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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@bettersleep68

What were your dexa results. .I feel the same as you .. but my spine was -3.5...makes me nervous but I really do not want medications

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Indeed you are at higher risk than me as my score was -2.3. If my score was worse, I would still be looking for alternatives because I just felt the potential side effects were too risky for me. I also lost confidence in the endocrinologist because she didn’t explain everything to me from the outset, and it made me suspicious of her. Just do your research, ask lots of questions, and make the choice that makes you most comfortable. You know your body better than anyone. Some people don’t seem to suffer any consequences, so that might be a comfort to you. I wish you luck 🤗

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@leeosteo

My doctor told me he's putting me on Prolia. Did you change your diet and exercise regime along with Prolia to achieve much improved DXA results?

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Didn’t change my diet. I was already eating high calcium foods. I have continued exercising as before both aerobics and weights. I change up and do a variety of exercises. I also do yoga stretches.

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Why am I having side affects from Prolia when others are not? I’ll answer my own question. Everyone’s body and chemical make up is different. I’m told I should stay on Prolia for two years before I find out if it’s helping. So difficult to make that decision if I’m in pain.

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@kjane322

Why am I having side affects from Prolia when others are not? I’ll answer my own question. Everyone’s body and chemical make up is different. I’m told I should stay on Prolia for two years before I find out if it’s helping. So difficult to make that decision if I’m in pain.

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Are you sure you are getting enough calcium from your diet and supplements? This is almost more important when you are on antiresorptives.

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@fearfracture

Are you sure you are getting enough calcium from your diet and supplements? This is almost more important when you are on antiresorptives.

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I take 1200 mg calcium a day. One in the morning and one at night. Also take vitamin D. Also a few other supplements. Nothing unusual. I have thought of that. Only thing I wonder about is my 48 years on prednisone. Yet doctor says that 2 milligrams a day should not make a difference. Could taking myself off of 20 milligrams of amitriptyline have anything to do with this? I doubt it since it has been over a year ago that I did that.
Thank you for your comment.

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@kjane322

I take 1200 mg calcium a day. One in the morning and one at night. Also take vitamin D. Also a few other supplements. Nothing unusual. I have thought of that. Only thing I wonder about is my 48 years on prednisone. Yet doctor says that 2 milligrams a day should not make a difference. Could taking myself off of 20 milligrams of amitriptyline have anything to do with this? I doubt it since it has been over a year ago that I did that.
Thank you for your comment.

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It sounds like you are taking calcium that comes in 600 mg per pill.

In an effort to figure out how I could make my body absorb more calcium, I did a little searching and stumbled upon info which states, “The body can absorb a 500-mg dose of calcium very efficiently — whether from diet or supplements. But as the dose increases above that level, absorption efficiency declines.”

https://www.health.harvard.edu/newsletter_article/By_the_way_doctor_How_long_does_calcium_absorption_take

I switched from 600 mg calcium pills to Citracal Petites, each pill had 200 mg of calcium, and I try to space my calcium from food and supplements throughout the day. My thought is, if my body always has enough calcium from my diet, my parathyroid glands won’t need to release PTH to “find” calcium and potentially take it from my bones to keep my blood calcium levels in range because my diet/supplements will be doing all the work. Also, calcium is the last thing I take before going to bed because this can potentially reduce resorptions markers during the fasting state.

https://www.nps.org.au/australian-prescriber/articles/bone-turnover-markers
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I used Prolia for 2 years, which increased my bone density 14%. No specific side effects, just aging

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@ladys2

I used Prolia for 2 years, which increased my bone density 14%. No specific side effects, just aging

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That’s awesome. How long has it been since you took Prolia? And what osteo-med did you take after you quit taking Prolia? And has your BMD stabilized, meaning have you kept the gains from the Prolia?

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@fearfracture

That’s awesome. How long has it been since you took Prolia? And what osteo-med did you take after you quit taking Prolia? And has your BMD stabilized, meaning have you kept the gains from the Prolia?

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My doctor suggested me continue with Prolia for 2 more years. The bone density test will show if I need more

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@ladys2

My doctor suggested me continue with Prolia for 2 more years. The bone density test will show if I need more

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Do you and your doctor have a target BMD? Meaning is your goal to get your bones back up to the osteopenia range?

Note, if you are in the US and being treated for osteoporosis, hlth insurance will cover annual DEXAs.

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