Denosumab and Bone Pain: What Users Say

• Dis...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 24, 2020

For Osteoporosis "I had my first Prolia injection in June 2016. I have since had 9 injections. I did not relate the severe muscle soreness, joint and bone pain to the drug. I was fit and healthy prior to taking the drug, walking regularly, swimming and lifting weights. Now my life has been ruined. I have difficulty functioning on a daily basis. Simple tasks like getting out of bed, in and out of a chair, in and out of a car, getting dressed and undressed are painful. My strength has decreased alarmingly. I researched the side effects of Prolia, the only drug I was taking. I couldn't believe my eyes. The drug that was supposed to be enhancing my life was destroying my life. The sad thing is a bone-density scan revealed that my bone density had not improved. All the technician could say was that 'it had not become any worse'. I will not be taking Prolia or any other drug again. I will increase the foods in my diet that have high calcium levels and continue to take Calcium and vitamin D and K2."

• Mis...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 22, 2020

For Osteoporosis "Both my grandmother and my mother took this medication and it harmed their health. Caused cracked teeth, widespread joint and bone pain, and increased fatigue. It is supposed to help remineralize your bones but it appears to leech the calcium elsewhere in the body. My mom got such horrible cramps in her calves, it was pathetic. Both of them stopped the medication and they are still having side effects years later. This is poison."

• Gem...
• April 30, 2020

For Osteoporosis "I don't know what to think about this medication. I've been using it for 1 year now. I don't sleep due to the bone pain. My shoulders, elbows, and hips are causing excruciating joint pain, especially at rest."

• T57...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 27, 2020

For Osteoporosis "I had one shot of Prolia on July 19, went through 6 months of nightmarish symptoms. Bone pain, jaw pain, even my teeth ached and have moved. I now have a gap in my teeth and they're chipping, my hair started to fall out, skin allergies, which I've never had. I am usually fit and healthy but never felt so sick after having Prolia. I'm so scared of rebound vertebrae fractures I'm taking a bisphosphonate as a relay drug. After that I'll never take an osteoporosis drug again."

• Lka...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 1, 2021

For Osteoporosis "I have a BRCA2 mutation, so my doctor prescribed Prolia to offset the bone loss caused by the AI I was prescribed to reduce my risk of breast cancer. After the third shot, I started having muscle and bone pain in my leg that was so severe I could hardly walk. My doctor said it was not the Prolia causing it, and she administered a fourth shot. That was July 2020. Since then, the pain has gotten much worse. I stopped my AI in October, so Prolia is the only med I am on. The pain can be mild to so severe, I am in tears. I was an active, healthy person before Prolia. Now I can barely walk. I have joined a Facebook group with over 3,000 women having similar and worse side effects. This drug is awful. I have reported to my doctor, the FDA, and Amgen, but no one has any suggestions to alleviate the horrible side effects. This drug should be removed from the market."

• Gra...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 26, 2013

For Osteoporosis "The side effects of the medicine made me opt out of taking the 2nd injection. Severe bone pain in the legs, back, and hip along with a bladder infection caused me to be on antibiotics for months, leaving me feeling very poorly. I also experienced a change in bowel habits as well as a loss of appetite. Twenty-eight pounds were lost very quickly."

• Jud...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 7, 2023

For Osteoporosis "I had my first Prolia injection on April 5th, 2023. I was so hopeful it would help my bones. Instead, it made my life worse! I feel terrible. My bones hurt, I have pains in my body where I never had pain before. Muscle aches and cramps. I feel so tired all the time. I'm 80, but I am constantly on the go. I do most of our yard work, take care of the car, and our own home. It is a large home and takes a lot of time. I also am blessed to have a great husband and a cute dog who loves to take walks. I struggle taking care of all of it now. In May, I had a terrible bladder infection. Still not completely over it. I did research on Prolia but did not do enough. I finally got a sheet listing all the side effects. It's a whole page! It's then I started to put two and two together. I am NOT going to take another shot. It's not good for me. I am looking into other ways to improve my bones. Beware! Prolia is not good for you!"

• MDa...
• February 6, 2020

For Osteoporosis "I have had two Prolia shots and the third one will be due in March. Right from the outset, I experienced bone pain through my hips and down both thighs. Fit, healthy, and active, I have had to force myself up flights of stairs. I notice that in the past couple of weeks, the pain in my legs has taken on a burning sensation and has moved down to my shins. I get out of chairs as if I have arthritis. Absolutely ridiculous! I am going to my GP tomorrow to let him know I have finished with this drug. I saw an endocrine specialist who reluctantly wrote me up for a bone scan later in the year, 'because we know this drug works, we don't need to do scans.' Well, I will continue to take my good calcium supplement and D3 (5,000u a day) and hopefully can get back to running and walking the long distances I did easily prior to these injections. I have two friends on the injections with no problems. A third has just had her first one, and nothing adverse yet!"

• Dan...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 10, 2019

For Osteoporosis "I just had my second Prolia shot and it has been a nightmare. My doctor did not tell me about the perils of stopping this drug. I feel like a street drug addict. I have had severe bone pain. I cannot keep my calcium level at a correct level. When I report other numerous side effects to my doctor, he says it was not the Prolia. Now I find out that doctors are getting paid to prescribe Prolia. This is a medical nightmare that will not end. DO NOT TAKE THIS NO MATTER WHAT A GREEDY DOCTOR TELLS YOU."

• Sus...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 20, 2020

For Osteoporosis "I had my second shot of Prolia in January 2017. I experienced SEVERE bone pain and many other horrible side effects. I still suffer from many of those side effects today in January 2020, and it has completely changed my life for the worst. The effects of the drug never leave your system, and I will never be the same."

• Dia...
• April 28, 2016

For Osteoporosis "This drug has been a nightmare. I have experienced unexplained bone pain in lower left leg and a breakout of bleeding gums and mouth sensitivity. I did not get any info from the prescribing endocrinologist except that it was a safe drug and that he had prescribed it to his mother! This has been a very expensive lesson in terms of dental costs and extremely detrimental to my health and well-being."

• Ree...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 5, 2019

For Osteoporosis "On my last visit to the cancer center, they put me on a new injection for osteoporosis (Prolia) and had to sign a form to take it. Like a lot of you, I trusted my doctors and took the shot back in September 2019. OMG, I was not ready for what I was in for with the side effects. I have no energy, my legs feel like they give out after 10 steps, making me take a break. My bones hurt all the time, which they did anyway with the hormone blocker, but this just intensified it. I have no appetite, can't sleep, and my memory is horrible. I have a very multitasking job, and it has been tough keeping up with everything. It feels like it's all about the almighty dollars with these doctors, and I will not take this drug again. One thing I have found concerning osteoporosis is there are classes called Osteo Strong that help build bone naturally in your body, and you attend once a week."

• Til...
• May 30, 2017

For Osteoporosis "Three days after receiving my first Prolia injection, I developed a cough which turned into bronchitis and was treated with antibiotics - bad luck, a coincidence I thought. A month later, my life changed with severe bone pain in my right jaw. I had lockjaw five times. Pain in my right shoulder, ribs, and my neck was so stiff, but worse was my lack of mobility. My morning walk to the bathroom was just like watching Frankenstein walk, I couldn't move any faster because of the pain. Getting on and off the toilet was a major event. Turning in bed was excruciating and sometimes impossible. This lasted the whole summer of 2015, which eventually tapered off to where I am today. Worst experience of my life. No more Prolia for me."

• Jas...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 12, 2019

For Osteoporosis "I was on Boniva for 10 years with no improvement in my bones. My doctor switched me to Prolia shots. I took my first shot of Prolia in January 2018 and developed severe mouth ulcers, sloughing of my gums. I could not handle spice or salt, and my nutrition fell. At that time, I did not associate it with Prolia. I took my second shot in August, and my mouth ulcers flared up. Severe ulcers in the gums, upper palate, back of the throat, and nasopharynx area. My mouth had grey, purple, and white patches. I was unable to eat. I also developed severe jaw pain, bone pain, and muscle weakness. For three days, my low back, hips, and legs froze, and I was in excruciating pain and could not walk. I was in bed with ice packs and anti-inflammatories. I was frightened. I have stopped Prolia. It has been more than a year, and my mouth ulcers have not healed. I am now being treated at a university hospital. This is not a safe medicine and should not be prescribed."

• Ann...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 1, 2016

For Osteoporosis "This drug is a life saver. I tried Actonel and Fosamax with poor results. I experienced bone pain and flu-like symptoms for weeks on end. After seeing an endocrinologist, it was decided I try Prolia. NO side effects at all. Not even soreness at the injection site. I just received my 3rd injection and 2nd bone density test. Density is up 7-8% in spine and hip. I am thrilled."

• Kry...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 23, 2014

For Osteoporosis "I have been on Prolia for 2 years. I am so happy. Before Prolia, for a couple of years, I had been on Forteo, and I was tired to shot myself into the stomach every day. Again comparing to Forteo, I have much better results with Prolia. What is the most important for me :) Yes, I have some bone pain (legs, back) especially for the first 2 months but, when I see my last Bone Density results, I can bear the pain :)) Thanks, Prolia! God is great!!"

• j f...
• October 8, 2016

For Osteoporosis "Had 3 shots: #1. The provider knew nothing other than she was supposed to administer the shot. #2. Did explain somewhat about the shot. #3. Did not know where on the arm for the injection. Should have not taken #3. Several days after each shot, sweated at night. The bone between knee and hip hurt tremendously for several days, had headaches. It has been 2 years since the last Prolia shot. Maybe things would have been different if all had started correctly. Explain, explain is important for administering any drugs to patients."

• Ste...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 15, 2019

For Osteoporosis "I’m on my third round of Prolia. First round, I had no side effects. Second round, pain in hips and jaw on both sides of hip and jaw. Spoke to a nurse and was told they did not have any negative feedback to date. Third round, hip pain is present and now bone pain in left arm. The bone pain in all three locations is aching bone pain. It gets your attention. I’m just turning 50, not overweight, have osteoporosis on a low level. I’m now deciding I need to find an alternative. It is difficult to determine what is the Prolia side effects and other aspects of aging and some fibromyalgia that I have but I do feel, after reading other's experience, Prolia is causing further pain that was nonexistent prior to the shots."

• Joa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 21, 2019

For Osteoporosis "Within 4 days of the Prolia injection, I had severe skin reactions. Within one week, my body became weak, and I experienced sleep difficulties. I have continued to be weak, experience bone pain, and have fatigue. Now I feel like I have some cancer in my organs, none of them are functioning right. This is a hideous drug that should be removed from the market."

• Suz...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 10, 2021

For Osteoporosis "I had my second and last injection in January 2017. Still having the miserable side effects that I will probably have to live with for the rest of my life. I so regret taking this drug. There is no coming back from this drug. That’s been my experience: bone pain, nerve pain, digestive issues. And very difficult convincing a doctor that this is a side effect from this drug. And there’s nothing they can do to help you. Do your research before taking."

• lit...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 2, 2019

For Osteoporosis "OMG! I just had my second shot and will more than likely not have a third! 1st shot. Pain in bones. Pustules over my face and lumps (like boils) under my armpits. Hot water and Bacitracin used. 2nd shot. 10 days ago. Immediately, the worst pains ever in my right (shot was given on right side both times) hip into the groin and the inside of the right knee. Woke me up in the night too. Face pustules again just when I have 2 events to go to. Worse this time. None under armpits, though. Have been using hot water and Bacitracin. What is simply awful is the METAL taste in my mouth. I thought it was something else until I realized to check further. They went away eventually. But, very unhappy while it's happening."

• Sus...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 19, 2022

For Osteoporosis "I did not want to take this drug to begin with, and unfortunately, there is no alternative when you have advanced osteoporosis. I have been sick since I started taking it. Out of nowhere, I have suddenly started having all kinds of infections and bone and joint pain. I started Prolia 2 years ago and have been basically sick ever since. DO NOT TAKE this drug. There is now a clinical study about Prolia and death!"

• tm5...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 26, 2018

For Osteoporosis "I have had one injection of this drug and will not be taking another one. Before taking this drug, I spoke to the infusion doctor, a dentist, and my primary care. They assured me it was okay to take. I read common reactions and worried a little, but a broken hip sounded worse. Boy, big mistake, a 10 on the pain scale of bone pain in the thigh. Lucky to have Tramadol on hand, or it would have been the emergency room. Not one doctor will admit it is this drug, and they only did an X-ray after I threw a fit. Five months later, the pain is less, but still there and makes walking very difficult. Also, the ear pain with no indication why. How come this is still on the market when adverse reports outnumber good reports? Make a CDC report too."

• Liz...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 5, 2022

For Osteoporosis "After one injection of Prolia, I began experiencing severe muscle and bone pain. My joints also ache horribly. Then the headaches began. It took me a week of this pain to make the connection. THIS DRUG IS AWFUL! I will refuse to continue with this drug. At least broken bones will heal and not be nearly as painful. I urge the FDA to re-examine this stuff. The side effects are not worth it. Think twice before agreeing to start Prolia."

• cha...
• April 23, 2021

For Osteoporosis "From a healthy, independent woman recovering from a nasty fall (broke section of back), my mother became an invalid and a dependent on Prolia. While initial symptoms of the drug (bone pain, hip pain, shivers, lack of sleep, red cheeks) diminished, they have never left Mum. As soon as Mum took the drug, she could no longer have long conversations due to her discomfort. Mum can now have longer conversations but is still often in so much pain she can't concentrate on what anyone is saying. Thanks, Prolia, for taking away my mother from me and from those who loved her. Amgen, you have ruined our lives."