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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@mabel343

Since stopping Prolia in June of 2018, I had been totally focused on bone health when in July of 2019, to my great shock, I got a stent in my heart for a 99% blockage! The diet I was on for bone health was not necessarily one that was good for my heart, not that there was evidence of the problem suddenly manifesting itself in that year. I had only recently learned that Vitamin K2-MK7 plays a role in directing calcium to the bones helping to avoid deposits elsewhere, so I make sure to take that every day along with the large collection of medications that I must now take. There is an excellent book on K2 and its interaction with calcium written by Kate Rheaume-Bleue. It is true that the body can only absorb so much calcium at a time, so essential to spread it out throughout the day. And given my situation, I am now very careful not to consume too much!

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Have you experience any of the side effects?

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@contentandwell

@sue225 According to the book I mentioned above, "Strong Women Strong Bones”, regular walking with no real impact does not help. It's still a very good exercise but not a help for your bones. There needs to be some impact. I used to use the elliptical when I work out at my health club but now I use the treadmill and make sure I have some impact.
I am trying to get it from food but being lactose intolerant it can be a challenge. I do use almond milk and that does have a good amount of calcium in it too, and I try to eat a couple of cubes of aged cheese every day. The challenge is eating calcium but not overdoing calories. Myfitnesspal gives a percentage in the calcium column, and it says I had 45% of my calcium requirement for today in this morning's breakfast but I don't know how many mgs of calcium they are basing that on.
I found out this weekend that prunes are good for your bones! That was a surprise. This is a good article I came across after I googled to find out if prunes really were good for your bones.
https://health.usnews.com/wellness/food/articles/2018-01-03/eating-for-your-bones
JK

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@contentandwell That was a great article about food that is good for your bones! I also am lactose intolerant (but I do love ice cream) and it is hard to get calcium. Tums works for me as well. I was surprised by the mention of dry prunes. Since I'm a fan, I'll have to include more of those with meals, cereal, salads, etc.

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My physical therapist told me that walking needs to be a daily exercise for me since I have osteopenia. My physical Therapist is dealing with my rehab from a 2018 fractured femur, with the rod replaced a year later and a stress fracture in the other leg. Which also required a rod. I’ve been to three different physical therapist, all of whom have told me to walk. I was a walker prior to fracturing my femur in the fall.

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@hopeful33250

@contentandwell That was a great article about food that is good for your bones! I also am lactose intolerant (but I do love ice cream) and it is hard to get calcium. Tums works for me as well. I was surprised by the mention of dry prunes. Since I'm a fan, I'll have to include more of those with meals, cereal, salads, etc.

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@hopeful33250 What do you do about your love of ice cream? I have avoided it but did find some real ice cream that is lactose free. I bought the coffee flavor so I ended up not eating it much because I am most apt to have that type of indulgence after dinner and caffeine definitely affects me. It's just as well, I really do not need the calories. I started out so good today and then it all went downhill this afternoon. 😣 I had chocolate, and some Snapea Crisps. Have you tried them? They really are not too bad for you but they are addicting. Oh, and some popcorn too. I think I will head to bed early so I won't be tempted to have anything after dinner.
JK

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@contentandwell

@hopeful33250 What do you do about your love of ice cream? I have avoided it but did find some real ice cream that is lactose free. I bought the coffee flavor so I ended up not eating it much because I am most apt to have that type of indulgence after dinner and caffeine definitely affects me. It's just as well, I really do not need the calories. I started out so good today and then it all went downhill this afternoon. 😣 I had chocolate, and some Snapea Crisps. Have you tried them? They really are not too bad for you but they are addicting. Oh, and some popcorn too. I think I will head to bed early so I won't be tempted to have anything after dinner.
JK

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@contentandwell
I still have a little ice cream when I crave it. I tried the lactose-free ice cream as well, but it just isn't that good, so I have a little bit of the real thing. I have not tried the Snapea Crisps if they are addicting maybe I shouldn't. It is quite a battle, isn't it?

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@hopeful33250

@contentandwell
I still have a little ice cream when I crave it. I tried the lactose-free ice cream as well, but it just isn't that good, so I have a little bit of the real thing. I have not tried the Snapea Crisps if they are addicting maybe I shouldn't. It is quite a battle, isn't it?

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@hopeful33250 The Snapea Crisps are not too bad for you, think of them as a vegetable! 😁 The real dairy lactose free ice cream I bought was pretty darned good since it is real dairy not some fake stuff.
It is a battle. Neverending.
JK

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@migizii

I was taking Tymlos, but have stopped temporarily while my endocrinologist waits to see if my joint/muscle pain was related to the medication or arthritis. I am processing that with a rheumatologist. I also have fibromyalgia which makes it challenging to discern but I had been taking it for five months before I had any unusual pain.

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I also have fibro so I understand the challenges you're talking about. I'm also on synthroid as I had Graves disease and had my thyroid killed with radiation. The more research I do the more I think these medical issues are connected someway or other.

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I am 72 yrs old & accidentally found out that I may have osteopenia! This was never discussed by my family doctor who took me off meds 2 yrs ago - presuming that bones were good. I haven't had a bone density test done in 25 yrs. In researching into this disease, osteopenia can be caused by a med for brain tumour - successfully removed 2 yrs ago - dilantin. I wasn't told about this side effect of this drug. Any comments about this??

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Hello @gloriajean

I can understand your concern about bone density. Loss of bone density is something that many women fear. On WebMD's website, they list the side effects of Dilantin and bone pain and easily broken bones is one of the side effects mentioned. Here is the link where you can read about the side effects of Dilantin,

https://www.webmd.com/drugs/2/drug-4157/dilantin-oral/details.

Since it has been 25 years since your last bone density it would seem appropriate to call your doctor's office and request that they order for a bone density test for you.

How are you doing since your brain surgery?

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@gloriajean

I am 72 yrs old & accidentally found out that I may have osteopenia! This was never discussed by my family doctor who took me off meds 2 yrs ago - presuming that bones were good. I haven't had a bone density test done in 25 yrs. In researching into this disease, osteopenia can be caused by a med for brain tumour - successfully removed 2 yrs ago - dilantin. I wasn't told about this side effect of this drug. Any comments about this??

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Maybe dont worry too much about the osteopenia. I was diagnosed with osteopenia in my late 40's and chose to not take any medications until I was 63 (now 65) after being diagnosed with osteoporosis around the age of 56. So far, I have not broken any bones.

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