Safest infusion for 86 year old

Honestly, if I were 86, I'd take the "forever" med. Reclast is a powerful yearly infusion, so I'd probably avoid. Prolia is simpler.

@njx58
Thank you for responding. Have you experienced any of the side affects with either and which gave better result? I’m meeting with endocrinologist tomorrow so I want to be prepared.

amw1940, hi.
If I were 86 I'd take Forteo teriparatide. Both Prolia and Reclast can have some debilitating side effects. If I had to choose between Prolia and Reclast, I'd choose Reclast because of decreased immunity with Prolia that leaves everyone more susceptible to infections of all types but infections of the lung like pneumonia for those of us who have aged successfully. But also bladder infections. Since you can't take antibiotics without spiking liver enzymes Prolia could be a dangerous medication for you. Does your endo know about your situation with antibiotics?
Do you know your bone quality? Neither Prolia, nor Reclast are treatments for osteoarthritis. Forteo increases cartilage renewal, though it isn't prescribed for osteoarthritis either, but for osteoporosis.
Both Prolia and Reclast cause pain for almost everyone in the joints.
Forteo is a daily injection which some find difficult to give to themselves.
Reclast side effects can afflict you for a year or more.
Talk about side effects for both drugs and about infections with Prolia with your endocrinologist. Ask about Forteo. And then tell us what they say.
Best wishes

I had a rec class infusion in April and it was given to me over a long period of time an hour instead of a half hour and I took Tylenol before and after and I've had no side effects. I'm very osteoporotic I'm a cancer survivor. I have an esophagectomy I'm pre-diabetic. I have IBS I'm in PT for balance and for bone building. I'm taking tai chi 15 minutes every Sunday for my bones we decided that reclast would be the safest bet for me. I don't have any side effects so far I am very high anxiety. I'm hoping that my bones are building. I just had a very bad cold that lasted about 11 or 12 days. I'm still coughing, but I had a serious bout of reflux and so my pulmonologist said that I could have inflamed airways for up to 10 to 12 weeks if I see any serious side effects like weakness, pain or breathlessness than to retake an x-ray to see if I got aspirational pneumonia from the reflux good luck and make sure you work with that Endocrinologist and any other doctors that can give you input

If you have osteoporosis, you need to build bone rather than maintain.
I would definitely take Evenity which is 12 monthly infusions, little side effects and also slows down bone loss.
If you take some other meds first (biophosphonstes like Fosamax ) they blunt the effect of the bone building one’s.

It is tough having multiple conditions, and deciding how to treat them without adding new problems or making old ones worse…bone meds are quite strong and older people can have issues with them….one problem is that some are short-term and must be followed by another, or lose prior gains…it seems that situations like yours would require cooperation among several specialists… some of us choose to treat whatever conditions pose the most problems or danger— I have to lean in more to keep my kidneys working well. Wishing you some workable solutions and better days.

@nycmusic thank you for responding. I met with endocrinologist today. Told her how stressed out re starting meds I am, told her I would like to hold off on meds for now, pay better attention to diet and do strength training in gym. She had concern I might get hurt in gym and diet was not going to fix osteoporosis. She allowed me to hold off for 6 months. Maybe in 6 months I will feel more accepting of my situation and let higher power watch over me, maybe my husband who passed away from kidney failure.
I know how difficult it was for him with his kidneys, so I wish you well.

@naoshapiro1

Thank you responding. Met with endocrinologist today. Told her how distressed I am about starting meds, that I would like to wait, try diet and strength training at gym. She allowed me to make that decision next 6 months. I know it’s delaying the inevitable, but maybe then I will be more accepting and allow a higher power to watch over me.
Wishing you well.

@gently

I met with endocrinologist today. I told her how distressed I was re starting meds that I will have to continue forever. She pointed out just as people with diabetes, high blood pressures , etc need to take meds for the rest of their life. So it is with osteoporosis. We weren’t able to agree on a which to go with so I asked to wait, try diet and strenghtening exercise at gym. She was concerned I would get hurt at gym and diet was not going to help build bone. So the decision was put off for 6 months when I may be more accepting of the situation and leave the decision to a higher power to take care of me.
Thank you for responding.

@amw1940 true, one does have to be extra careful in the gym…I am extra careful in the bathroom (all those hard/potentially hard surfaces)….super careful on stairs, especially going down….get help with any task that has more potential for a fall…try to do the exercises (with focus on leg muscles) as much as I can, especially balance…take a supplement that fits me with some calcium, D3 and K2…unfortunately have to go light on dairy, and must get much of my protein from things that are plant-based…. I hope the OP med scene comes up with more tolerable meds ! Wishing you the best- be careful and enjoy your life in any way you can .