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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@ritafarmer

I believe that all of the osteoporosis drugs have a possible side effect of osteonecrosis of the jaw. This is only a concern if you are having teeth filled--not if you are having fillings, crowns, root canals, etc.

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@ritafarmer did you mean to say “this is only a problem if you are having teeth pulled” and not “if you are having teeth filled”?

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@bonnieh218

@ritafarmer did you mean to say “this is only a problem if you are having teeth pulled” and not “if you are having teeth filled”?

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Yes, you are correct. Sorry.

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@bonnieh218

@ritafarmer my dentist told me necrosis of the jaw is a problem for you if you need dental work done that would involve anything with the bone, like an extraction because your bone can’t heal after the extraction. I’ve had fillings and a root canal done and although I’m not taking any of these drugs now my endo doc wants me to start with Prolia. My dentist said no and that was because there will be the day when I have to have teeth pulled out, like the root canal tooth, and then the bone will not heal where the tooth was pulled. I have other teeth with no fillings or crowns and she said they would be affected in the same way should they ever be extracted.
I have been on Reclast for 5 years and now off of it for 3 years. In those three years I’ve had fillings and crowns done with no necrosis problems. So, I believe it’s not from just having fillings or crowns done. Hopefully I don’t need to have any teeth pulled, with fillings or not, and face the consequences. All the same, I am saying no to any more of these drugs.

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Of course, this is a personal decision that only you can make. I found the following article:

https://www.medpagetoday.com/meetingcoverage/acr/48752

This is a multi-year study of prolia with a large number of women. 1500 women in the study had to have teeth pulled, roots scraped, dental implants, etc. Only 0.48% of these women developed osteonecrosis of the jaw
I believe that this is the risk that my oral surgeon quoted me when I had to have a tooth pulled. As I said before, the oral surgeons who do these procedures seem to be more aware of the actual than family dentists.

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@ritafarmer

Of course, this is a personal decision that only you can make. I found the following article:

https://www.medpagetoday.com/meetingcoverage/acr/48752

This is a multi-year study of prolia with a large number of women. 1500 women in the study had to have teeth pulled, roots scraped, dental implants, etc. Only 0.48% of these women developed osteonecrosis of the jaw
I believe that this is the risk that my oral surgeon quoted me when I had to have a tooth pulled. As I said before, the oral surgeons who do these procedures seem to be more aware of the actual than family dentists.

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Thankyou so much for drawing attention to this informative study.

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I have osteoporosis and my concern is not about my Fosomax, but that the medications I need for allergies and for anxiety both list bone loss as a side effect. What to do?

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@Liane1

I have osteoporosis and my concern is not about my Fosomax, but that the medications I need for allergies and for anxiety both list bone loss as a side effect. What to do?

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I take drugs for asthma, allergies, and to prevent the rejection of my cornea transplants. In fact, my asthma drugs are one of the reasons that I was diagnosed with severe osteoporosis at the age of 41. I have to breathe, and I have to see, so I must take these drugs. The doctor who treats my osteoporosis knows about these. It is one of the reasons that I will probably be on osteoporosis drugs for the rest of my life.

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You may want to read two Prolia studies:
1)October 2018 Prolia EU Study involving 8700 people
2)University of British Columbia, Canada -Prolia side effects of Osteoclast
Note: These drugs build bones up (and do not allow bones normal tear down thus creating more brittle bones that lead to PAINFUL fractures that may only be found with MRI and not Xray. Pay close attention to Spine & Femur fractures warnings! Ask, what is the antidote to the negative side affects of Prolia?

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@harper2018

I have received one injection of Prolia and I am struggling with constipation to the point where I am not willing to continue with the Prolia. My doctor dismisses constipation and back pain as non side effects of Prolia. I have had long standing constipation uses d/t taking an antidepressant, hypothyroidism, statin drugs. I have seen a gastroenterologist with suggestions for fiber. Fiber makes it worse. I am taking miralax. Has anyone else suffered from this?

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Yes, you are not alone. I have had this side effect.

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@sue225

My fear of losing my independence finally outweighed my fear of the dangers of Prolia (and most other drugs for that matter). There is not a perfect solution and there never will be.

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I like your comment about no perfect solution...it gives me a bit of hope...although I'm really torn as to whether to continue with Prolia. My dr is scaring me in terms of the horrible consequences of not continuing, such as vertebral fractures. I had severe vertigo with a trip to ER after the last shot, developed IBS, UTI's.

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@harper2018

I have received one injection of Prolia and I am struggling with constipation to the point where I am not willing to continue with the Prolia. My doctor dismisses constipation and back pain as non side effects of Prolia. I have had long standing constipation uses d/t taking an antidepressant, hypothyroidism, statin drugs. I have seen a gastroenterologist with suggestions for fiber. Fiber makes it worse. I am taking miralax. Has anyone else suffered from this?

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To harper

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