Lansoprazole /Prolia

[Purplegloss]

In my Sunday newspaper today the usual GP column has a question put to the GP about Lansoprazole use. Following a mini stroke this lady was put on various tablets one of which was Lansoprazole, and she developed pains in her legs and hips, had a scan and was told she had early-stage osteoporosis. She wondered if Lansoprazole had anything to do with it, as she had heard that it could be a cause.

GP's reply said among other things, that according to official guidance, PPI's should be prescribed with caution to people who are at risk of the bone-thinning disease osteoporosis.

I have been taking Lansoprazole for 6.5 years now, and wonder if it is possible that my osteoporosis may have been affected by this. I was put on it as protection at the start like many others, and have never had any stomach problems at all, so have often wondered if I actually needed it at all. I was on 30mg but asked my GP if I could go down to 15mg which I did with no issue, however he has said I must not stop it altogether.

After reading Bisphosphonates by Deb967 yesterday, and then a reply from RubymyT which had a website attached, I read the review for Prolia which had a rating of only 2.7 of over 300 people who thought it was a good idea to take it. I was never totally onboard with having the Prolia injection on Monday because of so many reported side effects, and so have now cancelled my appointment, which I am sure my GP won't be happy about, but at the end of the day it has to be my decision.

Not sure where to go from here, but at the moment I feel the best I have felt in years with nothing hurting anywhere, and don't want to rock the boat by adding anything in. I am going down by the slow method from 3.5mg to 3.25mg which is working well.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

The pains in legs and hips and the osteoporosis finding was incidental - osteoporosis doesn't cause pain until there is a fracture and that is far more likely to be in the spine. The pain was probably due to the medications she was on. PPIs contribute to reduced absorption of calcium in the stomach - but it takes a long time for it to cause osteoporosis which is why you shouldn't really use it over many years. Indeed, you mustn't just stop the lansoprazole, that can result in quite severe rebound aid reflux, you must taper it slowly like you do with pred or switch to another type of drug, like cimetidine, which works in a different way.

What was the website you mention? Many of these sites have no medical background - it's like going out on the HIgh St and asking people if they think it is a good idea to take pred for PMR - they know nothing about it!

It IS your choice whether to have the Prolia or not - but it was offered to hopefully avoid developing a spinal fracture. They are extremely painful and can be very disabling so I hope you don't get one.

[Purplegloss in reply to PMRpro]

I saw it on the HU site yesterday. drugs.com/condition/osteoporosis It was put on there by someone called RubymyT

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Purplegloss]

Can't find it I'm afraid

[Purplegloss in reply to PMRpro]

It was the last one on yesterday's daily list headed Bisphosphonates if you go into that one there is a reply from RubymyT and she has highlighted in blue the website I am referring to.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Purplegloss]

Yes but it was on the osteoporosis support forum - so not easy for anyone on this forum to find to find PMRpro

Have linked reply -

healthunlocked.com/osteopor...

[Purplegloss in reply to DorsetLady]

Thanks Dorset lady you are more familiar with how the HU site works than me. I am not far from you as I am in Hampshire just over the border with Dorset.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Purplegloss]

Okay… know Hampshire well.. my place of birth..

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Purplegloss]

Having had a look - I suspect that the main disadvantage people found was that it is an injection which means going to a clinic to have it administered. Something like that puts a lot of people off. My husband had it - had no problems, And if there were problems to have - like his mother, he'd have had them!

[Purplegloss in reply to PMRpro]

Hi Pro, thanks. However if you read the reviews for Prolia on the site I mentioned there are a large proportion of the over three hundred people who were using it that were asked who had mega problems with it.

[Purplegloss]

Me too, and still here.

[Louisa1840]

I reluctantly started Prolia injections last year as I have osteoporosis. I have just had my second and can report no side effects. We are all different and our responses to drugs also very individual but I have a friend, currently in hospital, in a great deal of pain after a fractured vertabrae. My doctor said she sees too many unnecessary fractures........

It's a matter of weighing up the risks.....

[Purplegloss in reply to Louisa1840]

That is good news for you, but I am reluctant to use Prolia.

[Viveka]

What does doc mean by early stage osteoporosis? Have you got your dexa figures and asked doc about it? I would expect most women over 80 have some osteoporosis.

Suggest you do not have prolia unless you know how bad it is. (People have brought their figures to the forum and there are people who can explain them) You are unlikely to get side effects from Prolia, but once you take it you have to carry on because it has a rebound effect of reversing any bone gains if you stop taking it unless you carry on with another med like AA.

You could taper your PPI as advised and dunk tablets in yogurt.

[MrsPractical]

I used to have Lansoprazole but was changed to famotodine which is less harmful I believe. Dose of 20 mg works ok for me. Lansoprazole contributed towards making my sodium level dangerously low. Think famotodine is possibly more expensive drug.

[JanetGarrettN]

I wanted to share my friend's response to one injection of Prolia. She suffered arrhythmia and had to have surgery to implant a pacemaker. Things have not been easy since then. We all have to weigh the pros and cons of treatment. Good luck to you Purplegloss.

medicalnewstoday.com/articl...

[Purplegloss in reply to JanetGarrettN]

All pretty scary stuff, and the trouble is so many people I have come across since researching Prolia have huge problems just after the first injection.

[sewinggranny]

I was told I had fractures in both the lumbar and thorax areas six months ago and the injection Denosumab (or Prolia) was the only option open to me because of reduced kidney function. I had my first Prolia injection last Thursday. I must admit to being rather worried about the side effects, but the nurse was very reassuring. It was just like having a flu jab, slightly sore arm for a couple of days but that was all. The only other thing to be aware of, was not to have any dental treatment for 6-8 weeks, check ups and hygiene appointments are fine.

[Purplegloss]

Thanks for your reply. I am pretty sure that I will not be having a Prolia injection though.