Treating Osteoporosis: What works for you?

Donna, this is very helpful. Thank you so much.

I have been doing a lot of research about drugs for osteoporosis and I would add this to the other information I have. It would be very helpful as not everyone has had good results from these drugs - or at least enough to compensate for the trouble and expense.

I had taken fosamax and other drugs for years and finally did the Forteo for two years. I was very happy to have some gain. The doctor I had gave me another fosamax type drug to help maintain what I had gained. He moved to another state and his replacement immediately took me off any osteoporosis drugs because I had been on them so long. After several months I went to an Endocronologist because I kept feeling an internal nudge to do so. I have lost a lot of what I had gained and am now at a scary -4. She highly recommended Prolia which I am going to start as soon as possible. I do have a tooth to be extracted and may have to wait a bit after that. I would definitely try the Forteo. I had no reations to it at all.

I'd have to go back in my medical records...

Do you know what your density was before and after 2 years on Forteo - i.e., the percentage of improvement as a result of your treatment?

Forteo was great for me. Built up bone mass that I didn't have. Even the reps for the rx were impressed with my results and used them as an example. I would still be on if I could. I've never been told of the 2 yr limit on Prolia. I will have my 2nd shot for 2016 in Dec. and I have not been told that. I will have to ask my doctor at Mayo. Forteo was covered by my insurance.

After having a compression fracture of a spinal disc last January, my doctor wanted me to on Fortea. I would mean daily injections for 2 years and an out-of-pocket cost of more than $6000 over the two years. He was not happy when I said "no". I am considering Prolia which is covered by Medicare (injections by a doctor every 6 months for 2 years) but at the end of that time, one has to go on a bisphosonate (Fosamax is in that class) or any bone density increase from Prolia is (I read) quickly lost. I really don't know what to do.

Thank you for that information. I have come to the same conclusion especially reading several different places about Calcium and the classification of drugs like Fosomax. I have been taking the generic of Fosamax, Alendronate, but no more.

What I have read on the Mayor Clinic Connect website makes me more skeptical than ever about bone-building medications, which are expensive, inconvenient, controversial and perhaps even experimental.

I spent hundreds of dollars each year on Fosamax (even though I got the generic from Canada - since the generic had not been approved by the FDA yet). Fosamax never did what the doctor who first subscribed it said it would do. I'm just lucky I didn't end up with a broken femur bone after being on it 8 or so years. My bones didn't stabilize until after I stopped taking Fosamax!

I agree Kara , Calcium supplements should only be taken if ones serum calcium is low. Long term research shows /We know for a fact that Vitamin D replacement helps slow down or at times prevent progression of osteoporosis