Skip to content
My WebMD Sign In, Sign Up

Announcements


Welcome to the WebMD Osteoporosis Exchange with experts from the National Osteoporosis Foundation who rotate their time here.

Last Reply:
Prolia
avatar
Anon_39147 posted:
Just finished two years with Forteo, hips improved but my spine did not. I am very disappointed. My MD told me I may be one of those women who will not benefit from any drug. He recommended that I try Prolia. I am frightened by the possible side effects. I would like feedback from women who have been using Prolia for some time. All of the posts regarding this drug go back to 2010.
1 Replies |Watch This Discussion | Report This| Share this:ProliaJust finished two years with Forteo, hips improved but my spine did not. I am very disappointed. My MD told me I may be one of those women who will not benefit from any drug. He recommended that I try Prolia. I am frightened by the possible side effects. I would like feedback from women who have been using Prolia for some time. All of the posts regarding this drug go back to 2010.
Reply
 
avatar
bonebabe responded:
The purpose of any osteoporosis drug is to reduce your risk of fracture, not necessarily improve your T-score. The T-score is just one of many risk factors and a means of measuring.

When you say your hips did not improve, do you mean that your T-score did not increase, that your score decreased, or that it did not increase a significant amount determined by the precision study done (I'm assuming your testing center does precision studies) on the DXA machine?

If your score stayed the same, you are determined to be stable and that is good. If it increased or decreased within the margins set by the precision study, that is considered stable and is good.

If it decreased to be considered significant as determined by the machine's precision study, then that is a loss.

The same holds true for your spine.

The Prolia is a new drug. I think it came out in late 09 or 10. There's not been enough time for people to have been on it long term in order to address your request for feedback. Because bone is so slow to respond to change, testing is done every two years. Only now will people who began the drug when it came out be getting a followup bone density test to monitor its effectiveness.

As for side effects, you have to weigh your personal risks for fracture (prior fracture, genetics, estrogen or not, other meds taken, balance problems, T-score, etc) against the proven benefits of a drug. The benefits should always outweigh the risks.

I hope this gives you some information with which to start a conversation with your doctor.
Report This| Share this:ProliaThe purpose of any osteoporosis drug is to reduce your risk of fracture, not necessarily improve your T-score. The T-score is just one of many risk factors and a means of measuring. <br /> <br />When you say your hips did not improve, do you mean that your T-score did not increase, that your score decreased, or that it did not increase a significant amount determined by the precision study done (I'm assuming your testing center does precision studies) on the DXA machine? <br /> <br />If your score stayed the same, you are determined to be stable and that is good. If it increased or decreased within the margins set by the precision study, that is considered stable and is good.<br /> <br />If it decreased to be considered significant as determined by the machine's precision study, then that is a loss.<br /> <br />The same holds true for your spine.<br /> <br />The Prolia is a new drug. I think it came out in late 09 or 10. There's not been enough time for people to have been on it long term in order to address your request for feedback. Because bone is so slow to respond to change, testing is done every two years. Only now will people who began the drug when it came out be getting a followup bone density test to monitor its effectiveness.<br /> <br />As for side effects, you have to weigh your personal risks for fracture (prior fracture, genetics, estrogen or not, other meds taken, balance problems, T-score, etc) against the proven benefits of a drug. The benefits should always outweigh the risks.<br /> <br />I hope this gives you some information with which to start a conversation with your doctor.
Reply


Back to Top
Back to Top

See Related Women's Health Communities

See All Communities

Popular Discussions

Start a Discussion | See All

Helpful Tips

Reverse osteopenia
For anybody suffering from osteopenia (I just read Gweneth Paltrow has it) please check out site called reversemyosteopenia This site has ... More
Was this Helpful?
Yes No
1 of 1 found this helpful
Post a Tip | See All

Helpful Resources

Post a Resource | See All

Related News

Related Drug Reviews

  • Drug Name User Reviews
See More

Report Problems to the
Food and Drug Administration

FDAYou are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit the FDA MedWatch website or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

For more information, visit the National Osteoporosis Foundation website