Prolia (denosumab) is a prescription brand-name medication. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved it to:
- treat osteoporosis, a condition that causes weakened bones
- prevent bone fractures in people with either prostate cancer or breast cancer, in certain situations
Prolia is typically used with calcium and vitamin D supplements.
This drug comes as a liquid inside prefilled syringes, which are used to inject the medication subcutaneously. You’ll get Prolia injections from a healthcare professional, such as your doctor or pharmacist.
The active drug in Prolia is denosumab, which is a
For information about the dosage of Prolia, including its form, strength, and how to use the drug, keep reading. For a comprehensive look at Prolia, including details about its uses, see this article.
This article describes the typical dosage of Prolia provided by the drug’s manufacturer. When using Prolia, always follow the dosage prescribed by your doctor.
Below are details about Prolia’s dosage, including the drug’s form and strength.
Prolia form
Prolia comes as a liquid inside prefilled syringes. The drug is given by a healthcare professional as a subcutaneous injection. In rare situations, your doctor may recommend that you self-inject doses of Prolia. See the “How Prolia is given” section below to learn more.
Prolia strength
Prolia comes in one strength: 60 milligrams (mg) per 1 milliliter (mL) of liquid solution. There is 1 mL of liquid solution in each prefilled syringe.
Typical dosage
The following information describes the dosage, including the frequency of Prolia injections, that is commonly used or recommended. Your doctor will determine the best dosage schedule to fit your needs.
Prolia dosage for all uses
Prolia’s typical dosage is 60 mg given every 6 months. The drug’s typical dosage is the same regardless of why Prolia is prescribed.
Long-term use
Prolia is meant to be used as a long-term treatment. If you and your doctor determine that Prolia is safe and effective for you, you’ll likely use it long term. Follow your doctor’s instructions about how long you should continue to receive Prolia injections.
Prolia is given as a subcutaneous injection by your doctor, pharmacist, or another healthcare professional, in most cases.
In certain situations, your doctor may give you the option to self-inject Prolia at home. This is rare. If your doctor says that this is safe for you, you’ll be shown how to inject Prolia. The drug’s manufacturer also provides some administration instructions and a video to show you how to inject Prolia.
Prolia may be injected into your:
- upper arm
- upper thigh
- abdomen (belly)
If you miss a Prolia injection, call your doctor or the place where you receive your injections as soon as you can. They’ll help reschedule your missed dose for as soon as possible. And, they’ll make sure your next scheduled dose is still 6 months away (or however often you receive Prolia injections).
To help make sure that you don’t miss a dose, try using a medication reminder. This can include setting an alarm or timer on your phone or downloading a reminder app.
It’s not common, but your doctor may give you the option to self-inject Prolia at home. If you do this, it’s important that you don’t use more Prolia than your doctor prescribes. For some medications, taking more than the recommended amount may lead to side effects or overdose.
If you think you’ve received more than the recommended amount of Prolia
Call your doctor right away if you believe you’ve received too much Prolia. Another option is to call the American Association of Poison Control Centers at 800-222-1222 or use its online tool. If you have severe symptoms, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number, or go to the nearest emergency room.
Usually, everyone who uses Prolia receives the same dosage, regardless of the condition that the drug is being used to treat.
Your Prolia dosage also isn’t affected by factors such as your age, weight, or other medical conditions you may have. And there aren’t any drug interactions known to affect your Prolia dosage.
If you have questions about your dosage of Prolia, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Below are answers to some frequently asked questions about Prolia dosage.
How many years should you use Prolia?
Prolia is safe to use for as long as your doctor recommends. If the drug works well for you and you’re not having bothersome side effects, you’ll likely use the drug over a long period.
Clinical studies show that Prolia was effective over a 3-year period. The drug may be effective when used for longer periods, but there haven’t been studies to confirm this. How often you receive Prolia injections isn’t affected by how long you’ve used the medication.
If you have bothersome or severe side effects from Prolia, or you wish to stop using it, talk with your doctor. They can discuss other treatment options available for your condition.
Do older people need to get a different dosage of Prolia?
No, older people don’t need a different Prolia dosage than younger people. Your age doesn’t affect how often you receive Prolia injections (which are typically given every 6 months).
Prolia was shown to be safe in older people in clinical studies. In fact, most people in these trials were ages 65 years or older. And, older people are more likely to be affected by osteoporosis, which Prolia is used to treat. In these studies, everyone got the same dosage of Prolia, regardless of their age.
If you have concerns about how safe Prolia is for you, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can discuss the risks and benefits of Prolia, as well as other treatments for your condition.
This article describes the typical Prolia dosage provided by the drug’s manufacturer. If your doctor recommends Prolia for you, they will prescribe the dosage that’s right for you. Always follow the dosage that your doctor prescribes for you.
As with any drug, never change your dosage of Prolia without your doctor’s approval. If you have questions about the dosage of Prolia that’s right for you, talk with your doctor.
Besides learning about dosage, you may want other information about Prolia. These additional articles might be helpful to you:
- More about Prolia. For information about other aspects of Prolia, refer to this article.
- Side effects. To learn about side effects of Prolia, see the Prolia medication guide.
- Details about your condition. For detailed information about your condition, see our lists of:
Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.
