How kind of you to reply, however, what is the research with Fosamax and Boniva?

Hello, I am 54 and with a similar frightening result, I also looked at the table with the multitude of scores, the specialist will have and my whole spine was affected. However I have since gone on to learn so much. Bone strength is not just how it looks on a DEXA scan, but also compression strength and expansion strength. The whole bone building process is interrupted taking these drugs (i had 1 prolia shot). Unless you know what you started with I think there is no need to panic, though I say this to myself too. There is SO much good info out there..

My endocrinologist and rheumatologist doctors told me the same thing about avoiding meds. I also am very leary of taking them with all the side effects. I have a very sensitive stomach. My vitamin D level was very low too (11) so I was put on 50,000 Vit. D units once a week, my Vit. D. did come up to 40. Yes so true the more I read about these bisphosphonates the scarier it becomes. What to do, what to do…

Hi @rareeby and @predictable,
We took your question about whether Fosmax and other bisphosphonates can or cannot rebuild bone to a Mayo Clinic pharmacists. This is what she responded:

“Looking specifically at the Fosamax package insert, the drug “is indicated for the treatment of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. In postmenopausal women, Fosamax increases bone mass and reduces the incidence of fractures, including those of the hip and spine.” Fosamax is also “indicated for treatment to increase bone mass in men with osteoporosis.” The medication inhibits the activity of osteoclasts which are cells responsible for bone resorption. It does not have a direct effect on bone formation, HOWEVER, since resorption and formation are coupled during bone turnover, decreasing the amount of bone resorption allows for the bone to form without being resorbed at a rate faster than it can be built.
I hope this helps.” ~ pharmacist, Mayo Clinic

I also found these articles of interest about treating osteoporosis with medication (in addition to lifestyle changes)
– WebMD http://wb.md/2gVSA1J
– Mayo Clinic http://mayocl.in/XvF3QB

What is written on the Fosamax package insert is the manufacturer’s claim. What the pharmacist said is an interpretation of the claim. In my situation, I was on Fosamax for about 8 years when my doctor (an internist) took me off of it, immediately following a report of broken femor bones (there is now a class action lawsuit over this problem). Three years later (early in 2016) I had a compression fracture of a disc. I then asked my doctor if he would recommend my going back to Fosamax or perhaps Actenol, which my twin brother is on. His response was that he didn’t want me to go either of these because, he wrote in an email, “it might do more harm than good”.
The fact is that there is a lot that doctors do not know about these drugs yet they continue to prescribe them.

Any one of the drugs that interferes with osteoblasts/ and clasts may increase bone MASS, as per DEXA, but not necessarily make it stronger! Exercise and diet is a way we can control it better ourselves or as well as drugs if you must.

My response to Kayelle: Thanks for your insight. This is exactly what I thought after I had spent many hours looking into this. I’d like to know how you arrived at this conclusion and why isn’t the medical profession saying this?

Big Pharma make big money telling normal people they need drugs and have a disease! Like many folk I have a bit of health scare. Before this I took my precious body for granted. I found a fantastic Book and Website. I have never had a more thorough insight into my bones, a so so important structure/organ of our bodies. So much to it, that tampering with it seems a great sin.

SAVE INSTITUTE

save out bones

vivian goldsleigh????

I’d like to know the name of the website and the book. Thanks.

The book is called SaveOurBones by Vivian Goldschmidt, MA. I bought the book for $67.00 worth every penny. Please take a moment and watch this video where she explains more about the Save Institute
http://saveourbones.com/about/#video. All the best

I came across Vivian Goldschmidt, MA and the Save Our Bones Institute early in my research on osteoporosis meds. A couple of things I don’t understand: Goldschmidt’s opposition to milk (the most natural form of calcium there is) and her disregard to exercise. (How can one build bones without strength-bearing exercises?) I disregarded much of what she says because she is making her living selling her products. Have you been using her projects and do you think they are helping you?