Prolia Dosages for Adults: Your GoodRx Guide

Osteoporosis is a common health condition that weakens the bones. This can raise the risk of bone fractures (breaks). Many people with osteoporosis take medications to help prevent these fractures. Prolia is one example.

Prolia (denosumab) is an injectable osteoporosis medication. It can also treat bone loss caused by certain cancer medications. Prolia is a RANK ligand (RANKL) inhibitor. It works by blocking RANKL, a protein in your body that contributes to the breakdown of bone cells. This helps prevent bone loss and strengthen your bones.

But unlike many medications, you don’t give yourself a dose of Prolia at home. A healthcare professional (HCP) will give your injection. Even though your HCP will administer it to you, it’s still helpful to know the usual Prolia dosage schedule.

Good to know: Prolia is only FDA approved for adults. So in this article, we’ll only cover Prolia dosages for adults.

What’s the typical Prolia dosage?

The recommended Prolia dosage is 60 mg injected under the skin every 6 months. The injection can be administered in your upper arm, upper thigh, or stomach. This dosage is the same for each of Prolia’s FDA-approved uses.

Promotional Disclosureinfo_outlined

SPECIAL OFFER

Save over 40% on Qsymia with GoodRx

Discover the once daily Qsymia for weight management. Qsymia is for adults and children 12-17 in combination with a healthy diet and regular exercise.

Save now

Typically, an HCP will administer your Prolia injection at their office or clinic. If you’re unable to travel for this appointment, let your healthcare team know. They may prescribe a different osteoporosis medication you can take at home. Or they may consider other options, such as home healthcare, to administer your injection.

Calcium and vitamin D supplementation

Prolia can cause blood calcium levels to drop dangerously low (called hypocalcemia). This side effect is more likely to happen if you have severe kidney disease or are on dialysis. But it’s recommended that all people receiving Prolia take daily calcium and vitamin D supplements. This can help prevent this serious side effect.

Prolia’s manufacturer recommends taking at least 1,000 mg of calcium and 400 units of vitamin D every day. But some people may need to take a different amount. Discuss how much you should take with your HCP.

Good to know: You’ll likely go for routine blood work to monitor your calcium levels while receiving Prolia. This helps your HCP watch for signs of hypocalcemia.

Are there any dosage adjustments for health conditions?

There are no recommended Prolia dosage adjustments based on health conditions. But certain people may need more frequent blood work to monitor their calcium levels, including those:

• With advanced kidney disease

• Who receive dialysis

• With mineral and bone disorder in chronic kidney disease

• With a history of hypoparathyroidism

• Who have had thyroid or parathyroid surgery

• Who take other medications that lower calcium levels, such as cinacalcet (Sensipar)

Promotion disclosure

Prolia

Avg retail price

$2492.04(Save 30.41%)

GoodRx discount

$1734.15

See all discounts

How it works

Use GoodRx to find medications, pharmacies, and discounts.

GoodRx discounts can help you pay less for your prescription.

Bring your free coupon or savings card to the pharmacy.

These situations raise your risk of developing severe hypocalcemia while receiving Prolia. It’s recommended that HCPs monitor blood calcium levels more frequently than usual for these groups of people. Your HCP can let you know if this applies to you and how often you may need to go for blood work.

Do you have to avoid dental work with Prolia?

You don’t necessarily have to avoid dental work while receiving Prolia. But the answer to this question will depend on your health history, unique risks, and what dental work you need. Your HCP will likely ask you to go for a dental exam before you receive your first Prolia dose.

Very rarely, Prolia can cause osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ). This is when the jaw bone breaks down or wears away. Tooth extractions (pulling a tooth) and dental infections can raise the risk of developing ONJ. Maintaining good oral hygiene and keeping up with regular dental cleanings can help lower your risk.

You can still have many types of dental work while receiving Prolia. Make sure your dentist knows if you receive Prolia. If you do need to have dental work done, they can weigh the risks and benefits to help develop a plan of action for you.

How do Prolia dosages compare to Xgeva dosages?

Prolia and Xgeva both contain the mediation denosumab. But Xgeva can treat certain cancers and help with some cancer-related complications. Prolia doses are lower and administered less frequently than Xgeva doses.

The typical Xgeva dosage is 120 mg injected under the skin every 4 weeks (about once a month). In some cases, people may need additional doses during the first month of Xgeva treatment. As previously mentioned, the usual Prolia dosage is 60 mg every 6 months.

What happens if you miss a dose of Prolia?

Missing a dose of Prolia can lead to bone loss. And this can raise your risk for bone fractures, particularly the bones in your spine. In some cases, people experienced fractures as soon as 1 month after a missed dose of Prolia.

You should do your best to get your Prolia injections on time. If you know you won't be able to make your appointment, let your HCP know right away.

How to save on Prolia

There are ways to save on Prolia, which is available as a reference (“brand-name”) medication. GoodRx can help you navigate between patient assistance programs and copay savings cards to save money on your prescription.

• Save with a copay savings card. If you have commercial insurance, you may be eligible to pay as little as $25 for Prolia using a savings card from the manufacturer.

• Save with patient assistance programs. If you’re uninsured or underinsured, you may be eligible for Prolia’s patient assistance program, which offers the medication free of charge.

The first biosimilar to Prolia, called Jubbonti (denosumab-bbdz), was also approved in early March 2024. Biosimilars are highly comparable in safety and effectiveness to a reference biologic. But, at this time, Jubbonti’s launch date isn’t clear.

Why trust our experts?

Written by:

Sarah Morin, RPh

Sarah Morin, RPh, has been a registered pharmacist for over 25 years. She started out as a hospital pharmacist, working at Rhode Island Hospital and then at the University of Connecticut Health Center.

Edited by:

Christina Aungst, PharmD

Christina Aungst, PharmD, is a pharmacy editor for GoodRx. She began writing for GoodRx Health in 2019, transitioning from freelance writer to editor in 2021.

Reviewed by:

Tegan Smedley, PharmD, APh

Tegan Smedley, PharmD, APh, has 10 years of experience as a pharmacist. She has worked in a variety of settings, including retail, hospital, and ambulatory care.

Our editorial standards

Meet our experts