Comments on: Bisphosphonates: Bone Strengtheners or Bone Hardeners?

By: Judy Weiland

Judy Weiland — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 16:15:28 +0000

Im surprised this article did not include the issue of severe bone pain and hair loss experienced by many, including myself. I first started taking Fosamax in about 1999 and within a year it did show bone growth. But when the drug was changed to a generic form and I was forced by the insurance company to switch to the generic form, I experienced upper GI distress as well as bone pain and thinning hair. I was then switched to Boniva and the bone pain became severe. I went online and was surprised to read the many comments left from other women who were going through the same pain and distress. I was advised by my PCP to go off the drug and consider IV Aclasta, so I went online to research it and found a website with comments from women who stated it produced the same side effects of bone pain and hair loss . It is frightening …I spoke with my dentist who stated he had a patient in his office who was advised to have the IV Aclasta and wanted his opion on the health of her jaw … he found her to have no bone or oral issues. Within three months he found her sitting in his dental chair, unable to speak due to all the blisters in her mouth and down her throat that had occured after the infusion.

By: Barbara

Barbara — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 23:55:07 +0000

I have worked with a naturopath who insists that all degenerative disease (including osteoporosis) starts with a starving thyroid. Blood tests are unreliable so a normal range TSH doesn’t necessarily equal a healthy thyroid. He does muscle testing to determine a deficiency of iodine, which is lacking in the American diet. (Iodized salt is harmful, as the aluminum weakens the thyroid, so don’t depend on that for iodine.) My challenge is that I had a thyroidectomy and parathyroidectomy 15 years ago. Since then, I also had ovarian cancer, but declined chemo in favor of an alternative, natural approach. I’ve been cancer free for 6 years. Now, I have osteoporosis, and at the naturopath’s recommendation I started on Miacalcin (synthetic salmon calcitonin). Calcitonin is essential for absorption of calcium. It’s made by a healthy thyroid. I switched from Synthroid to Armour thyroid medication and hope to see results. Is there anyone out there with a similar profile? No thyroid or parathyroid who successfuly reversed osteoporosis?

By: Karena Thek Lineback

Karena Thek Lineback — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 18:34:39 +0000

great article. Sent it on to family and friends with osteoporosis. thanks for publishing and thank-you for listing your resources.

By: Nicola

Nicola — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 23:38:43 +0000

Am I glad to have read this article. Will give serious thought to following a more natural approach to dealing with my newly diagnosed osteoporosis – I had a gut feeling about rushing into taking alendronic acid and calcium supps. I am currently taking them on recommendation from GP. I think he had better read this!

By: Gloria

Gloria — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 19:02:58 +0000

Where does Evista fit into tall this?My doctor has been telling me I will need to start it at 60 ( I have ostopenia apparently and please excuse my spelling!)

By: Dr Joyce Block

Dr Joyce Block — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 16:37:32 +0000

Thank you for publishing this well-researched, easy-to-read article. This information is extremely useful and I will send it to colleagues and friends.

By: Annemarie

Annemarie — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 04:28:56 +0000

I feel sick after reading this article. I just had the IV infusion of Aclasta 5 days ago which is to last a year. I agonized over the decision on whether or not to take the drug. I’m 51 and my last bone density scan showed osteoporosis with a high risk of fracture. The endocrinologist offered me Forteo and/or Aclasta. It didn’t take much research to know I wanted nothing to do with Forteo. I even decided against the Aclasta. But when I went to see him and asked for a year to see if I could increase my numbers using natural methods he told me bluntly I didn’t have a year and could walk out of his office, fall and break a hip. Right now I’m feeling angry at myself for allowing myself to be manipulated. I know better. He knew what to say, what buttons to push to get someone like me, who takes no prescription drugs, to agree. I threw a lot of questions at him and he had an answer for everything. But after reading this I now know he wasn’t giving me the whole story.
What has me confused is if I am wasting my time now by taking strontium, 10,000 IU vitamin D, calcium, bio-identical hormones etc. Is the Aclasta now stopping any good they would have done in rebuilding bone?
One thing is for certain. I will not be talked into another dose of Aclasta.
Thank you for providing this most informative article. I appreciate it

By: Ann Carter ANP

Ann Carter ANP — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 01:11:47 +0000

I am a Family Nurse Practitioner who does mostly womens health using bio-identical. The one thing I emphasize is the us of testosterone. For the best of bone density, your estrogen, progesterone and testosterone have to be balanced. You can't have too much or too little without consequences, so be sure and get a saliva test done, which I have used in my practice for over 8 years (I use ZRT labs). With hormones, you must of a good balance, the key word is Balance. You will see more men getting osteopororsis as they are living longer, but not getting their testosterone replaced. Remember how bent over Pope John was before he died? He needed testosterone. Again, Balance, so get your hormones checked, including your thyroid and insulin and cortisol. Regards, Ann Carter

By: admin

admin — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 23:12:15 +0000

There’s an extensive chapter on osteoporosis in What Your Doctor May Not Tell You about Menopause — the only thing I would add to it is even more emphasis on the importance of vitamin D. The chapter will help you play detective and figure out where the bone loss is coming from. It’s important to work on all levels — hormone balance, nutrition, exercise.

My current favorite vitamin D is by Bio Tech — small pill, 5,000 IU, reasonably priced. Just be sure to use vitamin D3.

Hope that helps -
Virginia Hopkins

By: Deborah

Deborah — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 23:10:48 +0000

From the reading that I have done I decided that I would not take Bisphosphonates. I have had two bone scans. The first was 6 months after my last period at the age of 49 and it showed me to be osteopenic. At that time I started taking calcium and magnesium with 400 iu of vitamin D. The second bone scan was 4 years later and showed slight improvement. To me that is good. During the first years of menopause most women loose bone mass. I held my ground. Since then I have increased my vitamin D to 5,000 iu a day and had my blood levels tested and they are good. I have also added green tea extract which is supposed to stimulate bone growth.
I get my vitamin D from http://www.cncahealth.com/vitamins/vitamin-d-2000
My mother takes Bisphosphonates and has for years. She is 4 inches shorter now than she used to be and has recently suffered a fracture in her vertebra that happened when she was sitting in her car and pulled her jacket off and out from under her. Not something you would expect to break bones. Clearly the Bisphosphonates are not working for her. She also takes calcium and vitamin D and has lead an active lifestyle. So it may be in my genes to get osteoporosis, but I am trying to keep my bones strong without the use of drugs.
Adding weight bearing exercise to any bone lose prevention program is a good idea.