Would like to know people's experience using Fosamax

The results of Evenity seem to be positive from anything I have read. I had my 5th injections yesterday and really don't experience much in the way of side effects. I am a very active 78 year old and hope to stay that way!

PCP suggested as a starter but didn't prescribe yet. PCP suggested I can also discuss with Endo in a month ( first appointment). My numbers aren't in the severe range does this stuff really work for preventing further loss?
Thx.

I think the results vary from Individual to individual as they do with any medication. The thing about Fosamax is that it has some history. The side effects aren't as severe as with some of the other medications. I get the impression that doctors start a lot of their patients out on Fosamax. I think it's a good idea to start on Fosamax. It will slow bone loss. It's harder to catch up once a bone loss has gotten worse

It is common to start osteoporosis patients on Fosamax.
Lots depends upon your age, bone density and fracture risk. Your endocrinologist will sort that.
Fosamax, a bisphosphonate, works by preventing bone from remodling. It increases bone density gradually by preserving bone.
With antiresorptive bisphosphonates, like Fosamax, "small changes in BMD (a few percent) have been associated with dramatic, but varying, declines in vertebral fracture rates (30 to 90%)."
https://asbmr.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1359/jbmr.2000.15.2.183#:~:text=In%20the%20case%20of%20antiresorptive,rates%20(30%20to%2090%25).
If your fracture risk is high, your endocrinologist will want you to take an anabolic drug that works by increasing the development of new bone. The effect is quicker and the bone is stronger.
Bisphosphonates similar to fosamax are available as monthly, six month, and yearly injections.
An often seen side effect of Fosamax is reflux. You'll want to be careful to remain upright, sitting preferrably for thirty minutes after taking the pill. The effect is seen, though not as often with the injectables, so there is some physiologic cause other than position.
If you carefully read the side effect list of any pharmaceutical you may find yourself reluctant to take it. So I only offer a link. https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/alendronate-oral-route/side-effects/drg-20061571 Best wishes, may you never fracture.

Before starting Bisphosphonate, research how the risk assessment is presented. The following is from an article I read, and is mentioned in articles by the NCBI. -- When discussing the risks and benefits of treatment with patients, healthcare professionals frequently communicate the potential benefits of treatment in terms of a relative risk reduction (RRR) in an event, and previous research has indicated that this increases the likelihood of people accepting treatment.

It has also been pointed out that presentation of data as RRR is often misleading. For example, in the context of osteoporosis, many bisphosphonates reduce the relative risk of hip fracture by 40% compared with placebo. Although this sounds impressive, the absolute benefit in terms of hip fractures prevented in osteopenic women with the characteristics of those treated by Reid and colleagues corresponds to a reduction from 12 fractures per 1000 women treated for 6 years to 8 fractures. This equates to an absolute reduction of 0.4%, 100 times less than the RRR.

Hi @alexxa. I moved your discussion and combined it with an existing discussion titled" Would like to know people's experience using Fosamax." - https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/would-like-to-know-peoples-experience-using-fosomax/.

@alexxa, has your PCP discussed the risks and benefits with starting you on Fosamax now, even though your numbers aren't severe?

Thanks, Justin.
No, no information was given. Just a cautionary story about dr's relative who fractured something by moving some object (but her osteoporosis was severe apparently). The point was 'you don't want to wait until it "gets bad" to "do something"... I had actually read something about meds being a shorter term thing only if indicated b/c of severity. Anyway I think it would need a lot more discussion and she knows I am consulting an endocrinologist so she didn't prescribe but just suggested it. It seems Fosamax is so popular a choice for a first med that my gyn also mentioned it but it would seem to me that a lot more thorough look at my case would be necessary prior to really recommending /prescribing a med for this. So, I'll see what the endo thinks.

The issue according to Keith McCormick's book "Great Bones," my doc, and a great video on Sequencing and Combinations by Dr. Ben Leder- is that bisphosphonates should really be used to "lockin" gains AFTER a bone builder like Forteo, Tymlos or Evenity. And bisphosphonates or Prolia used first may interfere with later effectiveness of bone builders. Also, you can only be on Fosamax so long, so what do you do afterwards. Ask your doc when you can stop (3 years?) and what you do afterwards.

Insurance companies are determining sequencing because the bone builders cost more.

If your bones are not severe, check into McCormick's book "The Whole Body Approach to Osteoporosis," Lani Simpson MD, and melioguide for exercises.

I am very pro med but I had osteoporosis for 14 years before I did meds. Fosamax was offered in 2001! My GERD could not tolerate it. I have done tai chi the whole time to increase balance and coordination.

Thx WS. Yes I ordered all the books u mentioned except the exercise one is a different author I believe..but so far have only been perusing Great Bones but not the others yet. There's so much information.
I appreciate the help.

Great Bones is a great book!