Denosumab and Hair Loss: What Users Say

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 21, 2020

For Osteoporosis "Had my first Prolia injection in Feb 2020. Two to three days later, upper abdominal swelling, indigestion, and reflux occurred. This was followed by blisters, and my whole back peeled. Subsequently, aches and pains in lower back, hip, groin, and knee emerged. Additionally, my hair started falling out, and my osteoarthritis in my hands flared up with reddening of the skin. I also experienced constipation like never before, and after 8 weeks, I gained 6kg. Blood tests revealed elevated levels of the parathyroid hormone, which were 2.7 and increased to 9.7, surpassing the normal range. My cholesterol went up, and vitamin B levels dropped to low. It has been a road of misery. I have visited doctors weekly and an endocrinologist, but there seems to be nothing that can be done except waiting for it to slowly leave my system. I am utterly depressed with mood swings. I rate this experience a zero and will not be opting for another injection of Prolia again. ☹️"

• 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."

• Cin...
• November 4, 2019

For Osteoporosis "I am stuck on this drug Prolia after 8 years on one injection to the stomach twice a year. I am too scared to continue and too scared to stop. My specialist has said we will review it at the 10 year mark. I worry about how my bones will be at the 10 year mark. I am 71 years old and was healthy except for two fractures in 2 years. I wish I had not started the drug in the first place. I wake up with pain during the night. I seem to need to sit down after walking in the shopping centre for 15 minutes. My thick hair has been falling out for the last 3 years. My skin and eyes are very dry. I have a wrinkled face of someone 15 years older. I am concerned that I will be in a wheelchair at some stage. I go to an exercise physiologist for strength and resistance training it has helped a lot. However over 1 year my abilities have reduced due to severe attacks of vertigo. I have also evidence (through MRI) of a few small strokes which I was not aware of. I only add this in case useful for others."

• Pro...
• May 30, 2016

For Osteoporosis "I did not know, nor was I given any information on this injection. About 1 month in, I experienced hair loss in places. Have a tingling around the lips. I felt very nauseous on and off out of the blue. Am very tired and just cannot get rid of chest infection/cough which just seems to be on loop... I think it's clearing up then it hits again. I will not get this injection again. Nothing is conclusive about the cause of what I am experiencing."

• Geo...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 18, 2016

For Osteoporosis "While the bone test indicated a slight improvement, I don't feel it is worth it. The first time I had the Prolia shot, I had no reaction. After the second shot, my hair began to fall out in bunches. It has continued to fall out, and it looks as though I will have to wear a wig. Has anyone else had this problem, and does it go away after the drug wears off? I will never take another dose of Prolia, and would not recommend it after reading all the negative posts on this site. It would seem that my problem is small compared to others."

• kat...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 7, 2025

For Osteoporosis "I've never had a medication make me feel so horrible as Prolia has. Pain I can almost tolerate, but this medication makes me feel like I've been hit by a Mack truck. Fatigue every day, day after day, where life is on hold. Any household chore is intolerable due to exhaustion. Eating is difficult due to nausea. I've lost one-third of my hair so far, validated by my stylist, and this is without her knowing that my hair has been falling out. I can't participate in any social interaction because I just don't feel good anymore. I'm gaining weight from lack of energy. My whole life is on hold. I have kidney disease, and Prolia is the only compatible drug for osteoporosis. I ask myself every day if it's worth it. Also, it's in my body for a total of six months, which means I can't even just stop the medication to get my health back. Never again will I permit another injection. By the feedback of other women, I'm not the only one who suffers, there are multiple queries looking for an antidote!"

• Rob...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 15, 2023

For Osteoporosis "My first injection of Prolia was on January 26, 2023, and it will be my last! Within 1 day of the injection until now (May 14, 2023), I experienced severe body pain, including hip, thigh, groin, swollen knees, severe muscle twitching, blurred vision, hair loss, and the list goes on. So far, I have not experienced ONJ (jaw bone disease). DO NOT USE! I did not research this drug, nor was I informed of the side effects by my doctor. Also, you can't just quit Prolia! You have to relay off with another bisphosphonate in order to not have PROBABLE, not possible, spinal compression fractures!! I will be using IV Reclast as my relay drug."

• Nom...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 7, 2019

For Osteoporosis "After one treatment, severe jaw and hip pain, rashes, and my hair has started falling out. I wasn't told by my doctor that I couldn't stop this medication without risking spinal fractures. This drug shouldn't be on the market. I only gave it a one because 0 wasn't an option."

• sde...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 18, 2021

For Osteoporosis "After one injection in April 2021, I have been miserable! My hair is coming out in clumps (I am so depressed), I have muscle aches, night sweats, jaw pain, and headaches. I feel like a bone on the outside of my foot broke just from walking. I will never take another Prolia injection! I feel like I’m on my own with medical care, as I have lost confidence in my doctor after this horrible experience!"

• Ann...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 23, 2018

For Osteoporosis "Where do I start, rash on face, loss of hair at one stage, fatigue, jumping out of bed at night with severe cramps in the legs, itchiness all over, pain in the knee, pain in the joints, pain in the side of the head, pain in the feet and big toes, sick in stomach, hearing loss, general weakness, mood change very angry, frequent urinating, weight gain, breathing difficulty, aware of heart rate changing, slight soreness in the mouth nose run-off and on like sinus problem, numbness in hands and arms, I have just had my third shot wish I never did"

• ska...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 2, 2017

For Osteoporosis "My GP recommended I have this injection, replacing Evista. I've had only one injection in February 2017. About three weeks later, I had terrible ear/jaw pain and went to the doctor. She diagnosed a sinus/allergy infection and gave me meds for that. It did clear up. However, after reading more about Prolia later, I found out that one of the side effects is jaw pain. Also, since I had the injection, I have had continuous itching of the face and excessive hair loss, which I also read are side effects. I am scheduled for another injection at the end of August, but I am going to cancel and will not have another injection. I don't know what the benefits would be but don't think they are worth the irritation. Will consult again with my GP."

• JCa...
• February 12, 2019

For Osteoporosis "+10 lb. weight loss"

• sue...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 9, 2023

For Osteoporosis "Had the first injection in March. Have had a lot of operations on my right leg and knee but started having problems with my left hip, lower back, knee, and thigh. Could be the Prolia or possibly from my left leg compensating for my right leg injury as I haven't walked properly for over 4 years. I do know that I suffered 50 percent hair loss between the second and fifth months of Prolia injections. I am now three months overdue for my second injection, it is booked, but I don't feel happy about it, and I don't want to lose more hair. I have seen rheumatology nurses who do their best to persuade you to carry on, but I am constantly in pain and have stomach problems, and some days I hurt too much to get up and go to bed at 5 PM as my body has had enough of pain. Is it worth it? I feel like not enough is known about this drug, and it is causing problems the experts know nothing about."

• Nan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 9, 2017

For Osteoporosis "I wish that I had never heard of this medication. I have been on it for about 6 months now, and it has destroyed me and my family's life. I can't do anything that I was doing before I started this. I was very happy, active, loved to work, and really enjoyed playing with my grandchildren and taking vacations with all of my family. I don't know what I would have done if it had not been for my wonderful husband of 52 years. I have so much pain all over my entire body, and I feel so miserable all the time. My husband has had to take over the house cleaning, cooking, and shopping. It is also impossible to sleep because of pain in both hips and back. I am also losing a lot of my hair now. Prolia has taken the prize for being the worst medication ever."

• gui...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 11, 2019

For Osteoporosis "Since I cannot take Fosamax and was so severe even after Forteo. I was told Prolia was the answer. I already suffer from autoimmune issues, which I was given shots to reduce pain in my back, only to find my lower discs are osteoporotic, and my knees and hips have lost bone density. I opted for Prolia. The first shot seemed to have no pain, after the second shot, loss of hair, pains throughout my body. Muscles knot up in shoulder and neck pain, toes hurt, legs and ankles swell. A rash lasted two months. I don't know how much longer I can go on without a bone-building medication. I was turned down for Tlymos because I took Forteo. My insurance company isn't worried about me being sick, or they would have approved Tlymos, a bone-building substance, and forgotten about the fact I took a bone builder. So far, that is what I have left to take, but even the insurance turned me away."

• No ...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 4, 2022

For Osteoporosis "I had my first shot of Prolia in Feb 2022. No immediate observations. However, within 3 or 4 weeks, hair started falling out in handfuls, noticing joint aches and mild headaches, lasting days. I have lost half of my hair volume, and I had thin hair to begin with. When I researched Prolia since the hair loss, it said hair loss was reported 'after' the trial. I was told, literally, no side effects from my doctor. It has been around for years and is very safe. Now I read these responses. My fault, I never researched this in advance and trusted my doctor. I will not take any more pharmaceutical options. Load myself with calcium (diet and vitamins) and go back to nature. I knew better. No more for me!"

• Pam...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 30, 2021

For Osteoporosis "I had the Prolia injection once, and within a few days, my hair started falling out until I was nearly bald and needed wigs. Rashes came out all over my body, restless leg syndrome, backache, indigestion, which I had never suffered from, lumps all over my skin, and psoriasis, of which I had small patches that took off like mad. I would recommend anyone about to take this drug to seriously consider the side effects before having it. It is too late afterwards, as many side effects never go away. I referred to it as a poison."

• dam...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 7, 2021

For Osteoporosis "After a bone density test showed that I was on the brink of osteoporosis, I was prescribed an injection of Prolia late in September 2021. I began to experience mild pain in my arms, neck, and thighs. These increased in severity, and I developed nausea. I then developed bronchitis, another stated side effect, and feel, after two months, fatigued with continuing bone pain. My hair is falling out. I feel no benefit from this drug, and the quality of my life has been severely impaired in every way. I shall never use this medication again. I have lost my appetite, and my legs are swollen."

• San...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 6, 2022

For Osteoporosis "I received the Prolia shot 12/29/22. Eight days later, I started having all the side effects, my arms, legs, back, muscles, and joints hurt. 3/4/22, I had an appointment at the hair salon. I was told that I was losing hair. After shampooing, I was given the hair that fell out. I was told by the hair salon not to take any more Prolia shots and to call my doctor regarding all the side effects that I had endured. Prolia should be taken off the market."

• Did...
• February 10, 2021

For Osteoporosis "I slipped on the ice and fractured my hip. After the hip replacement, my doctor put me on Prolia. Unfortunately, I didn't check the side effects. Immediately after the first injection, I developed terrible pain in my bones, joints and muscles, back and neck pain, cellulitis on my face, eczema in my ears, hair falling out and gastric problems. Only after the four injections did I check the side effects of Prolia and realized that all my problems started with this terrible drug. I immediately stopped Prolia, and I am slowly getting better. I am on Vitamin D, and I eat dairy daily. From my experience, I don't recommend this terrible drug to anybody."

• Jas...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 17, 2021

For Osteoporosis "I have scleroderma. I have had 5 injections, starting on March 17, 2019. My last was March 17, 2021. I am scheduled for one on September 17, 2021. WON'T have it. I have had scleroderma for 14 years and was doing quite well. My bones were getting weak due to extensive time on prednisone. When the rheumatologist mentioned it, I asked her if it would help and did not give it another thought until two months ago (July 2021). My general practitioner, during my regular checkup, asked me if I was still taking Prolia. I said yes, and she did not comment. I had been declining in the past 2 1/2 years and was begging my doctors for help with the pain in my muscles, weakness, fatigue, stuffy nose (never had allergies), loss of hearing, spent $5,500.00 on hearing aids that do not help, blurry eyes, dizziness. Had my eyes checked and no problems, hair loss, I have curled fingers due to the scleroderma attack, but all of a sudden I was loaded with ulcers and calcium deposits on all of my fingers and thumbs.. continued."

• The...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• March 4, 2022

For Osteoporosis "I've been taking Prolia for 7 years now. Of course, boards like this ALWAYS contain horror stories and never anything positive. Like many people, I tried other drugs first, like Boniva and Fosamax, but they did nothing. I also spent the better part of 35 years taking calcium and vitamin D supplements, eating well, exercising, etc. And yet, I developed advanced osteoporosis by age 56. My mother also developed it around the same age; she was a heavy smoker and drinker for 3 decades of her life. I was not. I never smoked and am at best, nearly a teetotaler. So, I guess this can surely be a genetic condition and often no matter what we do for ourselves health-wise, we can't undo genetics. Prolia has helped me to a certain extent. I do notice that I have some hair loss (I am nearly 70), but my mother also had hair loss at the same age. She never took Prolia. Like any drug, this one is probably not perfect, although if it caused all the things claimed here, I doubt it would still be available."

• Ano...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 14, 2025

For Osteoporosis "I have had one dose and will never take it again. I have lost so much hair. There is hair everywhere, it is so depressing. I hate wearing a wig, but that is what it has come to when I leave the house. I wish I had known this before I took the drug, but I wasn’t told anything about it."

• Gra...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 15, 2022

For Osteoporosis "Had loss of vision several times, lost recall, balance, open sores on head, loss of hair and eyelashes, extreme head and skin rashes. Stopped after one dose, 10 months later still side effects!!"

• Mag...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 24, 2018

For Osteoporosis "Severe side effects, hair loss! Skin rash. Do NOT recommend this drug."