Osteoporosis meds: How do they work?

is there a way to reverse bone loss in the normal aging process without meds?

Hello @grandmabubblestwin, and welcome to Connect. Thank you for sharing your concerns about osteoporosis.

While it may not be "reversing" bone loss in the normal aging process, you may find the following post from Mayo Clinic interesting regarding using exercise to strengthen your muscles around your bones to prevent further damage, http://mayocl.in/2fY805R. You may also want to check out the very long discussion taking place in the discussion called "Treating Osteoporosis" here, http://mayocl.in/29cSR8d.

I would like to invite @dolan to this conversation as she recently discussed using osteo meds to build and maintain bone density. I would also like to introduce @jaleen who did a lot of research on osteoporosis medications and may be able to offer some insight.

@grandmabubblestwin, have you been diagnosed with osteoporosis or are you just concerned about getting it?

Not sure but am having yearly Reclast treatment. Also Pilates and pool walking and calcium supplements. Don't think you can ever restore but help strengthen.

Osteoporosis; of course the Doc says, weight bearing exercise but no, after several years cycling, walking and fitness club, I still lost bone density.... long story. I take Calcium and Vit. D. Further, I have received my first Prolia injection each once every 6-months. We'll see. Doc said the worse is suffering broken hip. Worse than cancer he said. Thanks for writing grandmabubblestwin.

I have been diagnosed. What "score" reflects the most bone breakage? i.e. hip, wrist?

Yes, I have been on Fosmax a few times, 2 years of Forteo (which I had outstanding results in building bone mass), now Prolia. I am on my 3rd year of Prolia. I will not have a DEXA scan until next year to see the results of a 3rd year of Prolia but after 2 I had results and am now osteopenia

I am 65 years old and have Osteoporosis. I was told years ago I had osteopenia but then a Dr. told me I didn't...so for years I did nothing about my bones. BIG mistake . But I will NOT take the bone medicine. One relative took Fosamax I believe, and broke her femur just walking into the kitchen. My druggist called me to see why I hadn't refilled my prescription for the fosamax (I decided NOT to take any of it) because it is part of his job. When I told him I had no intentions of taking the medicine he said, "good for you" and told me that his mother developed cancer of the jaw and he believed it was as a result of the medicine. So...I try and add more calcium and vitamin D to my diet and try NOT to fall..don't know what else I can do 🙁 I know exercise is important but I am recovering from a broken toe. Soon I HOPE!

I'm on a yearly infusion of Reclast. Had one so far. No reaction. Also take Calcium and Vitamin D. Hoping for good results from next scan. No broken bones ever thankfully

People need to understand that Vitamin D can be hazardous to aging persons. If taken in excess amounts, it sometimes contributes to dizziness or other causes of imbalance resulting in falls and broken bones therefrom. There's a lot of literature on this from competent halls of medical science. As a general rule, as I understand it, total intake of Vitamin D from all sources (including supplements) should not exceed 4,000 International Units per day when taken daily. Larger doses are sometimes prescribed, but for much longer periods of time, such as 50,000 IU per month. Other factors at work, of course, are calcium and parathyroid hormone. All three of these should be lab tested and explained to you by your MD.

I have stopped taking all osteoporosis drugs too, after using Fosamax several different times over the years. I experienced bad bone pain in my legs and charlie horse type spasms at night while taking Fosamax each time. After the bad reports on osteoporosis drugs by the media in recent years, I won't be taking them again until something safer and without the side-effects is developed. I do take D3, eat yogurt, walk the tread mill every day for a mile and a half...and like you, try NOT to fall and be careful in activities I do that may pose a risk. Hope the toe injury is healing well and you will soon be able to try some exercises you might like and will be beneficial.