Thoughts on Prolia?

Posted by sheezit @sheezit, Mar 28, 2024

Diagnosed with Osteoporosis. Drs recommend Prolia. Do not like taking medications especially oral. Last resort would be Prolia as injection. Looking for opinions on this medication. Thank you

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Profile picture for mts629 @mts629

Endocrinologist put me on Alendronate 3 yrs ago & was disastrous! Far more pain in spine & hips than ever before & severe hair loss in 2 months. Stopped cold turkey & tossed all rx. Primary Dr. wanted to put me on Prolia but I refused. Did research & side effects "could become permanent" ; NO THANKS. Current diagnosis is osteo, arthritis, & bursitis in spine, hips, knees; take 1- 12 hr Aleve, 1-Allegra, 1-gingko pr day. Have to be careful re twisting, turning, lifting, falling. Have found within the past 2 weeks that 3-4 hrs of manual labor in the yard relieves far more symptoms/pain than any medicine. Body hasn't felt this pain free in years! Forgot how much I enjoy gardening & how good it is for me; one of reasons I bought house 30 yrs ago. As my Mom told me all those years ago> "............... KEEP MOVIN !"

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What were your dexa scores then and now?
Any compression fractures?

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Profile picture for gravity3 @gravity3

What were your dexa scores then and now?
Any compression fractures?

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I'm sure I have my dexa scores somewhere in med history; however, turning 79 in 5 weeks does not give "importance" to those facts. If I can still remember my name when I wake up in the morning, its a good day. I view it in far more simplistic way> been there done that, didnt work. My point> beware of any rx prescribed. Do your due diligence & research & then decide. Guess I'm leaning towards a more holistic approach to what's left of Life. Feel I've been blessed with above average gene pool. Thank you God & Mother Nature!

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I want to end Prolia injections after 3 years and take an oral medication but I have GIRD and can't take oral meds that cause heartburn. What would be the best oral med under these circumstances?

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Profile picture for bethers @bethers

I want to end Prolia injections after 3 years and take an oral medication but I have GIRD and can't take oral meds that cause heartburn. What would be the best oral med under these circumstances?

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@bethers stopping Prolia after three years may cause you to have compound fractures. Consult an orthopedist.

I stopped Prolia after just the first dose and did not take anything else for three or four years. Now my physician has me on Actonel once a month - but thst may not be the course for you, since you have been on Prolia for three years.

I have GERD too, and Actonel does cause acid reflux so I make sure I am not lying down or bending over to do an work for a few hours after taking it, and I have been fine so far.

I will not go back on Prolia.

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I've been on Prolia for over 10 years. I started on it when I was first diagnosed with breast cancer. There was a period I was off it because I was taking an IV for my bones ( zometa). I'm due for my dexascan in November. Last time the scan looked really good. My concern is that I had hip replacement earlier this year and they fractured a bone during surgery. They said my bones were really soft! Shouldn't Prolia have helped strenghten my bones? I'm thinking I'd like to transition off but am nervous about doing so.

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Sadly Prolia doesn’t strengthen bones. It stops your body from removing old bone thereby “apparently” increasing density however that doesn’t translate to strong bone. You can still fracture when on Prolia .

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Profile picture for leeosteo @leeosteo

gently, I'm starting Forteo on Monday. When do you take your shot, am or pm? Do you do anything else e.g., take with food, extra calcium, stay hydrated (8-10 8oz water)? I'm 115 lbs and nervous.

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hi, billnanearney1889. I'm happy for you.
I take 250mg and vitamin K2-4 two hours before the injection. This probably makes no difference and I didn't do that when I started the medication.
I have the injection between 8am and 8:30 ( unless I forget).
The endocrinologist who prescribes for me thinks that the most common unpleasant reactions happen because:
PTH raises the calcium levels in the blood quickly upon injection. The flood of calcium dilates your blood vessels. The dilation causes headache, rapid heartbeat, low blood pressure hence dizziness. perhaps nausea and possibly muscle cramps.
Salt and caffeine are known to constrict your blood vessels. I like to eat an olive or blue corn chip really just a little something salty and tea or coffee.
If you drink a glass of water it dilutes your blood calcium and provides added volume to your blood, so your heart doesn't have to beat so hard to get the blood circulating in the widened vessels.
I have low blood pressure already so I took my blood pressures a bit obsessively in the first weeks. I lose 20 points on the systolic almost immediately after the injection. It begins to creep back up immediately until restored several hours later.
I haven't had side effects. Though I think it is more luck of the draw than my little morning celebration. In the beginning you might be careful the first couple of hours not to do any balancing acts, or rushing about until you know if you'll be dizzy.
I kept worrying that my pens hadn't been refrigerated somewhere along the way because I felt nothing.
Forteo is a wonderful drug.
Oh, are you having bone markers. It's a good idea CTX and P1NP

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I have been on Prolia x11 years and I will be 78 in Feb...I am waiting for my final visit after a tooth extraction Sept 2...on my lower left mandible. Iam worried about possible osteo-necroses of my jaw. My internist referred me to an endochrinologist but can't get an appointment until APRIL...I missed my Sept Prolia shot because of the Oral surgery and I am scheduled for one after my 2 month post-op visit with oral surgeon on Nov 3. Finally to my question...if I do have necroses who do I see to treat this and my internal med doc wants to put me on Reclast which has the same side effect as Prolia!!

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