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Has anyone used Fosamax for bone health and did it help?
My doctor says I have osteoporosis in a bone on my spine although other bones like thigh and hips are okay. I was shocked to find that I have osteoporosis because I am very active, in the sun a lot with golf, move, climb, and jump. I am mid-60’s, eat reasonably well, exercise often, and take vitamins. I was prescribed Fosamax. After reading the side effects like may cause jawbone cracks or pain, and femur breaks plus a few other things in addition to bone pain during the growing bone process. I decided not to start taking it yet. My fear is the medicine will expedite bone fractures and I am not ready to give up my hobbies for a life in sitting around? Any experience with this, suggestions on how to improve or delay the progression with medicines or other ideas?
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@daisy17 okay thank you for sharing
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1 Reaction@gravity3 No. I was offered Fosamax by my PCP but I have not agreed to take it yet. I am trying to research options, since the drug has side effects of Jaw and Femur breaks. But this is odd to me since the drug is supposed to rebuild bone to prevent breaks. I know it’s rare, but still concerning.
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2 Reactions@cgirl0721
Great. It is important that we each do our own research so that we can advocate for our own care and work in partnership with our physicians.
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1 ReactionMy orthopedic surgeon same the same thing about the side effects -Femur fractures. Since I was going to her because of fractured femur I ruled it out
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2 Reactions@gravity3 Nope - first appointment I was prescribed fosomax and not even knowing anything about osteoporosis and treatment I went with what I was prescribed. Only drug offered, but discussed Reclast (scared me only because it is a once a year infusion; if problems you are stuck, you can't un-infuse it!). Prolia came up; but he said it was for life and that concerned me more (plus he didn't seem like he was crazy about it). Nothing else was discussed. I later learned (thank the Lord for the internet!) that bone builders are becoming more first line treatment, then locking in any gains with bisphosphonates. Oh well. On a different path.
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3 ReactionsI talked to my dentist and primary care doctor. Both said that the jaw and femur issues are extremely rare, neither had ever seen it happen. That helped me decide to go ahead with Fosamax. I’ve just been getting started with it.
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1 Reaction@loll okay thank you. I’m almost there too for that very reason.
@jozer I was on alendronate (brand name Fosamax) for 18 months for the same reason you were - doctor prescribed it without discussion and I did not know anything about osteoporosis medications.
But then I got educated and a new doctor was happy to take me off of alendronate and put me on HRT instead. I waited 6 months into the HRT and then did self-pay Bone Turnover Markers tests. Although both my CTX and P1NP are quite low my ratio looks quite good. At my slow bone building rate it may take more than 2 years before DEXA shows a change.
If you are happy with the path that you are on now with Reclast (zoledronic acid), and there are good reasons to be happy with it, then great! But you may not be locked onto that path.
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2 Reactions@loll Please keep us updated on how your body handles this drug, side effects, and above all if it really does anything to improve the bone.
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2 Reactions@kfhoz , thank you for sharing. Please update when you are able to do another test.
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