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Did you have Digestive Issues with Osteoporosis Treatment? What to do?
Hello all! I need to decide on next step for osteo treatment and have been so overwhelmed and frozen with fear on what to do. Hoping you can guide me with your stories and advice. I am in my late 50's and have been treated over the years using Fosamax (18 months), Forteo (2+ years) and now I'll need to go on something else. My spine is -4.1 and hip is -1.4. I have suffered from life-long gut issues and after multiple doctors and tests, IBS has been the continued diagnosis. I had heard that because of my IBS I have secondary OP as I have also been diagnosed with malabsorption, inflammation and dysbiosis. I am being treated for these conditions the last few weeks, so far with much success. I have also heard that I need to get my gut healed before I can expect the OP to get better. I recently saw a rheumatologist who is recommending further blood work as well. Because of my gut issues, annual Reclast infusion has been the med recommended for me because it does not enter the GI tract. But I am terrified of the risks and side effects.
Thoughts on what I should consider? Who else I should see? What would you do?
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Hello @ncylucyann and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect, a patient support group. I am sorry to hear that you have osteoporosis.
I have never used Reclast, however, @lioness, has used it. By mentioning her in this post, she will probably reply to your comment.
Since this is your first post on Connect, it would be nice to get to know you better. How long ago were you diagnosed with osteoporosis? Have you tried other medications or therapies?
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2 Reactions@ncylucyann Id like to add my welcome to you also. Yes I had my first Reclast infusion last September due this September for my second I didn't have any side effects from it .It's just once a year you have it .You go to a special unit just for infusion it last about 30 min. Then you go home .If I remember I did have a slight headache but just for a little while. Good luck I won't have my dexascan till after it .
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3 ReactionsA mentor in this group noted an article from Mayo on D and K. There are reasons that K may not be necessary. I don’t have the article link.
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2 Reactionshad my 1st reclast infusion and i am happy to say, no side effects. It went really well.
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1 Reaction@ncylucyann I'm glad to hear you had no side effects those that said they did , all our systems are different 😉
Prolia kicked my booty and still is
6 1/2 months later. Sooo, I'm looking at Fosamax once a week pill. So the question I'm putting out is...
Can any of y'all with digestive/IBS issues taking Fosamax share any experiences? And if you had these issues while taking Fosamax, how long did they last? Did they return? Were they gone for good?
Colleen, I moved your question to an existing discussion in the Osteoporosis & Bone Health group here:
- Did you have Digestive Issues with Osteoporosis Treatment? What to do? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/osteo-treatment-and-gi-issues/
I did this so you can connect with others talking Fosamax and dealing with IBS and other digestive issues like @sue225 @gwinter @irishdancer @texasmimi @cherriann and others, who can share how long GI issues lasted for them and how they managed.
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1 ReactionI have been in Prolia for 3 years and have had no GI nor muscle issues. I have never had any side effects with prolia. Fido max was totally in a payable with my GI Issues; thus I was switched to Prolia. I always hydrate well prior to the administration as it is important to do so.
Hope you find a resolution.
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1 ReactionI have IBS and took Fosamax several different times in past years. I believe I probably took Fosamax for about four years or more the first time my doctor prescribed it and had digestive discomfort that can best be described as ulcer-like pain. It didn't last long, just a few hours, but would occur each week when I took the Fosamax. I eventually took a break from Fosamax for about a year and a half, and then was persuaded by my doctor to start taking it again, which I did. I took it for about a year, but due to pain in my legs, upper thighs and groin area that was quite severe, and especially at night, I stopped using it. I had aching in my bones that often had me walking the floors at night in pain - it scared me! I stopped using Fosamax after the pain became more persistent and after hearing all the media medical reports, reading the side-effects of other's who were using Fosamax/other osteoporosis drugs, and doing extensive research on my own. The digestive issues were not the reason I stopped as they were tolerable and the pain in my legs and groin were much more of a concern. My numbers also unfortunately, did not improve greatly at anytime while I took Fosamax. It's been some time now since I stopped taking osteoporosis drugs and I feel great, but do eat and exercise for bone health. I in no way suggest that anyone would experience what I did taking Fosamax as we are all different, and Fosamax or another drug may be very beneficial to someone else. If more safe and effective drugs become available in the future without numerous and serious side-effects, I would consider them.