Osteoporosis meds | Arthritis Information
My new doc has brought up the subject of taking boniva to prevent osteoporosis she said according to my bone scan I am already osteopenic which is a prelude I have to take vit D and calcium (my last level was 10.8) which is high is anyone else on fosamax or boniva?hi Parker,
I'm not taking Fosamax or Boniva, although all my doctors have talked to me about it. I am also osteopenic. I am afraid to try these medications because they can irritate the esophagus, and I already have acid reflux and a hiatal hernia. The prednisone for pmr has caused enough trouble with my esophagus!
I take vit D and calcium every day, and I started taking something called Strontium which is supposed to help bone growth. I bought it at a health food store. I'm just hoping that these supplements will be enough to keep my bones intact.
I'm not saying that my decision is the best one--but for now it seems like the right thing for me.
My sister has osteoporosis and was using one of the oral meds for this and it caused her many problems. She ended up in the hospital for a long time from the effects it had on her digestive tract. This was quite awhile ago so I don't know all the specifics but I do know that she now uses a nasal spray for the osteoporosis to alleviate the stomach issues. This may be something you can look into.
Sorry I can't be of more help but like I said I don't know all the specifics. If I talk to her I'll find out which med she is using and post it here.
TTTFreesia
A glass of water three times a day, between meals, with fresh lemon juice -ratio about one third lemon to water - can alleviate acid reflux to the stage where it will go away. I read this and tried it and it worked. Something to do with the acid we produce, either not enough or it or too much of the wrong kind. Wish I could remember it, but can't.
Google Strontium for side effects.
Here's a link that might help:
Acid Reflux Remedyhttp://www.essential-natural-remedies.com/acid-reflux-remedy.html
thanks for the info I too in addition to all my current baggage have had a hiatal hernia for about 15 years and I do know about the side effects to the esophagus which I am not happy about but I would rather not have a fracture in the future one of my coworkers said that she thought she had read or heard that boniva etc will help bone density but it puts you at risk for certain other fractures imagine that a drug you take to prevent bone fx and it can cause other fractures has anyone else heard of this? moving upBumping up
Thanks, Mrs. UK. I am going to try lemon juice in water as you suggest.
I've also heard that they aren't sure if reflux is caused by too much acid, or not enough acid in the stomach. Which is so weird, since the docs all prescribe meds to control the acid,or even stop acid production, when they don't really know if
too much acid is the problem.
I'm also going to google Strontium. I just saw my rheumy today and as for Strontium, she said there are no scientific studies of it, so she couldn't comment on it.
freesia2010-07-15 14:12:08russellcat, thanks for your input.
I know someone who used the nasal spray version of fosamax and I think she said it made her ears turn red for awhile after she inhaled it!
Parker, I'm not sure what they mean by "certain other fractures" but I read that the bone these medications creates is not always strong, and can be even more inclined to fracture than osteoporotic bones.
They can also cause the jaw bone to disintegrate. Why the jaw bone, I don't know.
For those who believe in them or use them, I don't mean to cast a negative cloud on this type medication. They may work for some people. For the time being, I'm not taking them, but who knows what the future will bring.
Hi freesia!
Well, I think I might just go back to my rheumy and ask her how often she catches up with her reading! The first study on strontium in bone strengthening was done on a small cohort of patients at the Mayo clinic - in 1959! They concluded there might be some place for using it but nothing was really done as everyone thought "radioactivity" if strontium was mentioned - even though there is nothing to connect strontium ranelate (I think that's the substance) with bombs! Strontium salts are approved for use in certain cases by NICE, the board in the UK which decides if there is sufficient evidence for the effect claimed by the manufacturers and whether it is cost effective. They don't approve ANYTHING unless there is a lot of evidence to support it. The reason the strontium drugs are only recommended for certain cases is that it is very expensive and most people can manage with the other medications available (2 or 3 besides the alendronic acid) which are much cheaper so only people at severe risk of or with severe osteoporosis who cannot take the others can have it paid for. And before anyone says "nationalised medicine is bad for that reason" - it's no different in the USA. Some of the insurance companies also limit what drugs a patient can have reimbursed or charge a large co-pay. In Britain you can have it if it is justifiable - and there is NEVER a co-pay.
Anyway - the main anti-osteoporosis drug is Fosomax, cleverly marketed by the drug company to be used for large numbers of the population to prevent osteoporosis. Its substance name is alendronic acid and is now available as generics (non-brand name). It makes the bones take up calcium and integrate it into the framework on the outer surfaces of the bone and so makes them stay strong. The Fosomax sticks to the surface of the bone and then is covered by the calcium which reduces the "attracting" effect of the Fosomax so you have to keep taking the stuff to keep bone formation going by making a new layer over the calcium. You don't need to take it every day - there are also weekly formulations and even some intravenous versions which can be given once or twice a year. I don't know much about them though. The tablet form has to be taken with plain tap water on an empty stomach and nothing eaten or drunk for the next half to 3/4 hour. You have to stay upright for at least an hour. These measures are to increase the amount absorbed in the stomach as it is difficult to absorb and to prevent regurgitation which can damage the oesophagus. Even so, many people get a sore stomach with it though to be honest that MIGHT be because they don't stick to the advice. Personally I didn't like taking it and stopped.
The dispute someone mentioned about it making brittle bones is because the sort of bone formed is a bit different in structure from normal physiological bone and some different types of fracture have been seen in patients who have been taking it for a long time. The recommendation is now that you shouldn't take it for more than 5 years to avoid that problem. Because of the way the original drug company marketed it - it's aimed also at people who are osteopeneic, below average density rather than osteoporitic - it covers an awful lot of people and they did very well out of it thank you very much! There are authorities who are of the opinion it shouldn't be used in that way - only for people who have become osteoporitic to replace the lost bone. You get what used to be called dexa scans to measure that - the heel or wrist ones you find in these private "health screening clinics" are NOT accurate enough. The majority of bone loss due to steroids happens in the first year - i.e. generally when you are on the higher doses. Once the dose is down to about 7 mg or less a day it shouldn't be as much of a problem. Not everyone develops osteoporosis anyway and it can be screened for and monitored so you only take the drugs if you need them rather than preventatively.
Other important factors in preventing osteoporosis enough calcium and vit D in your body and taking body-weight-bearing exercise - walking briskly for 1/2 hour a day and jumping rope
so, hope that info has helped answer some questions,
MrsE
Hi MrsE,
Thanks for your informative and detailed post!
Kind of funny about the Strontium--my rheumy is very young so maybe that is why she is not familiar with studies on it. Maybe they aren't teaching it in school these days, lol. I was taking strontium citrate, not the ranelate. I know there is a difference. I wonder if a person needs a prescription for the ranelate? I got my strontium at a health food store.
My mom took Fosamax but only for awhile because I think it upset her stomach, and she didn't have acid reflux that I know of. I'm pretty sure she would have followed the directions --sitting up for an hour, etc.
My rheumy also said that any dose of pred over 2.5 mg will cause bone loss.
I've only been taking 2,000 IU of vitamin D each day and I think I am going to increase it, based on what you are saying. I love to walk--or well, I used to, when I could walk easily. It is hard for me to want to go out and take a walk when I feel like I am walking "funny". But I think it's a must!
thanks again for all the helpful info.
freesia
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