Anybody out there have medication induced Osteoporosis?

@llynch17056 Oh. A cautionary tale in more ways than one. I wish you the best and I, too, am leery of the meds. Having been on different cocktails for decades I have learned to be so. All my best and if you have success please let us know.

@kathleen1314 I am interested. I had read about strontium but wasnt sure I understood how it works. Thank you.

Yes, developed osteoporosis from androgen deprivation therapy (chemical castration) for prostate cancer. Turns out it doesn't just shut down testosterone, which feeds the cancer, but also estradiol, which keeps bone healthy. Still trying to decide what, if anything, I'm going to do about it.

My femoral neck reading is -3.5 but I exercise six days a week and the best research I can find shows bone building drugs reduce the risk of fracture by 10%. I was told I have a 20% chance of fracture over 10 years. Is it worth going through the side effects of yet another medical intervention for 10% less chance of fracture? Not sure yet.

Thank you. It is quite surprising that doctors are unaware of this. No one ever said G to me. I discovered the connection myself.

@osteocurious thank you. Fortunately, I have been athletic all my life and have practiced yoga for 13 years. Probably why my osteoporosis isn’t worse than it is.

@osteocurious
Strontium citrate is an earth mineral found in much of the world's ground water (see attached map) and also because of this in food and animals. It acts much like calcium in the body but it is denser and seems to have the ability to bridge larger osteoporic gaps which then allows calcium to adhere and bone to grow, at least that is one explanation. Much of the research says that they don't know quite how it works; it just does. 🙂

The research shows denser bones, good quality bones and bones less prone to fracture with studies showing a 41% to 49% reduction in risk over a three-year period compared to a placebo. It also shows a 33% to 36% risk reduction in fractures over 4–5 years and a roughly 15%–36% reduction in nonvertebral fractures. The current belief is that strontium forms sacrificial bonds which make the bone less likely to fracture.

Strontium Citrate is the strontium product most used in the USA. It is a supplement, but it fills an unusual niche in medicine in that although it is a supplement it is used at a therapeutic level for the treatment of osteoporosis. 680mg daily

I have used strontium citrate for years; I no longer have an osteoporosis diagnosis; I am now in normal bone territory with normal bone quality as per TBS, no side effects, no fractures. My osteoporosis was in my hip, that area is hardest to change so it took years, but I had immediate good results, and those results continued every year. My endocrinologist told me to change nothing and released me because he said that I did not need him any more.

Strontium has been the "red headed child" of osteoporosis treatment for years. It is just hard to believe that a simple mineral can make such a difference without the side effects which many osteoporosis drugs have.

Strontium is being used more and more in fractures and jaw bone necrosis with strontium laced implant or mesh. As this is happening more and more doctors are becoming more used to using it. Also, with the REMS and TBS showing good bone density and quality for strontium users there is less and less concern over the denser strontium showing a denser dexa than the bone actually carries, overestimate of about 10%.

Plus, studies with bone biopsies comparing strontium bones to bones not treated have played a role in strontium interest in patients and some doctors. (see attached photo with link to research)

Still, doctors frequently know little about strontium and seldom prescribe it. But..... I have never known a doctor to tell a patient whose dexa and tbs have gotten better or who has stopped fracturing to stop their strontium. Doctors just aren't familiar with strontium.

Here are some posts on Inspire of strontium research and strontium user stories which might be helpful:
Strontium user stories:
https://www.inspire.com/m/Kathleen1314/journal/d69831-strontium-users-stories-3-alternative-to-pharma-meds/
2020 A review of latest insights into the mechanism of action by strontium:
https://www.inspire.com/groups/bone-health-and-osteoporosis/discussion/2020-a-review-of-latest-insights-into-the-mechanism-of-action-by-strontium-/
A compilation of posts/ research and the above posts:
https://www.inspire.com/groups/bone-health-and-osteoporosis/discussion/dd823b-strontium-a-compilation-of-research-and-information/

@llynch17056
Me too. All by my lonesome. We are on our own I have learned. To be proactive, research, ask questions, and decide. A journey I was not prepared for but am yet here. I am grateful for this community. Maybe our advocacy will encourage more OP peeps to speak up. And demand more info.

@osteocurious I have been outspoken here and gained a lot of information and camaraderie with others. It's great forum. Mostly, I have been on pages about statins and cardiologists’ obsession with numbers even in the face of statins causing severe side effects in some people.

@osteocurious
My professional is a Family Nurse Practitioner specializing in orthopedic bone health. She’s excellent and works out of an orthopedic surgeon’s office. Best of luck on your own journey! I’ve had no side effects with Tymlos other than its building more bone.

I have heard that levothyroxine can affect bones…if so, when docs prescribe it,maybe they should recommend things we can do to keep bones strong—exercises, diet, supplements…