Prolia treatment for osteoporosis: What is your experience?

Fortunate for you to regain bone density so high after only 1 year. Are you doing intense exercise or taking certain supplements to have achieved so much bone density ? Help us all by telling us what helped you along with the Prolia injection. Perhaps you are still quite young & maybe that may have been the key for high success ? from Susan

No I am not quite young! I am 64. I kept foolishly refusing treatment until the percentage of bone loss scared some sense into me. And I hate to admit this but I do not exercise (I know very bad but so much osteoarthritis: knees, hip, spine, still no excuse). I do take my Vit D daily (2000iu/day as per doctor's instructions) and I do try to walk on the good days.

After one year on Prolia, I had an 11.5 % improvement in my spine and just over 6% in my hip. Had a third injection in May. Also take 2000 iu of Vitamin D daily. Doctor happy with results.

I would not recommend Prolia to anyone, but especially to those who are prone to infections. I researched it before I got the injection and one of the things the manufacturer said was Prolia can cause infections. They didn't say the the drug works by hijacking your immune system to build bone, which it does. After the injection I had an ear infection for 3 months; my doctor said to never take this drug again. A friend of mine who got the Prolia injection suffered intense jaw pain for months. I've also been told by a doctor that Prolia's effect on you bones is temporary and after a short time your bones will loose whatever density gains they got from it. So, I'd advise against taking it.

If you stop taking Prolia you will lose the bone density you have gained. As long as you replace Prolia with another med, Forteo or for example, a bisphosphonate you will continue to build or maintain bone. All medications have side effects. (Even overthecounter Tylenol can cause liver damage). For some people with osteoporosis, and particularly once you are post-menopausal with little estrogen floating around, diet and exercise will not solve the problem. There is no perfect solution and no perfect drug .The side effects from a hip fracture are bad and often result in an earlier than necessary demise.

@sue22 I'm sorry to disagree with you but not every ones body will accept the same med . Exercise ,staying away from carbonated soda or carbonated water is important for your bones. A bone builder med. that isn't a prescription is on the alternative market I cant think of the name right now . Magnesium,calcium, potassium ,phorphrus are all good for the body . Some people do well on the Prolia,Forteo and others don,t my girlfriend lose teeth from forteo so not everyone can use them . Be your own advocate for your health .

I agree. My health and quality of life went into a downward spiral after starting Prolia. My third and final shot was a year ago, and the side effects have started to subside. So in spite of the medical profession denying side effects, I am certain that mine were caused by the drug.

I am in full agreement with you. Oddly enough, I am a person who is very afraid of potential drug side effects. I totally get it that not every body reacts the same way to meds. I have had bad experiences too.
However, you don't know until you try a medication if you will be one of the lucky ones.
I know about everything you need to do for your bones and without medication I was on the fast train to fractures. We need to remember that the side effects of a fracture are serious and often result in the loss of one's independence.

This area of health services for women continues to be a subject of much debate. My maternal grandmother and my mother both had osteoporosis and I have it as well. It seems to run in the family, regardless of how many children we all have had. I have a severe case of it and need to be given medication to assure that my bones remain stable. My grandmother received no treatment because they had nothing then to treat it. My mother fell and broke her hip and thigh bone despite receiving IV infusions of Reclast that were being studied at the time about 10 years ago. I have been studied for the last 10 years for progressive bone loss and have been on Reclast as well but developed an allergic reaction to it 4 yrs ago. I am now on Prolia injections with good results despite still being classified as having severe osteoporsis. I also have a high risk of falling because of constant Vertigo. The physicians are monitoring all of this since there is more to the story than bone mass. I just turned 67 yesterday. Everyone's medical history will dictate which medication is suitable for you to take AND which medication is allowed with the medications you are taking for your other health reasons. I can not take any oral medications for osteoporosis because of my GERD. I also have many allergies to medications that eliminate some of the drugs that are available. Your pharmacist and physicians work to make sure the type of osteo drug is right for you. There may be side effects but consult with the pharmacist - they are your best resource for how the medication will work for you.

Best wishes to you. I hope that you can stay on your feet and avoid fractures. I have some dizziness for which I take medication, but most of my fractures seem to be due to bad luck (fell hard on my back and broke my sternum).