My doctor suggested I take Prolia. After reading the side effects, I opted to take calcium and vitamin D3. I'm not sure of what the results of the calcium and vitamin's will be, but some of the side effects of Prolia seem pretty severe.
I hope you read up on Prolia and that you make the decision that's right for you. Mary

I took Forteo for two years with a slight increase in my bone density. No side effects but I dreaded giving myself the injection every morning. Not sure why, it didn't hurt.

I have taken two injections of Prolia and will have another one in the spring. No side effects. I am scheduled for another bone density test soon so not sure if it is working.

I also eat healthy, exercise and am 67 years old. I am super healthy other than occasional acid reflux which I think was caused from taking Fosamax years ago.

My sis has had two Prolia injections but like the above, it's too soon to know how effective. She has had no reactions or side effects from the drug.

I've had hyperactive thyroid and knew I'd experienced some bone loss so have been paying close attention to density the last several years. When my DEXA indicated it might be time, I used two years of Forteo and had very good (my doctor was startled at how good) results/increases the first year, only slight increases (spine and hips) the second. No side effects that I'm aware of (and I do see my dentist regularly, nothing has been said while there)....other than a thinning of my eyelashes at the very end of treatment. I finished with the Forteo mid Sept and my lashes are filling in nicely, I think will be back to normal in another month and I'm not sure anyone but me really noticed anyway.

I'm going to take the once a week alendronate (generic Fosamax) for the next year and see what avenue to take after that. I wanted to treat this aggressively before it became an issue - my mother has pronounced osteoporosis and has had two compression fractures of her spine...my goal is preventing that and so far looks good.

If you can take calcium and vit d supplements (someone I know swears by Bone by Daily Foods) and add weight-bearing exercise. My former sec'y was on one of the osteo drugs and now has the jaw necrosis with tooth infections, tooth loss, and there is nothing they can do about it.

It seems so counterintuitive to me that you take a drug to prevent bone loss which gives you bone loss...

Here is a link that might be useful: Bone supplement

I did Fosamax, Calcium & Vit D that held Osteopenia from getting worse. Eventually stopped & went a few years with Calcium& Vit D. Last Bone density showed Osteoporosis. I have had 2 injections of Prolia, no side effects. Both times I went in I was told of the excellent results they are seeing when patients have another Bone density test. I continue with Calcium & prescription strength Vit D.

My doctor would be supplementing either medication with additional calcium and Vitamin D, of course. I have a medical condition that has caused me to have considerable difficulty absorbing any nutrients or vitamins, however, so those supplements may or may not help, but most certainly would not be adequate by themselves to combat this density issue.

IâÂÂm diabetic, and inject insulin several times daily, so the daily injections doesnâÂÂt bother me, but then again, IâÂÂd rather not have another injection each day to add to my list. With that in mind, IâÂÂm leaning toward Prolia, yet still concerned about the reported jaw necrosis dilemma. It does seem counterintuitive, but I donâÂÂt know what else to do.

Otherwise, I do all the right things, eat well, maintain a good weight, exercise, etc., and have wonderful lab scores! Thank you all for your considerate advice. I think IâÂÂve decided to do the Prolia and see what develops, (or not)...lol!

I've been reading a lot about building bone lately. I had a not-so-great dexa scan a few years back and my sister and brother both had the same. I'm not sure what my bones are like right now, I'm kind of afraid to find out. But I have read in quite a few articles about building bone density that the best "exercise" they have found is simply jumping up and down! It increased bone density better than any other form of exercise. Isn't that funny? So I try to remember to jump up and down twice a day! I also do strength training and yoga at the gym, not relying on just jumping about a few times a day. Nanny2a, I know your condition is more serious than just needing some jumping, but thought I'd just mention it.

I opted not to take Prolia after reading the side effects. Most concerning is the possible adverse effect on immunity. I have osteoporosis only in my right hip as the result of being an above knee amputee for over 30 years and no way to have any weight bearing on that hip. All the weight when walking with a prosthesis goes on the butt bone. I've been taking generic fosamax for quite a few years. The osteop is stable but one of my doctors recommends Prolia. I got a second opinion and that doc recommended staying on the fosamax as long as I'm stable.

I've never heard of periodontal bone loss and associated tooth loss as a side effect. Have heard about the osteonecrosis of the jaw however. That's a little disconcerting. I hate the gambling you have to do with things like this - which problem do I think I'm more likely to get? Right now I'm at risk of breaking my hip if I fall. The doctor says important to prevent deterioration to the point I'd have a spontaneous fracture just doing nothing. Yikes!!

Question. Those who did fortia is giving yourself the injection a problem.

I injected myself with Forteo for 2 years and it increased my bone density a good bit. However, after several years of just taking calcium and vitamin D, my osteoporosis came back. I am now getting a Prolia injection 2 times a year, but haven't had a bone density test yet to tell how helpful it has been.

Hello. Im 43 yrs old. I will start with I have a lot of medical issues and have always been a healthy being from physical labor to foods I ate to exercise. 5'10 120lbs most my life. Had a job doing highway maintenance and a coworker dropped a jackhammer on my head in 99'. Went into landscaping in 2010 and in 2011 woke one morning with what i thought to be a neck cramp sleeping wrong. Nope; herniated disc. Did a cervical fusion at 5/6 february of 2012 and said all looked great healing on xray. Continued to complain of severe pain and weakness. Surgeon kept ignoring it saying its perm nerve damage due to waiting surgery to long. Took a road trip to Florida from Nebraska and back. Both my husband and I having CDL's did the run both ways pretty quick. Big mistake for me. A week later spent 10 days in the hospital with a pulmonary embolism in each lung. Hematologist put me on warfarin indefinately with low dose aspirin for a MTHFR clotting factor. That was the following Sept of 2012. Still continued repeat followups with complaints of pain and weakness. Went to family doc in May 2013 exhausted, fatigued, bones hurt like the flu constantly. My Vit D was at a 7 and min should be 32. Now diagnosed with Vit D deficiency. 5k mg a day plus caltrate D. December 26th 2014 we were hit by a drunk driver. Went to same neurosurgery facility but requested a diff surgeon. After CT scan it showed no bone growth from prior surgery and herniated disc now at 6/7. She was ticked at prior surgeon to not do a CT to check for sure. She did surgery again even with a fatality rate at 70% due to the MTHFR and coming off warfarin and taking lovenox shots in stomach. Cant do ANY lovenox day prior to surgery because causes actual clot in the spine when surgery performed there making risk even higher of fatality. Well she did great. Came out and said the drunk that hit us made me realize pain more so because apparently since no bone grew the screws came loose in the titanium plate and my neck was highly unstable. She didnt use cadaver bone on this one. Ground my hip bone. Actually was the worst pain ever. A year later follow up xray showed bone healing. Vit D at 31 so fam doc ended vit d supplement just continue caltrate d. Another 3 months later still complaining of pain in neck n feels like will collapse forward and choking hard to swallow. Did CT and showed zero bone growth yet AGAIN! WHAT THE HECK?!?! She was asking what im taking. Asked why i stopped Vit D. Was ticked again. Now she sent me to an Endocrinologist. Suspects osteoporosis now. Been on 5k mg Vit D and caltrate 5 months now. Trying to keep bone density up to try surgery one last time. Well went to then again today and now ordered bone density test and says he wishes me to continue Vit D and Caltrate D and now wants to do the Forteo for 2 years then onto the Prolia after that. I will leave reply of this bone density test numbers and after use of each medication to see where exactly if any benefits helped or any side effects. Fingers crossed I live through the next surgery to report about end results but wont be for a while yet. Its necessary to keep my neck from collapsing and severing my spinal chord. Just so everyone is clear why i have to do surgery. Optomistic right? Lol.

I will be getting my fifth Prolia injection in February. No apparent side effects. In addition, my doctor has me taking Vit D3 along with Calcium and Magnesium. (Even when I visited my Rhuematologist, she told me to make sure to take the Vitamin D3, Calcium, and Magnesium every day.) Prolia is nice because only one injection every six months. My doctor and I discussed Prolia and Fortea; he recommended the Prolia.

I poste above after 2 Prolia shots. I had the next 2 and another bone density test. I had improved out of osteoporosis to osteopenia. I chose for the next 2 years to do continue the calcium & vit D.

Not sure where the information on jumping up and down came from. It's not a good idea to jump up and down, if you have osteoporosis. The impact can cause fracture. The same can happen with running

Yes, it's not good if you've got osteoporosis, but might help in preventing it.

http://www.prevention.com/health/health-concerns/jumping-increases-bone-density-more-running

Coming from a medical professional. If your Healthcare provider had osteoporosis and cost wasn’t a factor they would all choose Forteo. Actonel, Fosamax and Prolia are all bisphosphantes. Which means all they do is kill off osteoclast activity. Osteoclast breaks down bone while Osteoblast rebuilds bone. When you go through menopause osteoclast is heightened, hence developing osteopenia and eventually osteoporosis. When bisphosphanates are given they stop the osteoclast activity and the osteoblast can give you a higher Dexa score. Although it also slows down osteoblast markets as well. Your bone begins to calcify. If a doctor then has to turn to forteo. Forteo must regenerate all that activity before eventually giving you stronger bones. If you are osteoporotic and cost wasn’t an issue the provider should give you Forteo first line and then move you to Prolia or another bisphosphanates after. Forteo actually rebuilds bones. So although levels vary you actually have stronger new bones like a newborn. Eventually it also gets stronger.

Hugh, has your opinion about Forteo changed since you posted? There seems to be some concern about bone cancer. Anything new on the horizon?

I want to update my Prolia review. No problems the first 2 years & increase in density. Second 2 year round, thigh hip & jaw pain. Against Dr wish i stopped!! Oh & the second round showed no increase.

No my medical opinion has not changed. Doctors have habits. We tend to do what’s normal or just become set in our ways. It’s easier and honestly don’t like change. Forteo is a biologic drug. As with a lot of drugs in this class it has a black box warning. I believe 1 in 250,000 thousand developed osteosarcoma. The clinical studies must report any adverse events, but I don’t know if the person in the study had symptoms leading into the study. There is also a new drug called Tymlos which is similar. One refrigeratEd and the other is not. It’s been a long time and I don’t have the clinicals any longer, but I’m sure your doctor can get it from a sales rep and discuss with you.

Thanks for the updates.

Sorry to hear that, eandhl2. Sure hope the pain has subsided...