1. < Osteoporosis & Bone Health

Osteoporosis treatment or strontium citrate?

Posted by bonelady @bonelady, May 10, 2018

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.

windyshores | @windyshores | Aug 19, 2023

@rosegardener maybe you know that strontium at that dose throws off your DEXA results. Did the radiologist adjust for it?

Strontium replaces calcium in the bones and is denser, so it can make your bone density look better than it is. Still you probably did gain some, it is just hard to know how much. Congrats on whatever gains you have made.

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tricia225 | @tricia225 | Sep 26, 2023
In reply to @clarkedu "I am actively and urgently in the process of deciding which osteoporosis treatment I want to..." + (show)
@clarkedu

I am actively and urgently in the process of deciding which osteoporosis treatment I want to "pitch" to my doctors. Fosomax is the formulary for my HMO, but that does not appeal to me at all. I feel that I need something that is shown to rebuild bone (15 lumbar and thoracic vertebral compression fractures). Initially Forteo was top contender (refrigeration requirement is an issue) until I came across Tymlos (refrigeration being easier to manage is one of several benefits over Forteo). Can and should treatments such as these be used in conjunction with strontium citrate, about which I know nothing by the way? Any feedback to help me through this maze will be highly appreciated

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I know its been 7 years, so I'm not sure if you are still on this site, but what did you decide? I was on Tymlos for 3 months and now on Forteo for the past 5 months and cannot wait to get off it. I feel like its loosening my teeth and I am pushing through the fatigue, even after a good night's sleep. While I do feel like my bones are stronger, I'm thinking I will let the prescription run out and be done with it. My plan is to try strontium citrate, more D3, k7 and continue with my exercise.
Would be interested in hearing how you made out. Thanks!

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1 reply
tricia225 | @tricia225 | Sep 26, 2023
In reply to @rosegardener "I had osteoporosis diagnosed shortly after menopause and was put on Fosamax by my physician. I..." + (show)
@rosegardener

I had osteoporosis diagnosed shortly after menopause and was put on Fosamax by my physician. I saw very little improvement in hips, and worsening of spine, taking Fosamax and took myself off it after 4 years due to severe side effects including nausea, vomiting, heartburn, etc. My doctor never heard of strontium citrate for bone building. Based on reading on my own I then tried a natural combination of algae calcium and strontium citrate supplements (680mg nightly).
My stomach problems disappeared and I have steadily gained bone density over 4 years, including a whopping 10% increase in my spine and 6-8% hips in the last two years. I’ve had no ill effects taking strontium. I am now in osteopenia territory and very happy with my progress

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Hi. Are you taking AlgaeCal? I was taking their calcium as it was so much better on my stomach, and then I began reading about law suits saying their calcium product was known to have heavy lead content.
There is controversy around strontium citrate but I am now leaning towards it. I've been on Tymlos, then Forteo, for 8 months now and while my bones feel stronger (I know it sounds weird, but they do), I feel 10 years older on this medication. My plan is to see out the prescription and then move to strontium citrate and stick with my workout schedule and move my diet more to the Mediterranean diet (though it's pretty good now).
Curious to know if it is AlgaeCal or if there is another out there I can consider.
Thanks!

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tricia225 | @tricia225 | Sep 26, 2023
In reply to @windyshores "@maggiegirl1123 oh my gosh, so sorry for your loss. And some of those gains are no..." + (show)
@windyshores

@maggiegirl1123 oh my gosh, so sorry for your loss.

And some of those gains are no doubt real! Sometimes I comment just so other posters are aware.

I had a 20% gain in spine from Tymlos, or so I thought. My PCP said fractures and arthritis can make scores look better than they are. So for different reasons, I am in the same boat! I am going to investigate with endo.

If I cannot tolerate Reclast after Tymlos, I may try strontium myself, despite any risks. So I will share the uncertainty about DEXA's too.

Be well and take care of yourself in grief.

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Hi - when are you done with Tymlos? I couldn't tolerate it after 3 months and moved to Forteo for the past 5 months. I really don't like taking it bc while it doesn't affect me the way Tymlos did, I still fight fatigue despite what time I take it. Overall, these meds have me feeling 10 years older.
I'm not hearing that Reclast is comfortable and heard a lot of women in my group abandoned it. I'm wondering if I can go back on HRT (although, I was on it for quite a while and still ended up with two vertebrae fractures as the result of a horrific covid cough last year); my OP seems to be genetic. My alternative might also be to try the Strontium Citrate, continue with my solgar supplements, exercise, diet, etc. To your point, if the radiologist knows in advance that I am on SC, she can take that into account. Appreciate your thoughts 🙂

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1 reply
lkel | @lkel | Oct 15, 2023
In reply to @tricia225 "I know its been 7 years, so I'm not sure if you are still on this..." + (show)
@tricia225

I know its been 7 years, so I'm not sure if you are still on this site, but what did you decide? I was on Tymlos for 3 months and now on Forteo for the past 5 months and cannot wait to get off it. I feel like its loosening my teeth and I am pushing through the fatigue, even after a good night's sleep. While I do feel like my bones are stronger, I'm thinking I will let the prescription run out and be done with it. My plan is to try strontium citrate, more D3, k7 and continue with my exercise.
Would be interested in hearing how you made out. Thanks!

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I'm not exactly answering your questions, but I finished Forteo last month (mid September). I was on it for 24 months. Except special cases, it generally not recommended to go longer than that. Dexa scans show I got a 9% bone density gain. I had very few side effects and most of that in the first 6 weeks (some bone pain).

REPLY
windyshores | @windyshores | Oct 16, 2023
In reply to @tricia225 "Hi - when are you done with Tymlos? I couldn't tolerate it after 3 months and..." + (show)
@tricia225

Hi - when are you done with Tymlos? I couldn't tolerate it after 3 months and moved to Forteo for the past 5 months. I really don't like taking it bc while it doesn't affect me the way Tymlos did, I still fight fatigue despite what time I take it. Overall, these meds have me feeling 10 years older.
I'm not hearing that Reclast is comfortable and heard a lot of women in my group abandoned it. I'm wondering if I can go back on HRT (although, I was on it for quite a while and still ended up with two vertebrae fractures as the result of a horrific covid cough last year); my OP seems to be genetic. My alternative might also be to try the Strontium Citrate, continue with my solgar supplements, exercise, diet, etc. To your point, if the radiologist knows in advance that I am on SC, she can take that into account. Appreciate your thoughts 🙂

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@tricia225 my doc was going to try a 20% dose of Reclast with IV hydration and slow infusion. I could conceivably do that every three months and with monitoring, take a break.

However I am now considering Evenity between Tymlos and Reclast since my femur neck is still -3.6. No way to reduce the Evenity dose (I reduced the Tymlos dose.) Nervous!

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njhornung | @normahorn | Oct 16, 2023

It is possible to reduce the Evenity dose but a major battle would have to be won to do it. Each treatment of Evenity comes in 2 syringes. They could use only one each month.

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1 reply
windyshores | @windyshores | Oct 17, 2023
In reply to @normahorn "It is possible to reduce the Evenity dose but a major battle would have to be..." + (show)
@normahorn

It is possible to reduce the Evenity dose but a major battle would have to be won to do it. Each treatment of Evenity comes in 2 syringes. They could use only one each month.

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I wondered about that!

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njhornung | @normahorn | Oct 17, 2023

Since your doctors are on-board with ramping up Tymlos, they might be amenable to a reduced dosage for at least the first 2 moths. Worth asking, anyway.

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1 reply
windyshores | @windyshores | Oct 17, 2023
In reply to @normahorn "Since your doctors are on-board with ramping up Tymlos, they might be amenable to a reduced..." + (show)
@normahorn

Since your doctors are on-board with ramping up Tymlos, they might be amenable to a reduced dosage for at least the first 2 moths. Worth asking, anyway.

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The goal of ramping up was to get to as high a dose as possible, as quickly as possible. Not sure how I would feel doing 1/2 dose for a once a month medicine. My docs might okay it but I want it to work! I will stop the injections if I feel any weird symptoms.

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