Significant osteoporosis: I need a bone plan

Posted by heyhey @heyhey, Nov 15, 2020

60 y/o , fit and active (I thought) but my first bone scan showed osteoporosis in spine (-3.3). Want to start Evenity, Tyblos, or Forteo. Its really the first health issue I've had in my life, and I'm kind of stumped. How can I find reliable third party research into their relative risks & efficacy -- only research I can find online is done by the companies themselves.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Osteoporosis & Bone Health Support Group.

@darkarta

hello hey hey,I am a Canadian and you need a doctor with a license to practise medicine in the province where your Rx is filled.I doubt you will get that without being seen first and the wait list here is long.Currently our borders are closed to the U.S. by car you can come by air but must isolate for 2 weeks.If its an on-line pharmacy,well it may be iffy.I tell you these things about the Canadian health care and system because there is a lack of info.about Canada and our systems.best of luck.

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Thanks for your comments and I would really appreciate if you could give me more information. In Canada, would an endocrinologist be the medical professional that would treat osteoporosis? Also, I saw Tymlos was approved by Health Canada in 2017. I then called a major pharmacy ( Shoppers Drugmart ) in Canada to see if they could tell me the list price. They said Tymlos is not carried by pharmacies. So, does that mean its approved -- but not actually available in Canada?

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@onamission

heyhey, I want to bring some calcium managers like boron, K2MK4, magnesium to your attention for osteoporosis Sufficient magnesium is needed for vitamin D and thiamine (B1) to become bioactive Sadly, adequate levels are not in many diets and often supplements used have low absorption levels. Krispin shares her valuable magnesium information in the link below. Boron is often overlooked and the 3 mg mentioned in the article is, I believe, a maintenance level. Health issues like osteoporisis, fibromyalgia and arthritis require up to 20 mg a day from food and supplements.. Always consult your health care professional before using any supplement.
https://www.westonaprice.org/health-topics/in-defense-of-vitamin-k2-mk-4-dr-prices-activator-x/
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/jcb.29632?af=R&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+JournalOfCellularBiochemistry+%28Journal+of+Cellular+Biochemistry%29
https://www.krispin.com/magnes.html
https://www.spineuniverse.com/conditions/osteoporosis/osteoporosis-vitamin-c-keeping-healthy
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7349196/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4712861/

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Thank you very much. In addition to calcium I am already supplementing with Vit B's, C, D, K, Magnesium, Zinc. I'll look into Boron. By the way, did you happen to have ever read about supplements that might INCREASE risk of osteoporosis?

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You should get in touch with Health Canada https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada.html and they should provide answers as to whether this drug is appproved here or not.I am not sure what specialty treats oesteoporosis.I am not treated for that condition.But any doctor could prescribe.Try Health Canada they are like the FDA

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@heyhey

Thank you very much. In addition to calcium I am already supplementing with Vit B's, C, D, K, Magnesium, Zinc. I'll look into Boron. By the way, did you happen to have ever read about supplements that might INCREASE risk of osteoporosis?

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heyhey, people take them evey day believing their supplement will maintain their health.. A lot of supplements pass without desolving. Many are synthetic and may not recognized by the body. Others have low availability or compete for absorption. It's important to examine each vitamin or mineral in your purchase to find out it's source, if it competes with other ingredients for absorption and if, in the case of minerals, will there be a need for separate supplements. Remember, age can reduce intrinsic factor, digestive enzymes and stomach acid further increasing the risk of osteoporosis.

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@heyhey

Thanks for your comments and I would really appreciate if you could give me more information. In Canada, would an endocrinologist be the medical professional that would treat osteoporosis? Also, I saw Tymlos was approved by Health Canada in 2017. I then called a major pharmacy ( Shoppers Drugmart ) in Canada to see if they could tell me the list price. They said Tymlos is not carried by pharmacies. So, does that mean its approved -- but not actually available in Canada?

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@heyhey, a variety of medical specialists treat people with osteoporosis, including internists, gynecologists, family doctors, endocrinologists, rheumatologists, physiatrists, orthopaedists, and geriatricians. In Canada, you would start with your family physician and get a referrals to specialists appropriate for you.
- For People With Osteoporosis: How To Find a Doctor https://www.bones.nih.gov/health-info/bone/osteoporosis/find-doctor#:~:text=A%20variety%20of%20medical%20specialists,doctor%20who%20treats%20osteoporosis%20patients.

You're right that Tymlos was approved for use in Canada in 2017. Here's some information about buying drugs from online pharmacies. It can be risky.
- Choosing a safe online pharmacy https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/topics/buying-using-drug-health-products-safely/safe-use-online-pharmacies.html

Heyhey, are you living in Canada or inquiring about getting prescriptions online from the US?

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@artscaping

@heyhey, @hopeful33250 Such good news that you found some good research? What did you learn on Google Scholar? I thought I looked there and on the nih site. So....now we need to figure out the finances. There are a series of Specialty Pharmacies in the US. My local pharmacist found one for me, Optum. Significant savings on Tymlos. I don’t know about the others. Overnight delivery.

You know....The manufacturer of Tymlos has a special group composed of nurses and other health care providers. They support clinicians and also patients. Perhaps they would know about unpublished or planned comparative tests. It would be worth a try.

How would you like to proceed? As questions arise, please let us know. Don’t forget to share. That helps others.
Chris

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@artscaping I'm edging toward Tymlos also but I need to do more research. I have a DEXA next week and then appointments with two endocrinologists to get more than one opinion since this is such an important and difficult decision. If those other drugs only maintain, not build, I am wondering if you follow a regimen with good dietary choices and supplements you can also maintain.

This is such a dilemma. I have had problems with so many drugs that I'm quite nervous about the choices for osteoporosis.
JK

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@heyhey, @hopeful33250, My morning website search led me to discover some things I did not know. Seizure medications like gabapentin can interfere with the absorption of calcium. Taking calcium supplements is said to contribute to dementia. While I want to know more.....I do notice that although that medication is listed on mychart (portal) nothing was said about possible sensitivity to interactions with other medications when I started this process of trying to build bone.

Just checking in. Are you getting answers @heyhey. Please share with us.
May you have happiness and the causes of happiness.

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@artscaping

@heyhey, @hopeful33250, My morning website search led me to discover some things I did not know. Seizure medications like gabapentin can interfere with the absorption of calcium. Taking calcium supplements is said to contribute to dementia. While I want to know more.....I do notice that although that medication is listed on mychart (portal) nothing was said about possible sensitivity to interactions with other medications when I started this process of trying to build bone.

Just checking in. Are you getting answers @heyhey. Please share with us.
May you have happiness and the causes of happiness.

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@artscaping Thanks for that good information, Chis.

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@hopeful33250

@artscaping Thanks for that good information, Chis.

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Hi @artscaping and @heyhey

I talked with my endocrinologist yesterday and I'm going to try once-a-month Actonel. I hope I can deal with any digestive issues that might result from it's use.

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@hopeful33250

Hi @artscaping and @heyhey

I talked with my endocrinologist yesterday and I'm going to try once-a-month Actonel. I hope I can deal with any digestive issues that might result from it's use.

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2heyhey, @hopeful33250, Thank you for sharing your decision. Actonel is new for me. It is a bisphosphonate and helps to prevent resorption and creates a better environment. Would you mind sharing how you made the decision for Actonel?

May you have contentment and ease.
Chris

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