Hi there,

I was diagnosed with osteoporosis when I was in my early 60's, with a BD score of -2.4. I took Actonel for a number of years, then switched to Fosomax because when I changed insurance plans Actonel was no longer covered. The first time I took Fosomax I had a GERD reaction, and never took it again, and have taken no medication for at least the past 12 years. I'm now 79, and last year a new PCP ordered another BD test. The result was -4.0. I don't smoke or drink, I eat well and exercise quite a bit - walking, mucking for horses, and doing online bones and balance classes. My PCP recommended going back on Actonel, and had me consult with an endocrinologist who recommended one of the infusions. I did a lot of research, and decided that among other things I was unwilling to take a medication that could itself cause fractures, plus I have dental issues and compromising my jawbone etc. is not a result I'm willing to risk. It is not a given that I will ever get a fracture. I am way too medicine-averse to take any medication that, as others have pointed out, can either cause fractures or has an unproven track record. I know my decision would not be approved by many medical professionals. but I also know that the drug industry is not always to be trusted in terms of putting the welfare of patients at the top of its list of priorities, and doctors can sometimes be compromised by their relationship with pharmaceutical companies.