Do Prolia injections affect the kidneys?

My wife has been on Prolia for 5 years. Her GFR dropped from 93 to 34 over that period of time. By charting many blood test results, it shows that the decline started very noticeably the year Prolia was started. Discussions with her Doctor resulted in only saying that no connection is indicated by the manufacturer.. There is too much evidence to the contrary.

I had one injection, ended up in the hospital for several weeks getting IV calcium indigo coded twice. 2 1/2 yeras later I am now in kidney failure> no doubt in my mind it is related to Prolia.

I wish that everyone considering taking Prolia research how bad it seems to be. Not only does the Federal FDA FAERS website of adverse effects list over 117, 000 reports against thus drug which hasn't even been on the market for eleven years, it's also, failing as the designated precursor drug to Evenity by their maker, Amgen.

Amgen figured to lock in the aging market by getting people on Prolia and, because one cannot take it forever OR go off it without immediately going in another to prevent Prolia-triggered bone loss (sic!), Amgen created Evenity to protect against Prolia damage,

However a recent study showed that Evenity worked best for people who had taken no prior drugs for osteoporosis, second best for people who'd first been on bisphosphonates and was least protective for people who'd started out on....you guessed it...Prolia.

In my opinion, this is a terrible drug with new formerly unreported side effects being revealed frequently and has zero long-term safety or efficacy studies. And it, too, is associated with osteonecrosis of the jaw. It's not common (yet?l but it occurs.

The following is not from a peer-reviewed medical journal but a search of studies of Prolia's problems on Google Scholar will find several.

'Yes, Prolia (denosumab) does appear to weaken your immune system. Research has shown people who take Prolia are at an increased risk of serious infections leading to hospitalizations, including serious infections of the skin, abdominal, urinary tract, and ear. People taking Prolia are also at increased risk of endocarditis (an infection of the heart’s inner lining, usually involving the heart valves). People administered concomitant immunosuppressant agents (such as prednisone or cyclosporine) or with impaired immune systems may be at an even higher risk.

Doctors may need to consider discontinuing Prolia in people who develop serious infections.

How does Prolia weaken the immune system?

Experts aren’t exactly sure how Prolia weakens the immune system but suspect it has to do with the way it works, which is by inhibiting RANKL. RANKL is a protein that osteoclasts need to work. Prolia stops RANKL from binding to its receptor RANK so reduces the development of new osteoclasts and reduces bone breakdown, bone loss, bone pain, and other bone complications.

RANKL and RANK are also expressed in cells of the immune system, including activated T lymphocytes, B cells, and dendritic cells. RANK activation by RANKL is thought to play a key role in the development of lymph nodes and is also essential for the growth of T cells and the function of dendritic cells. RANKL also enhances the survival of dendritic cells and the presentation of antigens.

This implies that inhibition of RANKL by Prolia might alter a person’s immune function and increase their susceptibility to infections.'

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The side effect may not be listed until enough people complain of the issue. It is not to say that they have reported and gathered all of the side effects. Someone else mentioned this site. http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/report.htm or you can call 1-800-332-1088. You might report your increased GFR to them. Although, it would be hard to prove that it was related to a possible side effect of the medication or just an increase in water intake (which can increase GFR) also. I had my mother ask her Urologist if she should take Prolia. He was not too concerned but she is not severe CKD but a Stage 3. All drugs have SEs, just need to find one that U & your MD feel comfortable with. Best of Health to All!

The side effect may not be listed until enough people complain of the issue. I hope U or your wife mentioned it to the FDA.
http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/report.htm or you can call 1-800-332-1088.

But! I am hoping she does Fosamax. Doctors in general are not overly educated about pharmacology and pharmacodynamics. It is best to ask a pharmacist!

I had 9 hemorrhagic UTIs in a year on Prolia. Yes, it definitely affects kidneys and urinary tract. I had to convince my doctor this was due to Prolia. He discounted my experience. Not one hemorrhagic UTI since stopping Prolia. No fractures either and it’s been 3 years. I am on vacation from all meds right now. Only calcium, strontium, vitamin D,K, biotin and weight bearing exercise. Hope to maintain. So many meds through the years….

Just want to add that in the UK strontium was prescribed (in the ranelate form) and so was considered a "med." The US citrate form is not regulated or prescribed but may have the same cardiovascular risks that led the ranelate form to be withdrawn from the EU market. It also makes the DEXA scan results look better than they are because strontium is denser than calcium and replaces it in the bones.

Some supplements have tiny amounts of strontium which I think is misleading. The therapeutic dose is 680mg for osteoporosis.