Why not Strontium Citrate?

Good question…just be sure to check who’s the supplements affect the kidneys…strontium could stress them.

no strontium is not a substitute for calcium.
I am a strontium user; I spend all day long making sure that I eat and consume enough calcium and then take my strontium the last thing at night. In fact, the main priority I have with my strontium use and the one which my endocrinologist left me with is to make sure that I take enough calcium daily before my strontium.

Think of it this way, strontium is more of a scaffolding for the osteoporosis holes in the bone, especially found in new bone, but then calcium is needed to adhere before bone grows.
Strontium does not replace calcium; it works with calcium to grow bone.

Plus, strontium research does not say that strontium stresses kidneys. Research does say that most drugs and supplements including strontium should be used carefully when kidneys are damaged. This is because the kidneys can not do their job well enough sometimes to clean the body of supplements and drugs and indeed many nutrients found in food. So kidney concerns when you have diseased kidneys extend to all osteoporosis drugs, most supplements and many of the nutrients in our diet.

Research:
Long-term Phase 3 trials (SOTI and TROPOS) of strontium ranelate—which provides 680 mg of elemental strontium—monitored thousands of patients for up to 5 years. These studies found no clinically relevant changes in renal function compared to placebo groups.
Animal Toxicity Studies: In rats and chickens, even extremely high doses of strontium (up to 166 mg/kg/day, which would be over 11,000 mg for a human) showed no histological changes or weight changes in the kidneys, provided calcium and vitamin D levels were adequate.
Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) Correlation: Some specialized research has linked high serum (blood) strontium levels to an increased risk of acute kidney injury specifically after cardiac surgery. This is typically interpreted as a marker of the body's inability to clear the mineral rather than the mineral causing the damage.

Said another way:
Most clinical evidence suggests the relationship is a correlation of function, not necessarily a causative one where strontium harms or heals the kidneys.
So the problem arises with the kidneys are they healthy, not does strontium cause damage to the kidneys.

@kayabbott, thank you for sharing additional links. The first link for Why Strontium is Not Advised for Bone Health is an interesting read.

Have you had a chance to look through that one? In particular, there was a passage that said " Strontium… results in an overestimation (up to 50%) of the increase in bone density using DXA methods." It referenced 'The Osteoporosis Manual' by Reiner and Christopher Bartl as its source.

As with many supplements and studies, more information is needed to garner any scientific conclusions. There are potential risk factors with strontium products as well that are being studied which include possible kidney and heart complications.

Patients and Connect members should consult with their providers before adding any supplements or medications to their regimen. This is especially important if a person is considering a supplement in place of a recommended medication from their medical provider.

About strontium and kidneys, I had forgotten about this study that I saw on Inspire:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37780453/

@pat9892 Strontium (an element chemically similar to calcium, denser) is not a substitute for calcium. There doesn't seem to be a lot of research on strontium, but here is an NIH publication from 2021. Written to doctors, but does contain the processes of Ca and Sr on bone growth, remodeling, and loss. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8235140/

@kayabbott & @gargoy
Thank you both for the research information regarding Strontium. It helped me make a quick decision. After reading the information, and being somewhat overwhelmed ;~) I don't think strontium is something I need to take at this point in time. As it turns out there is a 5.5mg in the new OTC bone supplement I am taking: NEW CHAPTER® Bone Strength Take Care™ Tiny Tabs™ and I probably am getting some naturally via the leafy greens, grains, dairy, and water I consume.
Also I am dealing with other strange issues since my diagnoses/treatment and prefer not to wonder if anything else that has a side effect is due to medication I am already taking, something new, aging, or solar storms lol. Bless you both!

@pat9892, sounds like you have made a well-informed decision that is right for you, along with the guidance of your doctor. As others have said, strontium citrate is not a replacement for calcium. Mayo Clinic does not recommend strontium citrate for the treatment of osteoporosis.

Your doctor has recommended risedronate, an effective bisphosphonate medication used to prevent and treat osteoporosis (thinning of the bone) in women after menopause.

Have you talked to your doctor (or pharmacist) about the over-ther-counter supplements you're taking and possible interactions with risedronate?

My initial posted asked....
Has anyone had any adverse effects with Strontium Citrate?

I decided to go this route because of multiple reasons:
Fosamax will most likely give me GERD as I already have had digestive issues in the past. I also don't like the idea of keeping old bone.
I didn't want to take any of the infusions as based on reported experiences am very concerned with side effects. And once its in your system you can't do anything about it.
I have had dental issues my whole life, osteonecrosis of jaw is very concerning.
I would prefer to take a bone builder first but insurance will not approve because of cost.
I struggle with how to manage a long term issue 15-20 years when the approved medications have some really nasty side effects. Especially as risk of side effectes increases after taking for years, even if switching them up and taking a drug holiday.

Even more disheartening is the DEXA which decides if I'm in osteoporosis or not but than also depends on which machine I'm on and if the tech knows what they are doing.

There needs to be better options.

@pat9892 I have the same New Chapter and have been doing trial and error with diet, to balance various health concerns…i started the tiny tabs slowly, very gradually. I also believe that walking and focused exercise like resistance exercises can help a lot… sometimes OP can be a side effect of other meds … this is so complex and we end up having to sort it out without knowing much. AI does help some, but still hope we find docs that actually help. Wishing everyone here good luck !