Osteoporosis

[njgranny]

Do any of you ladies take medication for osteoporosis? My doctor just prescribed it, but, after I read the possible side effects, I started to wonder which is worse - the condition, or the cure.

It says that it can cause painful joints and stiffness. Since, I'm already suffering with some kind of arthritic problem which is affecting my shoulders, hand and knees, I don't want take this new medication until I find out what is going on with my joints.

[sschuler1]

nj, your joints will get even worse if you let your bones continue to weaken. My sister started on osteoporosis medicine when she was 38 because her chemotherapy treatments threw her into early menopause. The doctor said she had the onset of osteoporosis, so she has been on it since then. That was 11 years ago, and she is doing fine. Sometimes I think that they go overboard listing all of the symptoms that you could possibly get just to protect themselves. If you start having problems with your joints after you start the medication, ask you doctor to adjust the dosage or try an alternative. Doing nothing isn't the answer.

[nONIE]

NJ,

I started on osteoperosis medication about 8 years ago and Im happy I did. I have had no side effects that Im aware of and Im still very active.One thing my doctor told me to do along with the meds is take a calcium supplement daily. I take caltrate twice a day.

I do feel good knowing that I am doing the best possible thing I can for my "old bones" "future. I too was a little resistant when told I needed to go on Osteoperosis meds and said "but doc, I feel fine" his reply was Great! lets keep you that way.!

[Mikitv]

I have taken the drug for many years but this year decided to quit it since it bothers my stomach so much, even taking it once a month. I have always take extra calcium with Vitamin D. The other thing they recommend is exercises to build your bones. So I am trying to do more of that. I have a lot of drug allergies so it was my choice to stop the drug especially with the jaw bone death reaction. Just my opinion.

[Boomer]

HRT used to be more commonly prescribed and it helped to prevent osteoporosis. Premarin is an old drug that has gone through off and on controversy. The 2002 study caused many women to stop using HRT. Many of them probably did not need to stop. But some did, just like with so many other drugs. I think the newer drugs for osteoporosis really took off then. So in comparison to the old standard HRT, they are relatively new and, of course, target just the bones and not all the other stuff that HRT does.

I have a friend who got so caught up in reading the side effects of the osteoporosis drugs that she decided to just take her chances with HRT. Her main concern was that she had a history of having problems with abscessed teeth from time to time. She was worried about the jaw thing. She has one of those what I call "thriving internet medical practices" and pursues every study. You can get on information overload sometimes. But we each have to come to terms with what risk vs. benefit means to us.

Any and all side effects reported during the drug studies are listed. There are also side effects that show up in after market reporting, too, and those are added to the list. When side effects are listed, they are listed in order of most often to least often and in categories that show percentages. It's kind of like ingredients on a cereal box. Most is first.

I think with any drug we take, new ones, old ones, whatever, we have to weigh risk vs. benefit.

Did you have a bone scan? (It's late and I cannot think of the name of that test. Maybe Dexascan?? - not sure.) That has to be the simplest test ever. And it should tell you exactly where your bones are. If you have not had the test, you may want to so that you can know for sure how you are doing.

I hope things work out well for you, nj.

Boomer

[graciegirl]

Jan. I think that taking it is the best advice I can give. The side effects as Boomer stated have to be listed but your doctor is there for you to call should any occur. All of my friends take some form of osteoporsis medication and suffer no ill effects. I take Boniva once a month. Just follow direction and remain upright.

[Boomer]

Osteoporosis often goes with the territory of menopause. It is a serious diagnosis and if left unchecked it can lead to bones that break easily. As I said last night, these new drugs came on strong after the popularity of HRT waned. Women our age should all get a scan and get a plan. (I wish I could remember the name of that bone density test scan thing. Oh well, you know what I mean.)

Boomer

[barb1191]

(I wish I could remember the name of that bone density test scan thing. Oh well, you know what I mean.)

Boomer


DEXA

barb

[njgranny]

I did have a dexascan which is why the doc prescribed the medication. I, too, have problems with many drugs which is why I've become suspicious of any new medication. I haven't spoken to my GP about the bone density test yet as I'm having a problem right now with severe stiffness and pain in the shoulders. He's testing for lymes disease and a couple of other things as well as an x-ray. When I get this straightened out, I'll discuss the bone thing with him.

Thanks for all your opinions. I value them.

Jan

[ConeyIsBabe]

I can only speak for myself and would never recommend anyone follow my health regime, but I'm against taking drugs to fight natural ageing. I survived menopause without taking drugs, while living in tropical Miami :o .

Yes, I was diagnosed with osteopenia over 10 years ago and have had several DEXA scans over the years. I take calcium supplements, try to impact my bones by walking up stairs, eat very healthy food and very little junk food, so far- my osteopenia hasn't progressed to a critical level and I haven't broken any bones yet :dontknow:

[elizabeth]

I had been, for a few mos. only, on each of the osteo drugs --fosomax, actonel and boniva.All doctor prescribed, of course, as I had osteopenia. My side effects were horrendous and within mos. ,I stopped all. That was 18 mos. ago. I then increased my weight exerciseson land, did water-walking 4x a week and religiously took my daily cal/mag plus 800 Vitamin D. My last bone scan showed a significant improvement, which I couldn't believe. I was really just trying to halt the progression. Do Google the side effects of Boniva -- I had them in spades! Just a view you might want to consider!

[njgranny]

CIB - I never took anything during menopause either. I really didn't have many problems with it - except for the first 3 months of no period. It was like 3 months of PMS, but I survived.

Several years later, my doctor asked if I wanted to try hormones. I said yes, but, when I went home and read the side effects, etc., I threw them away. I had migraines before menopause, and, when I read that they could return, I said to myself "no way."

[ConeyIsBabe]

Jan....... there are a lot of natural remedies for arthritis.

I was diagnosed with arthritis in my knees, after injuring them (torn meniscus) and did extensive research on the internet regarding arthritis. Aside from the loss of being able to squat & run, I'm in no pain and I attribute it to my non-inflammatory diet plus taking glucosamine/chondroiten daily. It works for me :bigthumbsup:

[Floridagal]

I've been taking Evista for years and have had no problems. I am also taking calcium twice a day.

[Shirleevee]

I tried Fosomax. Actonel and Boniva.......had severe stomach distress. I now use Miacalcin which is a nose spray. No problems to date.......four years.




Shirleevee

[Just Susan]

Friends of ours who were to have gone on a trip with us and several others couples have had to cancel due to the wife's very ill mother. Why would you care? Her mother had been taking Boniva to prevent Osteoporosis. This is excerpted from my friend's email to me.

"To make a really, really long story short, circumstances have changed with my mom that requires us to stay home. About 3 weeks ago, we were playing golf and she was commenting on the fact that she was having difficulty gripping the club due to her right index finger being numb. We thought it was just a pinched nerve."

"In the meantime, the numbness progressed and after two visits to the emergency room and then admission to the hospital here we are. She is still in the hospital after 12 days with numbness throughout her entire body. It seems that she is having a negative reaction to the drug Boniva. This is the osteoporosis drug that Sally Fields promotes on TV as the once a month pill. My mom did not have osteoporosis, but the doctor gave it to her for prevention. Well, instead of it increasing her calcium, phosphates, and Vitamin D in her body, it completely depleted her body of all those nutrients. It has left her numb from head to toe. At this point she is still in the hospital trying to stabilize. She is now able to talk, move her mouth, eat soft foods, and close her eyes. I have been with her for the last 12 days.

The doctors indicate that she will make a full recovery, but it will take 6-12 months. Once her system stabilizes, she will then have to go into a rehab facility to learn how to walk again. We are continuing with our plans to sell her home and move her closer. We are going under the assumption that she will recover.

We are so sorry that we have to cancel our trip, but I know you will all understand. We are all in that time of life, where our parents need our extra care. Our goal is to get her well and back on the golf course. She is 81 and in great shape otherwise."

Just a thought to consider when taking a new drug.

[barb1191]

Do any of you ladies take medication for osteoporosis? My doctor just prescribed it, but, after I read the possible side effects, I started to wonder which is worse - the condition, or the cure.

It says that it can cause painful joints and stiffness. Since, I'm already suffering with some kind of arthritic problem which is affecting my shoulders, hand and knees, I don't want take this new medication until I find out what is going on with my joints.


gran.....I completely agree with your concensus. I too paid for osteo med and didn't like what I read about the possible side effects and never took it; threw it out; that was about ten yrs ago. First I took Lipitor and was so sick with nausea and diarrhea that after the first day, I quit the med. Was leery of what the dr had replaced it with and read carefully the side effects; that did it. I chose to take the over the counter glucosamine/chondroiten . Had no problem with that.

I firmly believe that we must be our own advocates for our own body. ...barb

[LynnDeb]

Do any of you ladies take medication for osteoporosis? My doctor just prescribed it, but, after I read the possible side effects, I started to wonder which is worse - the condition, or the cure.

It says that it can cause painful joints and stiffness. Since, I'm already suffering with some kind of arthritic problem which is affecting my shoulders, hand and knees, I don't want take this new medication until I find out what is going on with my joints.

Took all the meds all of you have mentioned in the past with same side effects...
Took my first PROLIA SHOT in Aug. had mild side effects (with similar info I read about this med too) had blood work done a few months ago and vitamin D level was good, my second PROLIA SHOT due now FEB....also had weighed the good, bad and ugly about this too.. but hoping in Spring my dexascan to be better

[ConeyIsBabe]

This is an old thread which I answered in 6/08. Now, in 2013 I do have osteoporosis but have no intention of taking drugs. How's everyone else doing?

[Heartnsoul]

wow i wish i had the answers to this one!! As a health fanatic, I have through the years taken my calcium, drank lots of milk, etc.. as was always recommended.

However that being said I'm only 58 and Have severe osteoporosis. Yes I have been on all the meds and my bones are so bad that the last two yrs I have done the daily injection of Forteo into my stomach. I never miss a day at the gym, I do everything right and still the bones are not good.

My case, it has to be heredity. There have been studies that in China and other countries where they do NOT eat as much dairy as we do, their bones are better so who really knows??

do what you can, (most important they say is weight bearing exercise) take your calcium, take meds if prescribed and hopefully you'll improve !!

[fwpc3]

There is an online tool called FRAX. This takes the result of your DEXA scan which is called your t-score and factors in additional risks including smoking, family history, previous fractures, alcohol intake, and rheumatoid arthritis. It's a bit complicated as it requests the type of scanner used. Physicians can use it to decide whether to advise drug treatment in borderline cases. It provides a per cent chance of having a fracture in the next ten years. The higher the percentage, the more likely you are to benefit from treatment

It can be difficult to decide whether to use medication in addition to Calcium, Vitamin D and weight bearing exercise.

http://www.shef.ac.uk/FRAX/tool.aspx?country=9

[ConeyIsBabe]

I have had no medical training, just someone who is interested in reading what I can about health and nutrition. So, from everything I've read about taking drugs for osteoporosis, they are still controversial and my understanding (?) is that they don't actually help in preventing bone breaks and that the bone growth resulting from the drugs is not strong bone (?) HAVE I MISUNDERSTOOD ?