1. < Osteoporosis & Bone Health

Can I quit Prolia shots after taking five shots without problems?

Posted by wnk @wnk, May 20, 2024

May I quit taking Prolia shots after taking five shots without having rebound problems? I had a Dexa October 9, 2023 and the bone mineral density for my left femur was 0.631 gm/cm sq. with a T-score of -2.0 which was an improved bone density by 4.4% from the prior study. My lumbar spine (L1-L4) had a bone mineral density of 0.840 gm/cm sq. with a T-score of -1.9 which was an improved bone density of 10.8% compared to the prior study. A doctor told me I could just quit the Prolia shot without any other treatment but I am concerned about the "rebound problem" that I have been reading about. Thanks for any response.

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sup7401 | @sup7401 | Feb 18 7:01am

I have completed 2 full years on Prolia....absolutely zero side effects...
numbers have improved on dexa scan.
I had an appt with endocrinologist just last week and asked more questions.
She stated that if I want to transition off prolia, I could have one reclast appt. and be done!
So now ,of course, i am wondering about going from something that is working well for my bones....to an unknown which could have side effects... hopefully I have 5 years to think about it!

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1 reply
sandrac | @sandrac | Feb 18 7:36am
In reply to @windyshores "@jennirdf McCormick told me that Boniva is not a good choice among the bisphosphonates to manage..." + (show)
@windyshores

@jennirdf McCormick told me that Boniva is not a good choice among the bisphosphonates to manage rebound, and after 6 shots would recommend Reclast. I have several fractures and extend my sympathies! MCCormick in "Great Bones" and Leder in his video on You Tube (Combining and Sequential Approaches to Osteoporosis) say that Tymlos and Forteo are not effective after Prolia but since you did a bisphosphonate in between, I am hoping you get good results. Maybe you can do Evenity after the Tymlos as well.

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Reclast is my doc’s choice after Prolia to protect your gains, or Evenity if she wants to build more bone, and then the Prolia/ Reclast series.

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gravity3 | @gravity3 | Feb 18 9:17am
In reply to @sup7401 "I have completed 2 full years on Prolia....absolutely zero side effects... numbers have improved on dexa..." + (show)
@sup7401

I have completed 2 full years on Prolia....absolutely zero side effects...
numbers have improved on dexa scan.
I had an appt with endocrinologist just last week and asked more questions.
She stated that if I want to transition off prolia, I could have one reclast appt. and be done!
So now ,of course, i am wondering about going from something that is working well for my bones....to an unknown which could have side effects... hopefully I have 5 years to think about it!

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Did you begin treatment with Prolia or did other meds precede it?

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sup7401 | @sup7401 | Feb 18 12:24pm

i was on alendronate for about 2 years. That brought my numbers into a better range...but the numbers went up after a few more years off the med back
to osteoporosis range.
I had a spontaneous ankle fracture one night turning off a light!
then i went to an endocrinologist and started prolia
When you read other peoples lists of side effects, it becomes quite a trick to make a decision... stick to legitimate sites.. Mayo clinic, Cleveland clinic, medline plus.gov....ask your old classmates, and friends

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hmbrglr | @hmbrglr | Feb 18 2:25pm
In reply to @jennirdh "Everyone is different of course but I had a serious rebound effect after going off Prolia..." + (show)
@jennirdh

Everyone is different of course but I had a serious rebound effect after going off Prolia within 15 months, even w a biphosphonate directly following. Do plenty of research and maybe get a second and third opinion, you do not want to have happen to you what some of us are going through. It was never explained to me either the trauma of what the rebound could do to me. I am (was) and otherwise healthy, active, fit 67 yo
Who right now feels like a bent over old lady, trying desperately to get some vitality back. One of the main things I am working on is forgiving myself for not asking more questions and researching. But I am trying to look forward now, and just get better!

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May I ask how long you were on Prolia? I was on it for 1 year and am on Fosomax but want to stop. I have only taken 7 weeks of med on this but not feeling right at all. I felt better before I began. I’ve walked, ran, skied, and never broken or sprained anything.

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1 reply
bayhorse | @bayhorse | Feb 18 9:43pm
In reply to @pami "Just an FYI.... I was on Prolia for two years and started Evenity. I just had..." + (show)
@pami

Just an FYI.... I was on Prolia for two years and started Evenity. I just had my 12th Evenity shots. I had a DEXA the same day as my last shots. I gained 8% in my spine and had gains in hips and femurs as well. No fractures coming off Prolia. I was a -3.8 going into Evenity and now a -3.3. I am wondering what to do next since I am 71 and don't want to start Prolia again until all my other options are exhausted. Wish I could stay on Evenity for at least 6 more months. Is Forteo an option?

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@pami, is that an unusual protocol, following Prolia with Evenity? All I keep hearing is that we have to use a bisphosphinate (generally Reclast) after Prolia in order to manage the rebound.

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1 reply
pami | @pami | Feb 18 10:17pm
In reply to @bayhorse "@pami, is that an unusual protocol, following Prolia with Evenity? All I keep hearing is that..." + (show)
@bayhorse

@pami, is that an unusual protocol, following Prolia with Evenity? All I keep hearing is that we have to use a bisphosphinate (generally Reclast) after Prolia in order to manage the rebound.

Jump to this post

I believe you are right and probably the reason I didn't have better gains. My internist is sending me to an endocrinologist. That is a good call on his part because at this point, I believe I know more than my internist does since I have been learning more about the order of drugs for osteoporosis.

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1 reply
jennirdh | @jennirdh | Feb 19 10:25am
In reply to @hmbrglr "May I ask how long you were on Prolia? I was on it for 1 year..." + (show)
@hmbrglr

May I ask how long you were on Prolia? I was on it for 1 year and am on Fosomax but want to stop. I have only taken 7 weeks of med on this but not feeling right at all. I felt better before I began. I’ve walked, ran, skied, and never broken or sprained anything.

Jump to this post

I was on Prolia for approximately two and a half years, so five shots.

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2reddogs | @2reddogs | Feb 19 3:28pm
In reply to @pami "I believe you are right and probably the reason I didn't have better gains. My internist..." + (show)
@pami

I believe you are right and probably the reason I didn't have better gains. My internist is sending me to an endocrinologist. That is a good call on his part because at this point, I believe I know more than my internist does since I have been learning more about the order of drugs for osteoporosis.

Jump to this post

Just wondering and I may be confused with the above-mentioned med protocol...I have been on Prolia for 5 years, when thinking about changing to another bisphosphonate due to a rise in my cholesterol my Rheumatologist suggested a year of Evenity followed by Reclast for 3-6 years to buy me time. Thoughts on the order of these drugs would be appreciated.

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