How much Calcium shoud I be taking daily? I have PMR and GCA.
I take prolia shot every 3 months and a shot of methotrexate once a week. I exercise daily which was recommended by my pysiotherapist. I am doing quite well. I walk with a cane as of yet but am getting much better. Have been taking these meds for 3 years and before that, I took prednisone 10 msg for 6 years.
Were you not told how much to take when you started the Prolia? Usually the prescriber for the Prolia would say how much as it is important alongside any bone protection meds.
I haven't come across Prolia being used 3-monthly. In Europe it is every 6 months and the timing is because of the pharmaceutical profile of the drug. I think it might be a good idea to check with your healthcare team.
It's 6 monthly here Pro. I haven't been told to take calcium or any bone protection meds. should I be?
Prolia IS a bone protection med, similar to a bisphosphonate but works differently, but you need calcium and vit D alongside all such bone protection meds unless your diet is very high in calcium, vit D can be checked but is difficult to get in diet and the skin sun factory doesn't work too well in the UK or the older patient, Prolia forces calcium into the bones so it is a risk you may develop low blood levels - and that is dangerous for muscle, including the heart so the body must be able to get calcium from diet.
Thank you Pro. All things to discuss with my GP when I see her. I had been told none of that when I first started Prolia though I knew it was a bisphosphonate. I eat lots of yoghurt (homemade) though probably not enough and I do take vitamin D every day.
It isn't a bisphosphonate - though it does the same thing in bone but by a different mechanism. It is a monoclonal antibody, a biologic drug. You mustn't stop it without replacing it with a bisphosphonate or you risk spinal fractures caused by sudden and severe rebound loss of density.
Prolia would seem to lower the calcium in the blood so this should be monitored. See ROS factsheet
theros.org.uk/information-a...
It doesnt specify whether you should be taking more than the usual reccomendation of 1000 - 1200mgs. Perhaps you should check with yr Dr.
instructions in the Prolia pack is one injection every six months and you need a blood calcium done just prior to a prolia jab...also kidney function and vit D is usually done before you begin prolia. My doc was happy with the amount of calcium I take in my diet (yogs and cheese every day...and the bloods are ok). I have been on Prolia for 5 years.
Covid and a hive type rash
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PMR Tapering
