People stop taking Prolia for several reasons, including experiencing or fearing side effects, personal preference or cost, reaching a treatment goal, or due to a physician's advice (often based on a lack of understanding of the drug's discontinuation risks).
After your treatment with Prolia® is stopped, or if you skip or delay taking a dose, your risk for breaking bones, including bones in your spine, is increased.
There is no recommended time of treatment for Prolia Injections; clinical studies have often been three years, and at least one study went for 8 years. The longer you take Prolia Injection, the bigger the improvement in fracture risk when compared to placebo.
These are less common side effects (occurring in 10-29%) for patients receiving Prolia: Diarrhea • Shortness of breath • Low levels of calcium in your blood (hypocalcemia).
Prolia must be given by a doctor or trained healthcare professional because it's a prescription injection that requires careful patient screening, potential monitoring for serious side effects like severe low calcium, severe infections, or jaw problems (ONJ), and managing risks like rebound fractures if stopped, making professional administration and ongoing management crucial for patient safety.
Prolia is only available as a subcutaneous injection. Fosamax is often a first-choice medication for osteoporosis. But when comparing Boniva versus Fosamax, Boniva doesn't have to be taken as often. And when comparing Prolia versus Fosamax, Prolia may be preferred for people who are at very high risk for fracture.
Yes, hair loss is a possible side effect of Prolia, which affects up to 1 in 10 people. Hair loss can be caused by the effect of the drug on the hair follicles. If your hair loss gets worse after taking Prolia, it is worth reporting it as a side effect.
These warning signs of osteoporosis can include:
Weight-bearing aerobic activities
Examples include walking, dancing, low-impact aerobics, elliptical training machines, stair climbing and gardening. These types of exercise work directly on bones in the legs, hips and lower spine to slow bone loss. They also improve blood flow and are good for the heart.
Add vitamin D.
Getting enough vitamin D helps with calcium absorption and incorporation into your bones. “The current recommendation is 600 IU of vitamin D per day through age 70 and 800 IU per day after age 70,” Sellmeyer says. “Some individuals may need more to achieve good blood vitamin D levels.
SEVERE HYPOCALCEMIA IN PATIENTS WITH ADVANCED KIDNEY DISEASE: Patients with advanced chronic kidney disease are at greater risk of severe hypocalcemia following Prolia (denosumab) administration. Severe hypocalcemia resulting in hospitalization, life-threatening events and fatal cases have been reported.
Endocrinologists treat the endocrine system, which includes the glands and hormones that help control the body's metabolic activity. In addition to osteoporosis, conditions often treated by endocrinologists include diabetes, thyroid disorders and pituitary diseases.
Let's be clear about what walking can and can't do for your bones. Regular brisk walking at 3.1 to 3.7 miles per hour offers real benefits – it can help maintain your bone density and might even increase it in your hips. That's great news! But here's the full picture: Walking by itself won't reverse osteoporosis.
If you start Prolia injections, you should plan on being on the treatment for life. Discontinuing Prolia usage (without going onto another pharmaceutical to maintain the gains you made) could have serious, irreversible side effects.
The seven worst foods for osteoporosis include excessive salt, caffeine, soft drinks, alcohol, high-protein diets, processed foods, and foods high in oxalates. Limiting these foods can help support bone health and reduce the risk of osteoporosis.
Decreased bone density is the defining feature of osteoporosis, causing bones to become fragile. This is particularly concerning in the legs, as minor impacts or falls can lead to serious injuries such as femoral or tibial fractures.
To maintain strong bones and joints, you should include the following drinks in your daily diet:
Osteoporosis does not have official stages, but rather differing levels of severity based on bone density. These levels range from normal bone density to osteopenia (a precursor to osteoporosis) and, finally, to osteoporosis.
Key vitamin deficiencies linked to hair loss include Vitamin D, B12, Biotin (B7), and Iron, with low levels of these nutrients affecting hair follicle function, protein production (like keratin), and oxygen supply, leading to thinning or shedding; however, excessive intake of some vitamins (like A or selenium) can also cause hair loss, so a doctor should confirm deficiencies via blood tests before supplementing.
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your care team if they continue or are bothersome): Cough. Diarrhea. Fatigue.
The "Big 3" for thinning hair, especially male/female pattern baldness, are typically Minoxidil (Rogaine), Finasteride (Propecia), and sometimes Ketoconazole shampoo, or even Microneedling, forming a multimodal approach to stimulate growth and block hormones (DHT) causing hair loss, with Minoxidil boosting circulation, Finasteride inhibiting DHT, and Ketoconazole reducing inflammation and acting as a mild anti-androgen.
Standard dental procedures such as teeth cleaning, fillings, etc are safe to do when you are on a bisphosphonate or Prolia.
People with ONJ may experience pain, soft tissue swelling and drainage in the mouth, and an exposed jawbone for eight weeks or longer. Other possible signs are bad breath, loose teeth, and signs of infection of the gums.
At Neighborhood Dental, our teams frequently hear this question from patients who want to replace missing teeth but are concerned about maintaining their bone health. The good news is that, in many cases, dental implants remain a safe and successful option, even for individuals with osteoporosis.