Osteoporosis treatment or strontium citrate?
Is reclast a safe treatment for osteoporosis I have not done anything so far except strontium citrate?
***Director's Note:***
There’s not enough research to know if strontium fights osteoporosis. Also, the FDA doesn’t regulate supplements in the same way as prescription drugs, so it's not possible to know if if they are safe or work well or even how much of the main ingredient they contain.
If you want to take a strontium supplement, it is recommended to ask your doctor first.
Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Osteoporosis & Bone Health Support Group.
Suzirider this is incorrect information. I will only address the celiac. Celiac is an autoimmune disorder and does not go away. It is often associated with type 1 diabetes.
"When people with celiac disease eat gluten (a protein found in wheat, rye and barley), their body mounts an immune response that attacks the small intestine. These attacks lead to damage on the villi, small fingerlike projections that line the small intestine, that promote nutrient absorption. When the villi get damaged, nutrients cannot be absorbed properly into the body." (Celiac Disease Foundation)
Vitamin D does not have to be from the sun, supplements are fine. People in northern countries cannot get enough Vitamin D from the sun, except in the summer.
You raised every concern I have about the nasty side effects and risks of the drugs to 'treat' osteoporosis. I have 'mild osteopenia and a breast cancer lumpectomy in October, 2021 and really worried about taking the recommended aromatase inhibitor because it would have necessitated taking bone anti-resorptive meds and all have nasty side effects. Or worse unintended consequences. An endocrinologist planned the classes of them to me, bisphosphonates to monoclonal antibodies to SERM to parathyroid-related approaches and I dont want to have to take any if them so declined anastrozole. [I also declined it due to cardiac-related side effects so the bone loss concern wasn't the sole reason.] The endocrinologist also mentioned that the drugs don't actually redensify bone as harden the remaining bone. Which makes the bones more brittle. Note, maybe the newest drugs do remind healthy bone but this consult was last week. He also pointed out that some if the drugs, if discontinued, 'take back' more bone than that gained from taking them! So I also welcome anything anyone knows about maintaining bone health. I'm addressing diet, taking a calcium/D3/K2 formula and adding weight-bearing exercise. If boron or trace minerals or other supplements can help here, I'm among those grateful to read about them.
Tymlos, Forteo and Evenity do "dedensify" bone. Prolia and biphosponates affect resorption, as does Evenity but to a lesser degree. Brittle bones may occur after several years, with Prolia and biphosphonates Prolia is the one that can result in quick drop in density after stopping: not true of biphosphonates. For osteopenia, there have been changes in favor of not treating in many cases.
Anastrazole will increase bone loss similar to the loss at menopause but I found that after the first year this loss lessened. I took an aromatase inhibitor with full-blown osteoporosis even though bone meds were not possible (long story). My Oncotype was low but for me there was no question I would do everything I could for my cancer.
What heart conditions specifically are you wary of from anastrazole? I have paroxysmal afib but it did not affect that.
You could consider anastrazole without meds and then do a bone-growing med if your bone density worsens. (Again, I had actual osteoporosis for 14 years so there is wiggle room. Your bones don't turn to dust instantly when you cross -2.5.)
I know this is a journey of decisions and sometimes changing one's mind. As to anastrozole, I have mild osteopenia (a manufactured term to sell Fosamax years ago) that estrogen-depletion would surely turn into osteoporosis unless I took meds to hopefully prevent that. The cardiac concern with the aronatase inhibitors is two-fold. A known and frequent side effect is the triggering of high cholesterol, which I already have and cannot reduce with statens. (Not everyone gets this side effect but it's among the most frequent.) The lipid metabolism doesn't necessarily return to pre-anastrozole levels either upon discontinuing the drug. There is some concern also the effect of the drug on arterial endothelial tissue but the data is recent. The Endopat test, which I once had to consider stroke risk as part of a comprehensive coronary health assessment , measures the endothelial rebound rate. I have the genetic marker for heart disease but, quixotically enough, am so far staying out of trouble with low calcium score and good echocardiogram results. But it's always on my mind and I try to reduce risk factors. If I had a high OncotypeDX risk score, I'd have to balance the downsides and 50% rate of arthyria of anastrozole v. statistical odds of BC recurrence differently. I don't envy any of us trying to balance the trade-offs though glad there are choices.
ugh I edited but didn't come through: Tymlos, Forteo and Evenity do "redensify" NOT "dedensify"! Argh!
Vitamin K is also available in the meat from grass-fed animals and eggs from free-range hens.
I'm wrapping up my 2nd and final year on Forteo. No side effects whatsoever and my bone density is improving. It took me about a week to get used to injecting myself but it is not painful and you soon adjust to doing it. Recommend!!
Can you take strontium citrate with Reclast? I have been on Actonel and my density decreased. I am supposed to start on Reclast next month. I would like to also try the strontium citrate supplements and Algaecsl at the same time. is this ok?
@osteoquest, the supplement strontium has never been approved in the U.S. for osteoporosis. A prescription version of strontium ranelate used to be available in the E.U., but it was taken off the market due to serious side effects.
Have you discussed adding strontium citrate to your treatment plan?
Strontium ranelate was taken off the market in the EU due to clot and other cardiovascular risks. The ranelate is added, so the citrate form does not have that additive. There may be studies but awhile back noone knew if the citrate form had the same risks.
A known problem with strontium is that it is heavier than calcium, so when it replaces calcium in the bones it makes the bones look denser on a DEXA scan. You will therefore not know the actual status of your bones or whether you have improved for real.
The recommended dose, years ago, for bones, was 680mg. Many supplements have very small amounts. Like any med or supplement, there are potential side effects. And as @colleenyoung wrote, these supplements are not regulated.
If Actonel didn't work, I wonder if you could benefit from a bone-growing drug like Forteo, Tymlos, or Evenity. We don't know your DEXA scores or fracture history but if your osteoporosis is severe, you could ask your doc.