Anyone actually feel better on any of these drugs?

Posted by mss713 @mss713, Aug 22 8:20am

I am normally pretty medication adverse, taking only what is absolutely necessary. I am especially fearful of the osteoporosis drugs that seem to have an equal number of benefits v/s risks, and the long-term if not life-time use is unappealing. Has anyone actually felt better with any of these drugs? Thanks in advance

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Profile picture for vmcd @vmcd

Nothing out of the ordinary - the first “set” happened when lifting a bag of 6 books - I had been on steroids 5 months by that time for extreme muscle weakness (necrotizing autoimmune myopathy). Thought wrongly that the excruciating pain was caused by muscle strain, just thought I overdid it. A month later in bending down to lift a plate out of the dishwasher I had another horrible breakage. It wasn’t until I had an MRI that the compression fractures were discovered. It took about 3 months on Forteo (& being completely off steroids) that I stopped fracturing.

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@vmcd

So glad the forteo was helpful to you.

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Profile picture for msoto8318 @msoto8318

@vmcd
May I ask what you were doing that caused these multiple compression fractures?

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@msoto8318 the reason why some fracture is because the drugs make your bones dense, but decrease the quality of your bone.

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Profile picture for dvargo @dvargo

@msoto8318 the reason why some fracture is because the drugs make your bones dense, but decrease the quality of your bone.

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@dvargo

Can you post a link to the research that says

"the reason why some fracture is because the drugs make your bones dense, but decrease the quality of your bone."

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Profile picture for WilWeten @wilweten

@gently Do I understand correctly that you're on your 4th year of Forteo?
I wonder whether it's the Forteo that made your fingernails not split anymore, or perhaps the different diet and/or supplements you've been taken after your diagnosis?
I've had splitting fingernails for many years already. I hope Tymlos will help with that. But at 2.5 weeks of starting Tymlos, I guess it's way too early to expect something like that.

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@wilweten
After 4 months on Tymlos, my fingernails are definitely in better shape than before though one still occasionally splits. I’ve been getting plenty of calcium and all recommended vitamins for years. My nails improved noticeably, shortly after I started Tymlos.
That’s not why I’m taking it, obviously! I’m hoping Tymlos will prevent all future fractures with no serious side effects.
Blessings to you — wishing you great health.

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Profile picture for roseincalifornia @roseincalifornia

OP drugs remodel bone architecture. You will not "feel better" (more rested, stronger, etc)
by just taking them.

I am taking Tymlos and I "feel better" because after 13 months I found via a DEXA scan that my spine bmd increased by 10.4%. I also "feel better" knowing that with Tymlos I have a

1. 86% relative reduction in new spine fractures.
2. 43% relative reduction in nonvertebral fractures (such as wrists, ribs, and other skeletal sites, excluding things like fingers, toes, and the skull).

See https://www.drugs.com/medical-answers/how-tymlos-increase-bone-density-3581147/

I am a small 100lb female, and, fortunately, have had no side effects on Tymlos.

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@roseincalifornia Did you know any bone loss in wrists while on this drug? I am also small framed female with very thin wrists. Dr. McCormick mentioned in his book that he saw bone loss in wrists in a few of his patients on Tymlos, just wondering if you noticed any bone loss there. Thank you in advance.

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Profile picture for mcallister1002 @mcallister1002

@roseincalifornia Did you know any bone loss in wrists while on this drug? I am also small framed female with very thin wrists. Dr. McCormick mentioned in his book that he saw bone loss in wrists in a few of his patients on Tymlos, just wondering if you noticed any bone loss there. Thank you in advance.

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@mcallister1002

My DEXA scan only measured my lumbar spine and hips. How did you get a DEXA scan of your wrists?

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Profile picture for dvargo @dvargo

@msoto8318 the reason why some fracture is because the drugs make your bones dense, but decrease the quality of your bone.

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@dvargo Your statement is quite misleading. There are problems with each of the different osteoporosis drugs to be sure. If you take bisphosphonates for too many years you can decrease the quality of your bone. But if used properly the various meds reduce fracture risk and in general increase the bone quality. Certainly, the anabolic meds increase bone quality.
If your statement were true those taking osteoporosis drugs would be fracturing right and left.

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I guess everyone is different. I started HRT and 2 years later I moved from osteopenia to osteoporosis.

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Profile picture for roseincalifornia @roseincalifornia

@mcallister1002

My DEXA scan only measured my lumbar spine and hips. How did you get a DEXA scan of your wrists?

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@roseincalifornia I have never had my wrists scanned by DEXA.

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Profile picture for roseincalifornia @roseincalifornia

OP drugs remodel bone architecture. You will not "feel better" (more rested, stronger, etc)
by just taking them.

I am taking Tymlos and I "feel better" because after 13 months I found via a DEXA scan that my spine bmd increased by 10.4%. I also "feel better" knowing that with Tymlos I have a

1. 86% relative reduction in new spine fractures.
2. 43% relative reduction in nonvertebral fractures (such as wrists, ribs, and other skeletal sites, excluding things like fingers, toes, and the skull).

See https://www.drugs.com/medical-answers/how-tymlos-increase-bone-density-3581147/

I am a small 100lb female, and, fortunately, have had no side effects on Tymlos.

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@roseincalifornia What about your hips? Any improvement in score?

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