Undecided choice of drugs for Osteoporosis

Posted by peace44 @peace44, Oct 10, 2023

I am 80 years old women and have borderline osteoporosis which affects my entire body. My doctor wants me to take Prolia and the Rheumatologist wants me to take Reclast. I’m unhappy with both choices as the side effects are great and I do not tolerate new drugs well. I am very undecided and am considering doing not taking annty drugs for this condition. I have never had a fracture and I’m very active Any opinions or advice.

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sammy26 | @sammy26 | Feb 10 4:35pm

I was told Reclast was dosed once a year. Why would I want to take another different drug while Reclast was still active in my body? Maybe I am misunderstanding?

babs10 | @babs10 | Feb 11 3:31pm

In reply to @gigix2 "My insurance paid for Tymlos but not forteo. Ask about Tymlos which is similar to Forteo." + (show)

It's interesting how one insurance plan will cover some drugs but not others. Mine includes Forteo (a fortune) and Prolia, but that's it. I wonder if a doctor could make an appeal for something different if, for example, what you are taking doesn't agree with your system. Has anyone in this group ever tried that?

Thanks.

babs10 | @babs10 | Feb 11 3:35pm

In reply to @gigix2 "gently I took tymlos for 18 months and refused to take Prolia or enmity after. I..." + (show)

I also need an osteoporosis specialist! Do they even exist?? I've seen a few good YouTube videos with good endocrinologists who I guess maybe specialize in osteoporosis (one in NC and one in MA), but the docs I've talked to around here (more than a few) seem disinterested and/or ill informed. When I asked one endocrinologist about Prolia side effects he mentioned pain at the injection site and told me to take a pain reliever before and after, and that was it. Ugh. It's kind of scary that I seem to know a lot more than they do.

beckysews | @beckysews | Feb 20 1:48pm

In reply to @windyshores "@babs10 have you considered Tymlos? Radius, like Lilly, has a patient assistance program. As I wrote..." + (show)

I tried to get assistance from Radius for Tymlos and the income requirement is so ridiculously low, I know how anybody can qualify. I'm very frustrated because Tymlos is what I need and I just can"t pay nearly $24,000 for 2 years worth. Anybody have any other resources?

bobweller | @bobweller | Feb 21 6:25pm

Prolia.

guinivere | @guinivere | Feb 29 9:17pm

I can so identify with you! I am 86 & after seeing the results of an overdue bone scan in October, my family doctor essentially said "Reclast!" I said no! And that's where we stand. I fractured a wrist bone in May but nothing else & have had no falls. Have been going locally to physical therapy once a week. I have an appt with an endocrinologist at Univ of WI Hospital in April. I recently found Keith McCormick's two books & feel that his is the right approach to osteoporosis & am thinking of contacting him for a consult (I am in Wisconsin). My brother lives in New Hampshire - not all THAT far from where Dr. McCormick has his office, so that is a thought.

gently | @gently | Feb 29 9:36pm

In reply to @guinivere "I can so identify with you! I am 86 & after seeing the results of an..." + (show)

guinivere, good answer, "no." Reclast isn't the worst osteoporosis drug, but why not take the best, Forteo. I think that is what McCormick recommends and what he has taken. Though it's probably time to visit your brother, I think you can gather as much from the McCormick videos.
I like Forteo and have been taking it without struggle for almost a year. Some have adverse reactions so you have to be ready to switch to Tymlos. I hope you get a good endocrinologist and the best medication. Oh, Forteo helps heal the broken bone. Reclast does not.

nwyatt | @nwyatt | Mar 1 1:14pm

Do you know the reason why you can’t do Forteo after Evenity? Can you do something in between like fosomax ?

kayhaun | @kayhaun | Mar 1 1:37pm

Read online about the two drugs. Compare them. Look at studies. Ask your doctors why they choose one as opposed to other. Good for you not to have broken a bone. Don’t wait until you do before making a decision. It’s part of aging, this bone loss. Nobody escapes.

windyshores | @windyshores | Mar 1 3:52pm

In reply to @nwyatt "Do you know the reason why you can’t do Forteo after Evenity? Can you do something..." + (show)

@nwyatt I think you can take Forteo after Evenity but I was told that since Evenity "turbocharges" bone density, there isn't much left for Forteo to do. I would bet that there is not yet enough research on this.

My doc wanted me to do Reclast after Tymlos and save Evenity for later. But using Fosamax or Reclast makes later bone builders about 1/3 less effective, according to Dr. Leder's video on YouTube on Combinations and Sequencing.

So even though there is no data on Evenity after Forteo or Tymlos either, I am essentially a guinea pig for my doc's practice. Just one guinea pig but the first!