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Has anyone been helped by Fosamax?

Posted by jasperina @jasperina, Nov 10, 2023

I am newly diagnosed with osteoporosis and my provider is recommending Fosamax.
I am 67, and have good lifestyle habits. Recently I started weight lifting 3x per week.
I see a lot of negative stories about this medication but I would like to know if anyone had good results on it.

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danad | @danad | Feb 7 8:36am
In reply to @naturegirl5 "@jasperina. I took Fosamax for 4.5 years and increased bone density. I went from osteoporosis to..." + (show)
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@jasperina. I took Fosamax for 4.5 years and increased bone density. I went from osteoporosis to the osteopenia range. Prior to going on Fosamax I did everything I could to increase bone density including weightlifting, walking, X-country skiing, getting a minimum of 1200mg of calcium in diet and supplements (I took a supplement called Bone Health). Still, it wasn’t enough so I reluctantly agreed to try Fosamax. I had no side effects from taking it. I kept up all of the activities and my bone density increased with Fosamax. Fosamax is often the first med that physicians prescribe for osteoporosis. It’s inexpensive (I had no cost on Medicare Part D), and it’s been around for a long, long, time.

Was the Fosamax suggested by your primary care doctor or do you see an endocrinologist?

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@jasperina
I wonder what your doc is planning to do after the med"holiday", 5y later? I understand, the drug still lives in your bones for a year or two, then you would have to go on another drug and so on with the meds...
It sounds once you on the meds, will stay forever :/...

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humphreysbr | @humphreysbr | Feb 11 8:40pm

I tried Fosomax when a DEXA showed a -2.7 in a hip joint. I had a very bad reaction to it as it raises your blood calcium levels which upset the electrolytes in my heart and I developed terrible arrhythmia. I was only on it for a few months. I stopped taking it and the arrhythmia corrected itself. I decided on no drugs and started a weight lifting program along with specific bone supplements. Fortibone collagen, MK 7, calcium hydroxyapatite and D3. After 1 and 1/2 years of weightlifting 3 times a week and these supplements my DEXA from two weeks ago showed my hip at -2.4 a 3/10th increase in density. My spine went from -1.2 to -1.1 which is getting close to normal bone density. My doctor looked at the report and agreed it was the weight lifting that really worked .

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