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What is minimum period of Alendronate to minimise Prolia rebound?
Osteoporosis & Bone Health | Last Active: Jun 3 10:54am | Replies (20)Comment receiving replies
Reading your recent post made me feel like it came from my alter-ego. I also need an answer to this question and do not feel I can rely on my primary care doctor.
In May 2023, after only 2 Prolia injections, my DEXA showed astonishing improvement at the hip (had no vertebral OP dx and had been on Fosomax for at least 5 years). My doctor said he would take me off Prolia (and it would no longer be covered by insurance, in any event) and that it was OK to do this cold turkey. I pushed back because of the valuable info I obtained here but he resisted.
I researched the issue and found this summaryhttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9081316/. I sent this to my doctor and he agreed to put me on Fosomax for 1 year as a step-down. I do not know whether this is the correct time frame but I do know I do not trust my doctor's judgment and tried to find an endocrinologist, unsuccessfully.
Perhaps it will be of help to you and we can somehow figure this out together.
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Yes, I have read that article, thanks. These 2 youtube videos will also be helpful:
From my research, you are likely on the right track as you have only taken 2 shots of Prolia. Dr McCormack in his youtube interview was of the opinion that Reclast would be necessary as a relay drug once you have taken 3 or more shots of Prolia but I have read elsewhere that Alendronate can be used too for up to 2 years of Prolia.
How long have you been on Alendronate and have you had any side-effects?
I know the standard instruction is to keep upright and not eat for 30 mins after Alendronate but I prefer to be cautious and usually do not eat until at least 1.5 to 2 hrs after. Also, I read that during the 30 minutes after taking the tablet, you should drink at least 2 oz of water
On the recommended time-frame for the step-down, I have seen from as low as 6 months to up to 2 years. I think if you can get BTM tests done regularly, they could help give guidance on the best time to stop your Alendronate - this is something I need to explore with my doctor too. Do you have any baseline BTMs to compare with?