 30 minutes or do not tolerate bisphonsphonates. Prolia may be more effective for osteoporosis caused by certain body conditions. Certain drugs have been more effective for the spine, certain for other areas. Prolia I think is given twice a year, whereas Tymlos and Forteo require daily injections. Certain conditions that I do not have would preclude use of Tymlos/Forteo. For me, the opportunity to build not just save bone is made these the PTH analog durgs worth the risks. Seems like most osteo drugs have a long list of side effects. For me, the possible risks of the effects of osteoporosis were worse than the listed possible side effects of Tymlos. In particular, I understand that if ones spine is weakened by osteoporosis, one can get painful compression fractures just by coughing. Friends whose moms (decades older than I am) have osteoporosis in the spine told me that their moms were in great pain. What risks to bear is a personal decision. Luckily, with Tymlos, I have not had the leg pain or other bad side effects mentioned here. I understand that vitamins and exercise have worked for some people; they have not for me staved off bone loss.

To Beckyc- Yes, as posted on 6/19, I am on a Tymlos-- a bone builder-- . It is is self- injected, which is not as easy as taking a pill, but not as bad as I had feared. I was quite surprised when, during the education appointment at my doctor's, I did not even feel much of a prick when I watched as I put the needle into my skin. Once you get used to it the injection was not a big deal. The first few times I had, maybe power of suggestion from reading of the bad reactions, a kind of headache for 5 minutes, but that stopped after a few injections. I also started injecting my self while sitting or lying down so I did not have dizziness that I had read about. Both Forteo and Tymlos are PTH (parathyroid hormone) analogs-- so some of the initial reaction may be the body adjusting to pth changes. if your own body has a short spike of pth, it does make your heart beat faster. Anyway, my doctor's analysis plus my reading the literature on the positive effects on done density led me to start Tymlos. I am 60, so I want to put more "bone in the bank" now ,starting from a base less-degraded by age. And my worst scores are in the spine, where Tymlos results were greatest. I do also consume calcium and exercise, but the attractive aspect of Forteo/Tymlos is that they do not just stave off loss but have increased bone density. Each person needs to make the positive/negative analysis with their doctor. I have been on Tymlos for 5 months now, and I do not feel much negative at all after injecting. Tymlos is the newer one, does not have to be refrigerated after first use. The needles, same ones apparently used for insulin, are very thin and the abdomen does not have a lot of nerves, so the injections are not for me painful, except twice when I went to far-- into muscle not fat. My instructor advised me (depends on one's fleshiness) to grab a pinch of flesh, which reduces liklihood of hitting muscle.
Good luck with whatever you decide. If you do start injecting, I would recommend sitting or lying for 5 min afterward, and giving it a trial for 2 weeks to see if your body adjusts to it. Mine did.

evysar26- If I were you, I would ask your doctor why she/he selected Prolia. I know that it is a monoclonal antibody, and think it is often prescribed for patients who cannot sit up for 30 minutes or do not tolerate bisphonsphonates. Prolia may be more effective for osteoporosis caused by certain body conditions. Certain drugs have been more effective for the spine, certain for other areas. Prolia I think is given twice a year, whereas Tymlos and Forteo require daily injections. Certain conditions that I do not have would preclude use of Tymlos/Forteo. For me, the opportunity to build not just save bone is made these the PTH analog durgs worth the risks. Seems like most osteo drugs have a long list of side effects. For me, the possible risks of the effects of osteoporosis were worse than the listed possible side effects of Tymlos. In particular, I understand that if ones spine is weakened by osteoporosis, one can get painful compression fractures just by coughing. Friends whose moms (decades older than I am) have osteoporosis in the spine told me that their moms were in great pain. What risks to bear is a personal decision. Luckily, with Tymlos, I have not had the leg pain or other bad side effects mentioned here. I understand that vitamins and exercise have worked for some people; they have not for me staved off bone loss.

evysar26- If I were you, I would ask your doctor why she/he selected Prolia. I know that it is a monoclonal antibody, and think it is often prescribed for patients who cannot sit up for 30 minutes or do not tolerate bisphonsphonates. Prolia may be more effective for osteoporosis caused by certain body conditions. Certain drugs have been more effective for the spine, certain for other areas. Prolia I think is given twice a year, whereas Tymlos and Forteo require daily injections. Certain conditions that I do not have would preclude use of Tymlos/Forteo. For me, the opportunity to build not just save bone is made these the PTH analog durgs worth the risks. Seems like most osteo drugs have a long list of side effects. For me, the possible risks of the effects of osteoporosis were worse than the listed possible side effects of Tymlos. In particular, I understand that if ones spine is weakened by osteoporosis, one can get painful compression fractures just by coughing. Friends whose moms (decades older than I am) have osteoporosis in the spine told me that their moms were in great pain. What risks to bear is a personal decision. Luckily, with Tymlos, I have not had the leg pain or other bad side effects mentioned here. I understand that vitamins and exercise have worked for some people; they have not for me staved off bone loss.

beckyc- Yes, I think that the side effects of Forteo and Tymlos are considered the same. Both carry the same restriction not to use more than two years. Both use the same basic mechanism-- PTH (parathyroid hormone) analogs. Forteo has been out longer. Tymlos is considered easier to use, because you do not have to keep it in the refrigerator after the first use. Both come in 30 day injector pens. The two-year limit is I think the result of the increased risk of osteosarcoma in a two-year study of rats. You can compare the side effect descriptions in the package inserts, which are online.

To Beckyc- Yes, as posted on 6/19, I am on a Tymlos-- a bone builder-- . It is is self- injected, which is not as easy as taking a pill, but not as bad as I had feared. I was quite surprised when, during the education appointment at my doctor's, I did not even feel much of a prick when I watched as I put the needle into my skin. Once you get used to it the injection was not a big deal. The first few times I had, maybe power of suggestion from reading of the bad reactions, a kind of headache for 5 minutes, but that stopped after a few injections. I also started injecting my self while sitting or lying down so I did not have dizziness that I had read about. Both Forteo and Tymlos are PTH (parathyroid hormone) analogs-- so some of the initial reaction may be the body adjusting to pth changes. if your own body has a short spike of pth, it does make your heart beat faster. Anyway, my doctor's analysis plus my reading the literature on the positive effects on done density led me to start Tymlos. I am 60, so I want to put more "bone in the bank" now ,starting from a base less-degraded by age. And my worst scores are in the spine, where Tymlos results were greatest. I do also consume calcium and exercise, but the attractive aspect of Forteo/Tymlos is that they do not just stave off loss but have increased bone density. Each person needs to make the positive/negative analysis with their doctor. I have been on Tymlos for 5 months now, and I do not feel much negative at all after injecting. Tymlos is the newer one, does not have to be refrigerated after first use. The needles, same ones apparently used for insulin, are very thin and the abdomen does not have a lot of nerves, so the injections are not for me painful, except twice when I went to far-- into muscle not fat. My instructor advised me (depends on one's fleshiness) to grab a pinch of flesh, which reduces liklihood of hitting muscle.
Good luck with whatever you decide. If you do start injecting, I would recommend sitting or lying for 5 min afterward, and giving it a trial for 2 weeks to see if your body adjusts to it. Mine did.

Good Morning, my understanding is Osteoporosis is only painful if you have a fracture or have curvature of the spine (neck, chest or sacral regions) does anyone know if this is accurate. Anyone have any other pain?
Jake

My understanding is this...prolia will maintain your bone density, Tymlos will help grow additional bone.