I just had my second shot and my hands feel like they are going to explode. They are not swollen at all but the pain is unbearable. I don't remember having this bad of a reaction with the first shot. Is this stuff accumlative? Has anyone completed the 2 years of injections and if so, was there a signficant change in bone density? I am lucky since they caught my breast cancer early (I hope) but this pain is unbelievable.
Prolia - how long do the side effects last, I have unbearable hand pain?
Question posted by radcoder on 24 July 2012
Last updated on 9 June 2023
28 Answers Page 2
Have had three injections... have had the most side effects with the third. I will not be getting anymore! Intestinal problems, worsening Fibromyalgia, increasing blood pressure, muscle and nerve pain, back pain, neck pain ... No MORE!
Wow.
I had three but didn’t have hand pain. Started to lose my hair and my nails became deformed and some fell off. Don’t take it again and call your Dr.
I had plenty of joint pain but not sure if it was drug or arthritis.
Thank you! I told her this evening and have stopped further injections to be safe.
I am 81. I took 3 shots since April 2017. I had no cavities in 5 years. After my second shot, my doctor found 5 plus I lost a dental implant. Not knowing what was causing my problem, I took the third shot. One month later, I had a root canal. Now I am up to 2 more cavities with cautions on 3 more. All on my lower jaw. Out of the 50,000 the FDA ran the test on, 182 had cavities - which is nothing they say. But, 85% of the 182 were over 60. Yet, they gave it to me at 80 without a word of caution about cavities and jaw problems. Tell me it leaves the body soon.
Funny you mention your teeth, I have had tooth pain and one tooth pulled. I haven’t had a Prolia injection since 2014! No one ever explained or mentioned side effects. I only had two injections. Lost a lot of my hair and nails. Since stopping that is fine. Have had numerous joint replacements since 2015.
I had a tooth removed. My dentition changed. More pain in teeth, gums receding. When I had the tooth pulled the dentist said it was good I stopped the Prolia, couldn’t touch the tooth if I was on it. That tells you something!
I just had my 2nd shot(a few mo ago) after a back sprain. The sprain has not healed & moves down the muscle wall. It has gotten to the point that on some days the muscle locks constricting diaphragm movement resulting in diffulty breathing. I’ve been told that I will need to wait out the six months for the medicine to hopefully purge from my system.
I would strongly encourage women to NOT take the Injections but use an alternative. Also if you have experienced side effects, please let the FDA know. This site provides the link to submit a complaint.
I just read a question a woman asked her doctor as to how long the side effects of her Prolia would last. The answer was “after about 6 months after your last injection, these effects may GRADUALLY decrease over several weeks OR MONTHS”! My doctor tried talking me into Prolia after I refused to take Fosamax!
What happened to “First Do No Harm”? I think I’m going to call my doctor and ask that same question!
My Dr did not mention side effects. My rash has never completely gone away.
The medication might cause a antigen antibody reaction, which is why I had the rash and itching.
Dr wanted me to try reclast, when I looked up the side effects I was not happy with patient reactions. Many had terrible bone pain. Once this is in your system I doubt you can reverse it but I’m not sure. Not taking the chance
I don’t blame you. I get nervous when I see all the the side effects involving much of the body .This multi-system list of side effects involving so many organs, connective tissue, muscles,bones, etc are ones I don’t take unless the pros outweigh the cons.
The Pharmacist is a great one to ask medication questions. They have the record right there with all your medications and allergies.
In my experience, pharmacist love to teach.
FYI... To the youngest ones here...
Back in the 90’s, pharmacist or tech are required to ask ...
Do you have any questions for the pharmacist ?
Walgreens,CVS ,etc told their staff if they were caught NOT asking that question, they would be fined thousands of dollars by the government.
Ok... more regulations. Right?
Well,,, they were not just talking.
They had agents stand in the pharmacy lines to count how many times the question was not asked.
Each violation was thousands of dollars... can’t remember but it was more than $10,000 per violation.
Lol... I have no idea why I suddenly remembered this tidbit but here it is!
Have a great day
:-)
I was diagnosed with osteoporosis about a month ago. My doctors nurse called me, not the doctor! All she said to me was “you have osteoporosis and the doctor wants you to take fosamax”! That was it! Nothing about side effects or how it might effect all of my other medications! First of all, I really think the doctor should have called me and discuss everything. The next day I got a list of all of the side effects!!! I had read it 3 times because I was shocked! Some of them were said to be RARE! So what! I did not want to be the one to have ANY of these RARE side effects! Even the “commen” scared the crap out of Me! I would rather suffer with the POSSIBILITY of a fracture rather put stuff in my that they make kitty litter with! I also have macular degeneration, a seizure disorder, cataracts, glaucoma and Major Depressive Disorder, and take a lot of medications.
Nothing was ever said about how other medications could react with this stuff! My daughters keep telling me to take fossamax and Prolia! I keep wondering why they would want me to take this and suffer with these side effects! I have doing a lot of research on all of this and sometimes they will completely ignore my concerns or twist the questions around and make it sound like something else! At times they literally cross out words so the questions are never answered! I have the decision to NOT take anything! I am astonished and shocked that my own doctors won’t tell me the truth!!! I don’t know who to talk to!
Hi Peggy,
Technology seems to separate the patient from the doctor even more.
Medicine has turned into big business with allotted time periods for each patient based on a diagnosis code.
I don’t think phone calls are included.
However...
“The customer is always right” still applies when it comes to curtesy and empathy.
Luckily, this medicine is not life or death.
Why not make an appointment and explain how distraught the phone call made you.
You sound like an intelligent person and the fact that you have unresolved concerns should be addressed.
Perhaps he needs a wake up call that having a nurse ( or a technician?) call on the phone to tell you that you have a chronic condition is just not cool.
I know the side effects of meds are a source of anxiety and frustration.
You want to ask the following :
How did you get osteoporosis?
What are the consequences for not taking the new script compared to increasing your calcium through diet and supplements?
Btw... Don’t forget you need the Vit D from sunlight to absorb calcium.
What are the side effects you personally should be aware of?
Are you tasking this medicine the rest of your life?
What are the adverse effects with untreated osteoporosis?
It’s really good that you are exploring your medications and not following like a sheep because you are told to take it.
Let him know that his nurse didn’t provide any information and he needs to reconsider his policy.
Best wishes
:-)
Thank you for your response to my concerns. I put in a call to my optometrist today about taking any osteoporosis medications due to macular degeneration, cataracts, and glaucoma. It’s now 6:00 pm, and no response! I just don’t understand why doctors have such a hard time returning these phone calls. It’s almost as if they think that their patients just call because they are bored and have nothing better to do! I will be calling my internist back about his nurse say nothing about side effects of these osteoporosis medications, and about him not even calling me. I am also going to call my neurologist about taking these meds with my seizure disorder. I won’t hold my breath though. Again, thank you.
I forgot your question about my osteopenia. I don’t know how I got it. Five years ago I was seeing a family practitioner. He ordered a bone density scan and simply told me I had osteopenia and put me on Vitamin D. That was it.
I had to stop the drug. My hair started to grow back and my nails are normal now. It took a year post med. so as long as you are taking the drug, I can’t say when since I had to stop it.
Hi Crazy & Hazel,
First off I have not taken Prolia but I’m a nurse and looked it up.
I’m amazed at what I found.
Just curious, what did your doctor tell you about the pain, etc ?
What was the advice given by him?
If you want, we could discuss this drug.
Let me know.
Be well
:-)
Hello, my Doctor did not mention pain or about the increased risk of breakages especially if I stopped taking prolia. As I was reluctant, we agreed to give it a 2 year trial and see if it helps to give me a kick start, then see about not taking it. I was meant to improve my physical activities but haven't and now the 2 years is up. I have never been physically active but now have quite a lot of leg and arm pain. My jaw clicks a bit though it was worse when i started on prolia.
I just got my first Prolia shot yesterday and I have no pain, I am hoping it will not happen. I walk 4 miles 5 days a week. I also take otezla for psoriatic arthritis. I did try the other medicine pill form 3 times and had to be hospitalized, flu like symptoms and passed out each time. So I don’t know how long before I have any side effects, hopefully I will not or I will be devastated. Still nervous.
Dr’s did not mention side effects.
Another wanted me to take reclast following my reaction to Prolia. If you look up Reclast, similar reactions.
Drs used to look up drugs to instruct their patients, don’t think they do that anymore. Feel like I was thrown to the wolves!
I have only had the one and only Prolia injection a few years ago my main side effect was sinus problems so no second one for me.
I got my 1 and only injection in April 2017. I honestly thought I was dying. Head to toe pain, joints, bones and muscle, 2 ear infections and sinus infection. Freezing cold in 90+ degree weather in winter pj's and 2 blankets outside in the heat. Took me at least 20 min to get in & out of my suv. Felt like my hips were dislocating. Ff to March 2018. Still feel like hell. Mostly muscles, elbows, wrists & fingers. I have maybe 2 good days a week. My dr has no answers, loaded me upon vitamins and antidepressants. Says none of her patients have complained of side effects. All I can say is I SHOULD HAVE DONE MY HOMEWORK. God only knows how long I (we) will live with this. I immediately notified dr, manufacturer, & fda. Not that it will do any good. Best of luck to you all.
Your doctor should have done his homework and talk to you about all the side, reactions and and what to do when they happened. My doctor had his nurse call me to tell me that that I have osteoporosis and to take Fosamax! Never talked to me about anything. Three days before I was supposed to take the medication, someone gave me a list of ALL the side effects of Fosamax. I had to read it three times because I was so shocked and SCARED! I called his nurse and told her that I WOULD NOT be taking Fosamax! I had done a lot of research on Fosamax to make sure I was not over reacting. I wasn’t! I tried talking to all my doctors, but none of them would tell me the truth about anything. They all sad it was fine with all my medications for Major Depressive Disorder, anxiety, seizure disorder, macular degeneration.
The sad thing is that I found out that Fosamax WOULD Affect all of these in one way or another! Any question I would ask On Line would twist it around and say that all of these medications and/or the issues I have were the causes of osteoporosis! I’m done! Good luck!
How are you feeling now?
I got my first Prolia shot in May of this year. About two weeks later, I got pain behind my right knee that hurt so bad I thought I had a blood clot, however, there were no blood clot signs or symptoms. After a week or so, the pain subsided and I thought it was over. Not. My buttocks, my right leg, and my knee hurt so bad I can't stand, I can't sit, I can't lay down. The pain is never ending and nothing seems to help it. I've been awake for days due to this pain. One of my doctors tried acupuncture for the pain but it didn't work, either. This stuff better work. If I don't break a hip and fall in the next few years due to Prolia, then it will all have been worth it.
How are you feeling now? Hope to hear from you.
To be quite honest, after reading about all the side effects in various forums, information leaflets, info I received from my doctor etc. I decided against having the injections. My gastroenterologist also advised me against having them. For me, I drink more milk and have been eating very good healthy bone building veggies and products. No Prolia for me thank you. The best advise I can give to everyone, change your eating habits and excercise, especially the weight bearing ones, walk everyday and stay happy WITHOUT PROLIA.
Good luck everyone.
I agree with you about staying away from Prolia. I had been taking Fosamax for years, but Prolia was supposed to have better results. I never had any side effects with Fosamax, and I will go back in that direction. I would suggest thinking long and hard before ever taking Prolia...
I have had two Prolia shots had problems after first one,my fibromyalgia was worse but it didn't last long. second one was 13 months ago, the next morning my blood pressure was high, had to go on blood pressure meds. fibro is much worse and pain is every were. I have had a lot of other problems since then. My immune system is completely out of whack. I wish I had never taken the first shot. When the side effects will end, no one knows. I was also dizzy and fell, breaking a bone in my spine.
I had two Prolia shots. I do not get severe reactions, but for the first few months of the second Shot especially, I was very achy, knees, thighs, elbows and back. I still get tired, but less frequently. I am due for another shot in February and really do not want it. I have another bone density in February and see if the bones are any better. I broke two bones in three months before starting Prolia and didn't fall. Just like bumps into items. I will see my options.
I only had one shot,and it was exactly 6 months ago. I am about 80% back to myself. I still have some knee pain and occasionally some bone pain. I'm so sorry you are feeling this bad. I went to a pain management doctor who prescribed Garapentin which helped some. I also saw my physical therapist. The bottom line for me is time! I hope you feel better soon.
I agree with Laura about this answer. I tke Forteo shots which are daily not every six months like prolia. It sounds like it could be an allergic reaction of some sort. Forteo is a 26 month program, & I have completed 20 months. After the first 12, they did another DEXA scan, & I had all kinds of new bone bulding. I haven't had a fracture since I started this drug which in itself is a miracle. You may be able to better handle this drug as compared to the prolia. Just a thought... (please read the side effects listed below in this link.)
https://www.drugs.com/prolia.html
I took 3 shots then started to get itchy. I itch all over... my shoulders, legs, face, back etc. there's nothing there but I am scratching all day long. It's embarrassing. I did not take my 4th shot which was about 4 months ago but I am still itchy. I would love to know when it will stop! Anyone else have this symptom?
I had the itching too, esp my back. I was going crazy!
Has the itch stopped and how long did it take?
I had to see a Dermatologist for the rash, high doses of cortisone which started up my atrial fibrillation. Had to have numerous cardiologist visits and med changes. Fibromyalgia is worse. BTW if you need bone surgery, even in mouth. They can’t touch you if you are on Prolis or if you’ve had it in a year. My hair and nails are finally back to normal. Would not recommend Prolia.
I had Prolia shot 2 weeks ago, in my tummy and week ago I started to have itching and pain on that side ,now I have shingles on that side! I don’t think it is coincidence, my immune system went down and that's why I have it.This drug is really dangerous! I am not taking another shot.
You said you take Forteo shots every day. Do you administer those to yourself or have to see a doctor for this. I'm going out on a limb here and thinking no because that would be too hard for most people to have to travel to their doctor every day. I tried Fosamax and after three days I couldn't even get out of bed. Weakness, more pain in my bones, muscle cramps and stomach issues. So now I am afraid to try anything else. My doctor suggested Prolia and I'm scared to try that. Fosamax was a pill and I could stop taking that but an injection I wouldn't be able to do anything about. Just about to give up hope on anything.
To Doolindalton, How can you even question yourself about getting the Prolia injection when you read how many problems others have had with it? Or go to other questions about Prolia and you will see more problems. I had a single Prolia injection over 6 years ago and am still having terrible problems from it.
I had my second Prolia Nov 6, a month ago. I still have bad rash and itching to death. I will not be taking any more. My cancer doctor has never seen the rash
I had my second shot 31 days ago. Itching to death and still have very bad skin condition. It is worse this time than the first time and it was bad then. Will not be taking anymore.
I had my second Prolia Shot 4 months ago. I am very itchy and scratch and get spotty rashes. At first I was achy in my knees, elbows, tired, my depression was worse than previously. I do not want anymore shots. Go to the dr in February.
Prolia is ruining my life! The rash is unbearable. I never had skin problem. My back , legs, arms are like leather. I only had one shot. Never again. I went to the dermatologist and had to go on steroids and that’s what caused my Osteoporosis to begin with. Any ideas when it will go away ?
My bones are so bad I have been on Forteo for two years twice (eight years apart). I never had a single problem with it in fact felt better when I was on Forteo and thinner. Prolia has caused me nothing but pain. This drug should be taken off the market! I went to my doc and he ran tests and gave me steroids for a week to calm the inflammation. Just what we all need - steroids to combat the drug induced pain. Ugh. I feel safer just listening to my own research, exercising and eating well.
If you haven't already, call your doc and let him know of the reaction you are having to the medication. He/she needs to know of the side effect and your unbearable pain.
Good luck to you,
Sweet Hippie
I just finished my 2 year Prolia injections and I just researched side effects because my doctor didn't tell me what to expect. I started having changes in how I was feeling from the first shot but it was a lot more pain than beforehand. Nothing I couldn't tolerate. But, after each injections something different. To make a long story short I feel like hell pain, dizziness, weakness, flu like symptoms and my body feels extremely hot. I don't know if it builds up in the body or what is going on. I reported this to my doctor and his assistant said let them know if no better. Well I am waiting for his office to open because I am no better. I don't recommend this to anyone. I am just praying God will bring me through.
would like to know if you got any answers from your doctor. I have had 2 prolia injections and like you I feel like crap. 5 days ago I experienced severe back pain. I am using a walker to get around. No one seems to know if the side effects will go away in time.
About 2 months ago I had my first shot of Prolia. I can't believe how much pain I am in. No one seems to know how long this will last. I have severe bone pain in my legs, joint pain in my knees and what feels like sciatica. A few days ago, I started feeling better, but that changed last night. I would love to know how long this lasts. Clearly, I will never have another shot. Thanks for listening...
I had three injection of Prolia. The last (4th) I cancelled due to severe eczema all over my body, hair loss, deformities of nails, increased body pain. I had to visit numerous Dr's to solve the skin problem (cortisone ) three skin biopsies. Increased hip and back pain. Dr's just poopoo'd it. FYI someone else I know lost her hair! I would not recommend this drug.
I had my 1st & last prolia injection in May '17. On the 2nd day I was deathly sick to my stomach. Then every joint was horribly painful. It would take me 15 min to get out of my suv. My hips felt like they were dislocated, hand pain, bottom of feet burning, bone pain, sinus & ear infections & now hair loss. If I'd only done my homework before getting it. Of course the dr said no other patient has had any symptons. I'm taking 2 bagful (gal ziploc) of vitamins a day to try to overcome this. I hope it goes away soon. I've notified fda & drug manufacturer, for what it's worth.
Good luck to you all.
I had my 1st & last prolia injection in May '17. On the 2nd day I was deathly sick to my stomach. Then every joint was horribly painful. It would take me 15 min to get out of my suv. My hips felt like they were dislocated, hand pain, bottom of feet burning, bone pain, sinus & ear infections & now hair loss. If I'd only done my homework before getting it. Of course the dr said no other patient has had any symptons. I'm taking 2 bagful (gal ziploc) of vitamins a day to try to overcome this. I hope it goes away soon. I've notified fda & drug manufacturer, for what it's worth.
Good luck to you all.
Took prolia shot June 2017 never again pain, brain fog, weak ain't the word for it, so sick from bed to couch, blood calcium up, immunoglobulin down, er so many times, cause so weak. DON'T freaken do the shot almost 2 month's on couch all day
Took prolia shot June 2017 never again pain, brain fog, weak ain't the word for it, so sick from bed to couch, blood calcium up, immunoglobulin down, er so many times, cause so weak. DON'T freaken do the shot almost 2 month's on couch all day
I received 4 Prolia injections, after each one I started feeling a little worse. I told my oncologist about joint pain, flu like symptoms and severe headaches. I was blown off. This last injection, I ended up in ER with severe ear pain, swollen face, eyes swollen shut and fast heart rate, along with UTI two days later. The pain in my ear was so bad it was unbearable. I immediately called my oncologist and told them the ER doctor had connected the dots to Prolia. This medication is poison!!!
I read a question from another patient who called her doctor because she was having painful side effects from Prolia and she asked the nurse how long the side effects would last. She was told that “probably” after about six months the pain would maybe start to go away gradually, over several weeks to six months it would go away.
The reason I am having so many questions/concerns, and anger about Prolia and Fosamax is because of the answers or denials about how both of these would affect they would have on my Major Depressive Disorder and the meds I take for it as well as how they would affect my Macular Degeneration and the meds I take for it, and finally how they would affect my seizure disorder and the meds it take for it. EVERY answer or reply I received stated that each one of these medications or health issue were the CAUSE of my osteoporosis! Make your own decisions.
Related topics
Further information
- Prolia uses and safety info
- Prolia prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Prolia (detailed)
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