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Bone density drugs

Bones, Joints & Muscles | Last Active: 6 days ago | Replies (115)

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@bayhorse

@gently, I have this vague recollection of complaints about bisphosphinates back in the early '90s that they left patients with poor-quality bone. Do you know if this is the same type of problem you mention with Evenity & Prolia?

Also, can you point me in the direction of more info re: people with autoimmune problems likely having more problems with the bisphosphinates? I have 3 autoimmune illnesses, so I'd best learn more about this!

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Replies to "@gently, I have this vague recollection of complaints about bisphosphinates back in the early '90s that..."

@bayhorse
This is just my experience, however, I can tell you that I have several autoimmune conditions and I’ve had issues with 5 different osteoporosis meds. All of them set off a flare of one or more of my autoimmune symptoms.
In addition, prolia actually caused a new autoimmune condition- lichen plano pilarus. I have lost more than 50% of my hair.
I asked my endocrinologist if there was a connection between the meds and my autoimmune conditions, she would not commit to anything.
I know that the cells that are responsible for bone remodeling , osteoclasts and osteoblasts, are part of the immune system, so it seems logical to me that there would be a connection.

bayhorse,
It is the same type of problem. Evenity to a lesser degree. Prolia to a greater degree. Both Prolia and Evenity also create new bone on the outside of your bone work creating as sort of thick scaffold. It looks great on dxa increasing BMD, but it is more brittle bone.
In reading patient experiences, I've noticed that individuals with autoimmune disease have more side effects with bisphosphonates. Osteoclasts, the suppression target of antiresorptive medication, are part of the immune system. The effects seem to depend upon the type of autoimmune disease the patient has.
Worse than just increasing the susceptibility to adverse effect is that some diseases are advanced by the use of antiresorptives. Some though are advantageously repressed by the use of bisphosponates Rheumatoid Arthritis is repressed. There is a new article on SLE indicating that it can be activated by the use of bisphosphonates. There is a concern about mast cells, but I haven't seen anything convincing.
I'm glad that you are looking at this with concern for your vulnerabilities. I didn't want to post a discouraging number of links so have a second comment that you can ignore or explore.
Remember that I am not a medical person and have no personal experience with bisphosphonates. You really have to question anything you read, even when its PubMed.