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Osteoporosis and SSRI

Posted by soggybones @soggybones, 5 days ago

last fall I was diagnosed with osteoporosis and it came as a giant shock! No one in my family ever had this diagnosis and my two older sisters who have the same body type ran out and got DEXA scans after I told them about mine. They both have normal bone density. I began researching why this happened to me and the only thing I can come up with is the SSRI medication I took for 30 years. I spoke to my doctor about this and he denied the SSRI did this to me and blamed it on menopause. I'm sure menopause did play a role, but I bet the SSRI did as well. Upon researching alternatives to an SSRI for my mental health issues-which are now much worse thanks to osteoporosis-I found that there is a drug "Buspar" that is used to treat anxiety and is not associated with bone loss. Just wondering if anyone else has switch their meds as part of their battle against osteoporosis?

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soggybones | @soggybones | 1 day ago
In reply to @paxbar "Thank you for your reply. Yes, I am being treated by an excellent endocrinologist. I started..." + (show)
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Thank you for your reply. Yes, I am being treated by an excellent endocrinologist. I started Tymlos July 20th. The process to gain approval for the drug took 9 months of multiple appeals and outside reviews with United Healthcare Advantage insurance, despicable insurance company. My endocrinologist was crucial in achieving the drug approval. Though I have experienced multiple negative side effects, they have subsided except for the dizziness when standing or bending over. I am so thankful that I have started this therapy for bone loss.

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@paxbar Yes, I've heard getting approval for an anabolic can be a real challenge. Not looking forward to dealing with that! Such a shame these insurance companies have to cause such a fuss over medication that we clearly need. Good for you for being a good advocate for yourself and having an endocrinologist who is willing to go to bat for you is a real blessing. I have heard some people say they take their Tymlos shot at night because the side effects are easier to deal with that way. Wishing you stronger bones going forward!

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soggybones | @soggybones | 1 day ago
In reply to @andi77 "Thanks so much for your very open and sensitive reply.I decided to taper my sertraline from..." + (show)
Profile picture for andi77 @andi77

Thanks so much for your very open and sensitive reply.I decided to taper my sertraline from 50mg to 37.5 today (the recommended first drop) and will continue on this dosage for a month.Hopefully, within this time, I'll be able to meet with a psychiatrist to get me through the rest of the tapering schedule. I've been thinking about the naturally "sunny" disposition people as well, and I truly hope I can get there one day.
I too am quite reluctant about hormone therapy as my aunt passed from breast cancer and I have a cousin, who is a survivor. However, more recent studies are showing significantly less connection to breast cancer than has been reported in the past. Also, oral estrogen carries much more risk than transdermal.At this point, I have held off on starting my prescription for the estrogen gel (which you have to apply every day and seems very inconvenient), and progesterone at night.Other side effects are noted, such as breakthrough bleeding, breast tenderness, bloating...
For now, I think starting injections is daunting enough and I want to be aware of any side effects from that.
As mentioned, I'm awaiting Cardiac Clearance after my stress test, and then I'm still not sure when the Evenity would begin.
Have you started with an anabolic/bone builder medication yet?
I'm so grateful to have "found" you and this support group.I wish there were local in-person support groups for bone loss sufferers to share.
It seems we're a world of "remote" these days. I think that's another reason to account for some feelings of isolation at times.

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@andi77 I haven't started an anabolic yet. I still need to have some tests run to rule out any other secondary causes and I may also need a cardiac clearance. My cholesterol levels have been borderline high since perimenopause and I got a CAC before starting Duavee. The CAC did show some mild calcification so I will need to start a statin ( yay-more drugs) to lower my risk of stroke/heart attack. I will meet with my NP next week to discuss this. Once all that gets sorted out I will meet with my endocrinologist in October to discuss what medication would be best for me. Such a slow process...ugh! As for in person support groups-I did look for one in my area and discovered there aren't any. I suppose I could start one. It would be nice to meet others that are in the same boat who understand what it's like to deal with this.

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jbones | @jbones | 8 hours ago
In reply to @soggybones "@lhankins Thank you for sending me a reply. Yes, I know women who were told SSRI's..." + (show)
Profile picture for soggybones @soggybones

@lhankins Thank you for sending me a reply. Yes, I know women who were told SSRI's would help them manage their menopausal anxiety and hot flashes. They were told HRT was too risky so they took these other meds instead. They probably would have been better off on HRT, but now it's too late since they are 10 years post menopause. I feel as if we've been let down badly by the medical community. I really wish there were better treatment options.

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@soggybones

So many women feel just the way you feel, and rightly so. We have been let down badly by the medical community. When I talk to the young women in my family about my experience with os and some of the things that I have learned, I too often hear "I didn't know that." We will get to the next level!

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