Prolia How does this work at increasing bone mass?

[cameraguy]

Prolia How does this work at increasing bone mass?

[Mark_ABH]

Hi cameraguy, here is some information about Prolia (denosumab) from the American Bone Health website: americanbonehealth.org/fda-...

Denosumab is a monoclonal antibody for the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis and is given by injection every six months. Prolia works by decreasing the activity of osteoclasts at the molecular level, helping the bone-building cells increase bone mass. Prolia is recommended for women with osteoporosis and high fracture risk, which includes patients who have had an osteoporotic fracture, have several risk factors, or have not responded to other treatments.

Brand name is Prolia®.

Side effects may include back and muscle pain, pain in the extremities, elevation of lipids in the blood, and bladder infection.

Postmenopausal women taking denosumab should not discontinue it without beginning bisphosphonate or other medicine in order to prevent rebound bone turnover and to prevent rapid decrease in bone mineral density and increase in fracture risk.

[cameraguy in reply to Mark_ABH]

Hi Mark, Thanks for the information on Prolia. I am on the drug because I have prostate cancer and am having the antigen disruption therapy. It is doing a great job in reducing my testosterone and PSA but the side effects are bone loss and hot flashes. It beats the alternatives.

[Mark_ABH in reply to cameraguy]

We are about to launch a new resource for people with prostate cancer; it will be part of our Cancer Survivor's Guide to Bone Health (which also has sections on breast cancer and metastatic cancer): americanbonehealth.org/canc...

Prolia is prescribed for men getting androgen deprivation therapy to prevent bone loss and fractures. There is another medicine called XGEVA (it's also denosumab but with different labeling and indications) that is used for people whose cancer has spread to the bones. In these cases, denosumab helps prevent "skeletal-related events" caused by tumors on the bone, such as pain and fractures.

Best wishes on your treatment!