1. < Osteoporosis & Bone Health

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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hsum4 | @hsum4 | Feb 11, 2023
In reply to @ladys2 "I used Prolia for 2 years, which increased my bone density 14%. No specific side effects,..." + (show)
@ladys2

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

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I think Prolia is strong enough to help your body stop the bone from getting worse. I like the fact that it works slowly.

hsum4

REPLY
kjane322 | @kjane322 | Feb 12, 2023
In reply to @fearfracture "It sounds like you are taking calcium that comes in 600 mg per pill. In an..." + (show)
@fearfracture

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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Interesting about the calcium. I’ll read more about it. Thank you for this information.

REPLY
pami | @pami | Feb 12, 2023
In reply to @ladys2 "I used Prolia for 2 years, which increased my bone density 14%. No specific side effects,..." + (show)
@ladys2

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

Jump to this post

Were you taking a supplement with Strontium in it?

REPLY
1 reply
ladys2 | @ladys2 | Feb 12, 2023
In reply to @fearfracture "Do you and your doctor have a target BMD? Meaning is your goal to get your..." + (show)
@fearfracture

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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My goal is to get out from dangerous osteoporosis zone. To stop the decline. I didn't know about yearly DEXA. Do not know if change in bone density in one year will be significant enough to be noticed.

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1 reply
ladys2 | @ladys2 | Feb 12, 2023
In reply to @pami "Were you taking a supplement with Strontium in it?" + (show)
@pami

Were you taking a supplement with Strontium in it?

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No, I didn't

REPLY
pami | @pami | Feb 12, 2023

Thank you! Congratulations on great results!

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fearfracture | @fearfracture | Feb 12, 2023
In reply to @ladys2 "My goal is to get out from dangerous osteoporosis zone. To stop the decline. I didn't..." + (show)
@ladys2

My goal is to get out from dangerous osteoporosis zone. To stop the decline. I didn't know about yearly DEXA. Do not know if change in bone density in one year will be significant enough to be noticed.

Jump to this post

Yes, yearly DEXA can show statistically significant increases in BMD.

Did your dr. do baseline BTM (bone turnover marker) tests prior to your starting treatment?

Here’s a link to some very helpful info on BTMs. https://s3.amazonaws.com/Food4HealthyBonesPDFs/FFHB+Blood+Test-Bone+Markers.pdf

Also, my most recent DEXA, December 2022, t-scores were
lumbar spine -3.6
right femoral neck -2.9
total right femur -2.8
left femoral neck -3.1
total left femur -3.0

I chose not to have another zoledronic acid infusion because I question my endocrinologist and his advice, and the 1 infusion I had did not show statistically significant improvements in my BMD, and I’m, 54, and as I told my doctors back when I was originally diagnosed at age 50, I would prefer to try to improve my BMD on my own.

Note, I joined a gym over a year ago and go 3 times a week and have been slowly increasing weights and I am considering trying HRT to help my bones.

I have hypothyroidism and that might be why the zoledronic acid did not make much of a difference, and my endocrinologist should have known/considered that before prescribing bisphosphonates.

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1 reply
ladys2 | @ladys2 | Feb 12, 2023
In reply to @fearfracture "Yes, yearly DEXA can show statistically significant increases in BMD. Did your dr. do baseline BTM..." + (show)
@fearfracture

Yes, yearly DEXA can show statistically significant increases in BMD.

Did your dr. do baseline BTM (bone turnover marker) tests prior to your starting treatment?

Here’s a link to some very helpful info on BTMs. https://s3.amazonaws.com/Food4HealthyBonesPDFs/FFHB+Blood+Test-Bone+Markers.pdf

Also, my most recent DEXA, December 2022, t-scores were
lumbar spine -3.6
right femoral neck -2.9
total right femur -2.8
left femoral neck -3.1
total left femur -3.0

I chose not to have another zoledronic acid infusion because I question my endocrinologist and his advice, and the 1 infusion I had did not show statistically significant improvements in my BMD, and I’m, 54, and as I told my doctors back when I was originally diagnosed at age 50, I would prefer to try to improve my BMD on my own.

Note, I joined a gym over a year ago and go 3 times a week and have been slowly increasing weights and I am considering trying HRT to help my bones.

I have hypothyroidism and that might be why the zoledronic acid did not make much of a difference, and my endocrinologist should have known/considered that before prescribing bisphosphonates.

Jump to this post

Thank you for the link. I will check it out. I am almost 74 and cannot go to the jim right now. Trying to be as much active as I can . Improvement in 2 years of Prolia ( 4 injections total) is 14 %. I don't know what's the precision of the DEXA scan measurements. Willing to give it another chance for 4 more injections. Consultation with endocrinologist may be another good idea

REPLY
leeosteo | @leeosteo | Feb 13, 2023
In reply to @fearfracture "It sounds like you are taking calcium that comes in 600 mg per pill. In an..." + (show)
@fearfracture

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

Jump to this post

Fearfracture, could you post the Health Harvard Newsletter article? I can't see this article without creating an account to login. Thanks.

Also, I like your idea of Citracal Petites and spreading out your calcium throughout the day. Great idea!

REPLY
phyllisden | @phyllisden | Feb 14, 2023

Veruska@veriska, concerning your question about experiences with Prolia, I try not to respond negatively to postings but I'm having an experience with Prolia that I have not read here, and that my prescribing doctor actually denied was a side effect.
I had my first Prolia shot in February last year, another one last July, and my third one in January. Since last May I've had 5 UTIs. Prior to starting the Prolia I may have had 1 a year. So went back and re-read the info on possible side effects and UTIs are listed as a "serious" one. Today I saw a female Physician Assistant in a urogynocology clinic and she advised me to stop the Prolia. At this point we can't say definitively that the Prolia caused this, but it seems pretty suspicious. I already have one kidney that's compromised so don't need another one! Unfortunately it'll be awhile till we know as I just had a shot last month.
I do have "severe" osteoporosis and have had several fractures, so will need to look into other options.
Bottom line, first, everyone is different so can and usually will have different side effects (if any). And, secondly, be educated about your condition and medications as you could be the one that starts to connect the dots before your Healthcare provider does.

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