That's a great question and I wish I knew the right answer. I have been off Fosamax now for over a year but did two rounds of anabolics (total of six months of treatment) from June to February.

I was started on Tymlos because of the vertebral compression fracture. Long story short: I had side effects from both Tymlos then generic teriparatide that caused me to stop taking all meds about a month ago.

I have an appointment next week with a endocrinologist at the Stanford Bone Clinic for guidance on what to do next. I am on supplements (calcium, D, K, collagen) and an exercise program that emphasizes resistance training and impact.

I have enough alendronate in my bones at this point to last for decades so I want to know if I can stay off meds until my next DEXA and reevaluate then. That's pretty much my plan and unless I get some compelling reasons not to do that, that's what I'm going to do.

I am also through the critical bone loss period of menopause so I'm hopeful I can stabilize.

I'm not opposed to another med but I want to push it out as far as I can because I am 63 and there are (hopefully) a lot of years left in my life.