Teriparatide (Bonsity, Forteo). This powerful drug is similar to parathyroid hormone and stimulates new bone growth. It's given by daily injection under the skin for up to two years. Abaloparatide (Tymlos) is another drug similar to parathyroid hormone. This drug can be taken for only two years.
Bisphosphonates are usually the first choice for osteoporosis treatment. These include: Alendronate (Fosamax), a weekly pill. Risedronate (Actonel), a weekly or monthly pill.
Denosumab (Prolia) is a monoclonal antibody given as a twice-yearly injection. It prevents bone-dissolving osteoclast cells from forming. Denosumab may be an option if a woman cannot tolerate bisphosphonates.
Is there a set number of years you should take it? No, there isn't a set number of years you can take Prolia. In studies, people have safely taken Prolia for up to 8 years. If the drug is working to improve your condition, your doctor may have you take it long term.
Is weight gain a side effect of Prolia? No, weight gain wasn't reported as a side effect of Prolia in clinical trials. But weight gain may be a symptom of a side effect called peripheral edema. With peripheral edema, fluid builds up in your body and causes swelling in your arms and lower legs.
In studies, people using Prolia didn't report hair loss as a side effect. However, hair loss has been reported by people using Prolia after these studies. So it isn't known whether Prolia or something else caused the hair loss. For example, certain cancer treatments can cause hair loss.
Dental side effect of receiving Prolia
Prolia has a side effect in patients who have to have tooth extractions performed. The trauma of the extraction on the bone surrounding the tooth may lead to a condition where the bone dies off, and following the extraction fragments of dead bone are lost from the extraction site.
Other bisphosphonates besides Reclast: Examples of others include ibandronate (Boniva) and alendronate (Fosamax). Raloxifene (Evista): Raloxifene changes the way your body processes estrogen, and is therefore used to prevent or treat osteoporosis in women after menopause.
Romosozumab (Evenity).
This is the newest bone-building medication to treat osteoporosis. It is given as an injection every month at your doctor's office and is limited to one year of treatment.
In a trial comparing Prolia to Fosamax, those taking Prolia showed a slightly greater improvement in bone density after one year. That's not to say Prolia is for everyone. Like Fosamax, it can occasionally lead to osteonecrosis of the jaw and atypical fractures.
Stopping Prolia injections can cause a rebound increase in bone turnover which increases risk of multiple vertebral fractures. Do not stop taking Prolia injections without first discussing this with your prescribing health professional.
Weight-bearing exercises, such as walking, jogging, and climbing stairs, can help you build strong bones and slow bone loss.
Eating foods that have a lot of salt (sodium) causes your body to lose calcium and can lead to bone loss. Try to limit the amount of processed foods, canned foods and salt added to the foods you eat each day. To learn if a food is high in sodium, look at the Nutrition Facts label.
The majority of commercial and Medicare plans cover Prolia®. The list price for Prolia® is $1,477.16 †,‡ per injection every six months. Most patients do not pay the list price. Your actual cost will vary.
The most common side effects of Prolia are fatigue (45%), body weakness and lack of energy (45%), back pain (35%), low phosphate levels (32%), nausea (31%) and diarrhea (20%).
The recommended dose of Prolia is 60 mg administered as a single subcutaneous injection once every 6 months. Administer Prolia via subcutaneous injection in the upper arm, the upper thigh, or the abdomen.
Prolia contains the same medicine as Xgeva (denosumab). Your doctor may prescribe calcium and vitamin D to help prevent low calcium levels in your blood while you take Prolia. Take calcium and vitamin D as your doctor tells you to.
Denosumab is an antibody-based medication, but it doesn't suppress your immune system. This means it doesn't increase your risk of complications from the coronavirus. This is unlike other antibody-based medications used to treat diseases like rheumatoid arthritis.
Make sure you have a dental check-up before you start Prolia. Talk to both your dentist and doctor if you require dental surgery or tooth extraction and you have been administered Prolia. Keep good oral hygiene and get regular dental check-ups while you are being given Prolia.
Official answer. Yes, Prolia (denosumab) does increase bone density. Research has shown that Prolia significantly increased bone mineral density (BMD) by 8.8% at the lumbar spine, 6.4% at the total hip, and 5.2% at the femoral neck in trials that measured BMD after three years of treatment with Prolia.
Standard dental procedures such as teeth cleaning, fillings, etc are safe to do when you are on a bisphosphonate or Prolia.
Kidney function decline is not an adverse reaction that is listed in drug references for Prolia. However, this medication can cause a decrease in calcium (hypocalcemia), sometimes severely. The risk is greater with decreased kidney function, and health care providers are advised to use cautiously in these cases.