rockettgirl,
sure.
Prolia is the strongest of these medications. It can have terrible side effects, but some people have none. It is difficult to stop taking it because of how it works. It stops the cells that breakdown bone, but doesn't destroy them. It stops them just before their release and collects them. When you stop Prolia, this collection of cells come after your bones. You can't stop or even be late for your injections. When you stop you are usually prescribed Reclast.
Reclast stops the cells that breakdown down bone. It prevents them from attaching to the bone and these cells fall away and self destruct. It is usually a yearly injection. Some few people have terrible side effects, but most have achy joints and some people have no side effects. This drug is less strong than Prolia, but stronger than the third medication Fosamax.
Fosamax is the same class of drug as Reclast and works in the same way. They are both bisphosphonates.
Because it is an oral medication it isn't as strong as Reclast. And can cause reflux as it acidic. Many people have mild side effects with Fosamax. It is a daily or weekly oral dose it leaves your body more quickly than Prolia or Reclast, so the side effects are less intense when they occur and you don't suffer as long.
There are medications that you haven't been offered.
One is Evenity. Evenity is the same class drug as Prolia. It has a black box for cardiac issues. It has proven to add bone faster than the other medications. It is the latest and is proving very popular among endocrinologists because of the added bone. It is a double injection every month. Most have arm swelling and many have joint pain. But some don't. The use of Evenity is limited to one year. There are scattered accounts of successful two year administrations.
Finally there are my two favorites Tymlos and Forteo. They work the way our bodies naturally work to increase bone density and quality. They increase the cells that produce bone and they increase the cells that dissolve bone. Now the cells that dissolve bone are important because they are attracted to bone that is weak or fissured. And they remove that bone. They encourage the cells that produce new bone. They work as a unit
The process is slower than laying new bone over fissured bone. Both drugs are self administered as a daily injection. Some people have adverse reactions, but usually only briefly because the drug leaves your system within 24 hours.
Their use is generally for two years, but increasingly endocrinologist are expanding their use. I've been on Forteo without any side effects for over two years and plan on staying on it.
So, I'd recommend that you call the PA and ask for script for Forteo.
If that proves impossible, my choice of the three medications offered would be Reclast with a lower dose than the 5mg, a slower more dilute infusion than the standard 15 minute, and I'd hope that the medication would help for two years ( as it often does) instead of one year.
I would also ask for bone markers--CTX and P1NP to ascertain that the medication I chose was working for me.
I'm happy to field any questions and hope you get more and different opinions from other good people on this site.