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Esteemed Contributor
Posts: 7,734
Registered: ‎02-22-2015

First Prolia injection tomorrow. What are the side-effects?

When you ladies talked about your experiences with Prolia and how it has helped you, I didn't ask about any side-effects. Tomorrow, I have my first injection and know (from research and talking with my Rheumatologist) that I may be achy and fatiqued (is it possible to be more fatiqued than already??)  Shall I plan to return home and sleep?

 

Also, is the injection a simple shot? If not, what is the process like?


Please talk about the side- effects you have experienced. I do have an appointment to have my Income Taxes done on Friday afternoon at 3:00. Hope I'll be coherent enough to answer his questions! Thanks a bunch for your answers. IDK if tomorrow may bring some anxiety or not. 

Money screams; wealth whispers.
Occasional Contributor
Posts: 13
Registered: ‎08-29-2017

Re: First Prolia injection tomorrow. What are the side-effects?

I had my first Prolia shot in January.  It is just a simple shot in the arm.  I had sbsolutely no side effects.

Honored Contributor
Posts: 16,837
Registered: ‎03-10-2010

Re: First Prolia injection tomorrow. What are the side-effects?

@BirkiLady   It's just a shot in the arm.  I've had them for two years with absolutely no side effects.  You can do whatever you need to do immediately after the shot.


The Bluebird Carries The Sky On His Back"
-Henry David Thoreau





Esteemed Contributor
Posts: 7,376
Registered: ‎05-22-2014

Re: First Prolia injection tomorrow. What are the side-effects?

@BirkiLady, Everything will go just fine.  I have been getting Prolia shots for a while now.  Make sure you are well hydrated, and my endo’s office advises to take an Ibuprofen before.  It’s probably just something this office does.  I have never had any bad side effects.  

Trusted Contributor
Posts: 1,821
Registered: ‎02-16-2018

Re: First Prolia injection tomorrow. What are the side-effects?

[ Edited ]

@BirkiLady  You probably already know this because you are well informed, but Prolia contains some bad ingredients. (Search Prolia ingredients) This Info from rxlist dot com: 

 

Prolia (denosumab) is a human IgG2 monoclonal antibody with affinity and specificity for human RANKL (receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand). Denosumab has an approximate molecular weight of 147 kDa and is produced in genetically engineered mammalian (Chinese hamster ovary) cells.

Prolia is a sterile, preservative-free, clear, colorless to pale yellow solution.

Each 1 mL single-use prefilled syringe of Prolia contains 60 mg denosumab (60 mg/mL solution), 4.7% sorbitol, 17 mM acetate, 0.01% polysorbate 20, Water for Injection (USP), and sodium hydroxide to a pH of 5.2.

 

Acetate which is in nail polish and polysorbate 20 is a bad ingredient. These ingredients are cumulative in the body. I’m not giving you this information to scare you, but so that 

you can make a completely informed decision. Listed below is all the information on Prolia. You said that you are very weak and this drug causes fatigue in 30% of patients. Check out side effects listed below.

 

——————————————————————————————————————

 

Prolia

Denosumab is the generic name for the trade name drugs Prolia® or Xgeva®.  In some cases, health care professionals may use the trade names Prolia® or Xgeva® when referring to the generic drug name denosumab.  Prolia® and  Xgeva® are the same generic drug (denosumab).  They were given distinct trade names in order to differentiate between their unique dosing schedules and indications for use.  How they are used is different, but strictly speaking, the two are the same drug.

Drug type: 

Prolia is a monoclonal antibody that works as a RANK ligand (RANKL) inhibitor.  This medications is classified as a "bone-modifying agent". (For more detail see "How denosumab works" section below).

What Prolia Is Used For:

  •  Prolia
    • Treatment of postmenopausal women with osteoporosis at high risk for fracture.
    • Treatment to increase bone mass in men at high risk for fracture receiving androgen deprivation therapy for non-metastatic prostate cancer.
    • Treatment to increase bone mass in women at high risk for fracture receiving adjuvant aromatase inhibitor therapy for breast cancer.

Note: If a drug has been approved for one use, physicians sometimes elect to use this same drug for other problems if they believe it might be helpful.

How Prolia Is Given:

  • As a subcutaneous injection in the upper arm, upper thigh, or abdomen.  A subcutaneous injection is a shot into the layer of skin directly below the outer skin layer.
  • There is no pill form of Prolia.
  • The amount of Prolia you will receive depends on many factors, including your general health or other health problems, and the type of cancer or condition you have.  Your doctor will determine your dose and schedule. 

Side Effects:

IThe following are common (occurring in greater than 30%) side effects for patients taking Prolia:

These are less common side effects (occurring in 10-29% ) for patients receiving Prolia:

Osteonecrosis of the jaw has been reported rarely in patients with cancer receiving treatment regimens that include bone modifying agents.  Many of the reported cases were associated with dental procedures, such as removal of a tooth.  A dental examination with appropriate preventative dentistry should be considered prior to treatment with denosumab, particularly in patients with additional risk factors (ie cancer, chemotherapy, corticoseroids, poor oral hygeine).  Invasive dental procedures should be avoided during treatment.

Not all side effects are listed above, some that are rare (occurring in less than 10% of patients) are not listed here.  However, you should always inform your health care provider if you experience any unusual symptoms.

When to contact your doctor or health care provider:

Contact your health care provider immediately, day or night, if you should experience the following:

  • Difficulty breathing
  • Chest pain
  • Swelling of the face/throat
  • Confusion
The following symptoms require medical attention, but are not an emergency.  Contact your health care provider within 24 hours after noticing any of the following:
 
  • Muscle stiffness, twitching, spasms, or cramps (signs of low blood calcium)
  • Pain, numbness, swelling of or drainage from the jaw, mouth or teeth.
  • Any signs or symptoms of infection, especially involving the skin (redness, drainage, pain)
  • Fever of 100.4° F (38° C)
  • Fatigue and extreme tiredness (unable to perform self care activities)
  • Nausea that interferes with eating and is not relieved by medications prescribed by your doctor.
  • Vomiting (more than 4-5 episodes within a 24-hour period).

 

Always inform your health care provider if you experience any unusual symptoms.

Precautions:

  • Do not use both Xgeva and Prolia at the same time.  If you are receiving one, you should not be receiving the other, too.
  • Before starting Prolia treatment, make sure you tell your doctor about any other medications you are taking (including over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, or herbal remedies). Do not take aspirin or products containing aspirin unless your doctor permits this.
  • Prolia may enhance the negative effects of immuno-suppressants.  Specifically, the risk for serious infections may be increased.  Notify your doctor of any immuno-suppressive medication you are taking.  
  • Do not receive any kind of vaccination without your doctor's approval while taking Prolia.
  • Inform your health care professional if you are pregnant or may be pregnant prior to starting this treatment.  Pregnancy category C (use in pregnancy only if benefit to mother outweighs risk to fetus).
  • For both men and women: Do not conceive a child (get pregnant) while taking Prolia. Barrier methods of contraception, such as condoms, are recommended.
  • It is not known whether Prolia is excreted into human milk.  Because of the potential for serious adverse reactions in nursing infants from Prolia, a decision should be made whether to discontinue nursing or discontinue the drug taking into account the importance of the drug to the mother. 

Self-Care Tips:

  • Take a calcium and vitamin D supplement as necessary to treat and/or prevent low blood calcium levels.  Go for blood tests as ordered by your provider.
  • Perform proper, thorough oral hygeiene and routine dental care.  Inform your dentist that you are being treated with Prolia.
  • Avoid invasive dental procedures.
  • Inform your physician or dentist if you experience persistent pain and/or slow healing of the mouth or jaw following invasive dental procedures. 
  • Drink at least 2 to 3 quarts of fluid every 24 hours, unless you are instructed otherwise, as it is important to avoid becoming dehydrated.
  • Acetaminophen may help relieve discomfort from fever, headache and generalized aches and pains, however talk with your provider prior to taking it.
  • To reduce nausea, take anti-nausea medications as prescribed by your doctor, and eat small, frequent meals.
  • Eat foods that may help reduce diarrhea (see managing side effects - diarrhea) and if necessary, follow the regimen of anti-diarrhea medication as prescribed by your health care professional.
  • Use mild, unscented soaps, laundry detergents, and lotions to avoid irritating your skin.  Use lotion liberally to keep skin moisturized and prevent cracking. (see managing side effects - dry skin)
  • Get plenty of rest.
  • Maintain good nutrition.
  • If you experience symptoms or side effects, be sure to discuss them with your health care team. They can prescribe medications and/or offer other suggestions that are effective in managing such problems.

Monitoring and Testing:

You will be checked regularly by your doctor while you are taking Prolia, to monitor side effects and check your response to therapy.  Periodic blood work will be obtained to monitor the function of your organs (such as your kidneys and liver), as deemed necessary by your doctor.

How Prolia Works:

Cancer cells that spread to the bone can secrete substances that can cause cells in the bone called osteoclasts to dissolve or "eat away" a portion of the bone.  The process, during which osteoclasts break down bone and then release those minerals such as calcium from bone fluid into the blood, is called "bone resorption".  These tumors or lesions in the bone weaken the bone and can lead to complications, referred to as "skeletal related events".  Some of the complications (skeletal related events)  that can result from this bone breakdown are bone pain, fractures, and the need for additional procedures such as radiation therapy to reduce pain or surgery to fix or stabilize an affected bone.  Bone resorption also releases growth factors that my cause growth of tumors.

Receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand (RANKL) is a type of protein that is important in bone metabolism.  This natural and necessary protein is found on oteoblasts (cells that are responsible for bone formation) and serves to activate osteoclasts (cells involved in bone resorption - as described above).  By inhibiting RANKL we may be able to decrease bone resorption and therefore decrease bone loss and hypercalcemia. 

Prolia binds to RANKL, a protein that is essential for the formation, function and survival of osteoclasts, the cells responsible for bone resorption.  Prolia inhibits osteoclast formation, function and survival thereby, decreasing bone resorption and increasing bone mass and strength of the bone.  

Note: We strongly encourage you to talk with your health care professional about your specific medical condition and treatments. The information contained in this website is meant to be helpful and educational, but is not a substitute for medical advice

Esteemed Contributor
Posts: 7,734
Registered: ‎02-22-2015

Re: First Prolia injection tomorrow. What are the side-effects?

@Ketra  Thanks, I have the same info. And, yes, I'm aware of both those toxic ingredients.

 

Unfortunately, my back isn't healing and I have to begin the Prolia injections. I'm unable to have the surgery due to other medical problems. I'm so sick of wearing this brace and with warmer weather, it's going to become unbearable. Sort of in a damned if I do and damned if I don't situation. 

Money screams; wealth whispers.
Trusted Contributor
Posts: 1,821
Registered: ‎02-16-2018

Re: First Prolia injection tomorrow. What are the side-effects?


@BirkiLady wrote:

@Ketra  Thanks, I have the same info. And, yes, I'm aware of both those toxic ingredients.

 

Unfortunately, my back isn't healing and I have to begin the Prolia injections. I'm unable to have the surgery due to other medical problems. I'm so sick of wearing this brace and with warmer weather, it's going to become unbearable. Sort of in a damned if I do and damned if I don't situation. 


@BirkiLady I’m so sorry. I’ll say some prayers for you that your back will be healed quickly. I’m in a similar situation with my back as well. I will have to take some sort of action soon too. We will trust in a higher power to help us. God bless.

Esteemed Contributor
Posts: 7,734
Registered: ‎02-22-2015

Re: First Prolia injection tomorrow. What are the side-effects?

@Ketra  Thank you. Didn't sleep last night; began worrying about the wicked stuff in Prolia! Decided to give it a shot (literally). Plan to ask so many questions of my Rheumatologist now that I'm feeling better. When he and the Ortho. Surgeon originally suggested it, I was in so much pain I couldn't listen or care what they said to me. Crazy!

Keeping you in my prayers for improved heath. Don't want anyone else to go through this. Have so much compassion for those with back problems now. Blessings.

Money screams; wealth whispers.
Esteemed Contributor
Posts: 7,376
Registered: ‎05-22-2014

Re: First Prolia injection tomorrow. What are the side-effects?

@BirkiLady, I can bet you are aware of this, but I trust you have had your Vitamin D levels checked.  Unfortunately, this seems to be often neglected in routine blood work.  I was shocked when my endo doc ordered this test - my Vitamin D levels were extremely low.  I now take 4000 units a day.  And even after Prolia, continue to take Citracal.  If you are interested and open to trying something different to help with back pain, may I recommend hemp oil?  I have suffered from arthritis in my lower back.  After much research, I decided to try CBD oil.  For me, the results have been wonderful beyond belief.  It doesn’t work for everything or everybody, but I call it my “miracle.”  

Esteemed Contributor
Posts: 7,734
Registered: ‎02-22-2015

Re: First Prolia injection tomorrow. What are the side-effects?

[ Edited ]

@Ketra  Had all my monthly lab work done today. Everything (including Vitamin D & Calcium) is great. Then, had my DEXA. My osteoporosis has declined during the past two years. It's a good thing Prolia had been mentioned before the woman hit me. (Otherwise, HER insurance would be paying all these expensive injections!) Anyway, I had my first Prolia injection after seeing my Rheumatologist (and asking a lot more questions & going over my lab work and the DEXA). The injection was a breeze; no side effects. I worried last night about the nasty ingredients for naught! He said, "Such a minute amount is in a 60 mg. dosage it will not even show up when we draw your blood." Well, duh! I should have known that. I wasn't like they were going to load the syringe with formaldahyde and shoot it into a patient! What was I thinking last night? Apparently not much! 

Not going to try CBD oil (or anything else) at this point, @PamfromCT . I'm already on so many other meds for various health problems that I want to know exactly what this is doing for the next two years without adding anything else to the mix of stuff I'm on. It will be interesting to see if my next DEXA shows an improvement. (How I hope so!) It's rough enough to figure out what is causing problems if I have a reaction to a RX right now! I'm simply anxious to have my bones strengthen and my back heal quickly. I want out of this brace before the heat of the summer.

 

Thanks for your suggestion. Now isn't the time to try anything else. Perhaps in 2021. Smiley Wink 

Money screams; wealth whispers.

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