Undecided choice of drugs for Osteoporosis

Posted by peace44 @peace44, Oct 10, 2023

I am 80 years old women and have borderline osteoporosis which affects my entire body. My doctor wants me to take Prolia and the Rheumatologist wants me to take Reclast. I’m unhappy with both choices as the side effects are great and I do not tolerate new drugs well. I am very undecided and am considering doing not taking annty drugs for this condition. I have never had a fracture and I’m very active Any opinions or advice.

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@windyshores

@susanfalcon52 yay. If they are not doing IV hydration, hydrate well and take tylenol the day before, day of and day after. So glad for you that you can do the lower dose, at least to start. We will do that more frequently if we continue but I think that feels better than all at once!

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My infusion center didn’t agree to 20% dose - I haven’t asked them. I was commenting on you being granted a 20% dose.
I will call them about this next week. I should slso ask for IV hydration?

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@susanfalcon52

My infusion center didn’t agree to 20% dose - I haven’t asked them. I was commenting on you being granted a 20% dose.
I will call them about this next week. I should slso ask for IV hydration?

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The doctor has to order the lower dose. The infusion center just follows the doctor's order.

Mine is for a reason: the doctor wanted it due to other health issues (kidneys, heart) and sensitivities. But studies show that a half dose is as effective (I can find it) and doctor said he agreed with that. But then you need an infusion more often: every 3-6 months, preferably 3. Oral hydration is as good as IV.

Again, this concern came from my doctor but another doctor said "we do low dose all the time." Ask your doctor! The idea is that if you don't react, you can up the dose. If you do react, you come in every few months for the lower dose.

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@windyshores

The doctor has to order the lower dose. The infusion center just follows the doctor's order.

Mine is for a reason: the doctor wanted it due to other health issues (kidneys, heart) and sensitivities. But studies show that a half dose is as effective (I can find it) and doctor said he agreed with that. But then you need an infusion more often: every 3-6 months, preferably 3. Oral hydration is as good as IV.

Again, this concern came from my doctor but another doctor said "we do low dose all the time." Ask your doctor! The idea is that if you don't react, you can up the dose. If you do react, you come in every few months for the lower dose.

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Thank you, windyshores,
Helpful as always. I receive Evenity #11 tomorrow. #12 in May. I am scheduled to have Reclast in June.
I didn’t have side effects with Forteo, Tymlos, or Evenity. I feel lucky, but also feel that I’m tempting fate with Reclast. Of course, that is just superstition- either I react negatively to Reclast or I don’t.
A couple of years ago, I was meeting a friend for lunch. I got to the sushi place before her. When she showed up, she said,”Sorry I’m late. My Reclast infusion took longer than I expected.”
I was dumbfounded. I said, “What?! You just had a Reclast infusion!?” She had the attitude that this was no big deal. Still does.

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@susanfalcon52

Thank you, windyshores,
Helpful as always. I receive Evenity #11 tomorrow. #12 in May. I am scheduled to have Reclast in June.
I didn’t have side effects with Forteo, Tymlos, or Evenity. I feel lucky, but also feel that I’m tempting fate with Reclast. Of course, that is just superstition- either I react negatively to Reclast or I don’t.
A couple of years ago, I was meeting a friend for lunch. I got to the sushi place before her. When she showed up, she said,”Sorry I’m late. My Reclast infusion took longer than I expected.”
I was dumbfounded. I said, “What?! You just had a Reclast infusion!?” She had the attitude that this was no big deal. Still does.

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@susanfalcon52 I had the same experience: I was eating lunch with a friend outside a cafe and another friend came by and said she had just has a Reclast infusion. She was fine: it was if she said she had just taken a tylenol. She wasn't aware at all that anyone ever had issues or questions about meds. She just did what she was told, and had no problems.

Chances are you will do fine and it is a whole lot easier doing the one infusion at full dose, since you don't have to go in more often. My docs actually said it might be better to wait a month or two for Reclast since it takes time for Evenity to mineralize. Then again another doc said studies showed no difference. I know McCormick says to do CTX to time transitions. As usual, no definite answers.

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I'm a 72 year old woman and had a Reclast infusion in May, 2023. The first 48 hours were rough. Fever, worst flu like symptoms ever. 2 weeks later, short of breath, had to cut my activity by half or more. I needed back surgery but stress test was abnormal. Heart cath done, 2 years prior there was nothing wrong with my heart. Found a 99% blockage, attempted to stent, aorta directed, quadruple bypass done. More problems from that. Now at the year mark, I still have leg, foot and hand cramps. I'm on oxygen, use a nebulizer, medication for A fib. Severe emphysema. Total downward spiral. I will never, ever take reclast again.
It seems people love it or hate it. Just do your research. I pray it works well for you.

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@takady

I'm a 72 year old woman and had a Reclast infusion in May, 2023. The first 48 hours were rough. Fever, worst flu like symptoms ever. 2 weeks later, short of breath, had to cut my activity by half or more. I needed back surgery but stress test was abnormal. Heart cath done, 2 years prior there was nothing wrong with my heart. Found a 99% blockage, attempted to stent, aorta directed, quadruple bypass done. More problems from that. Now at the year mark, I still have leg, foot and hand cramps. I'm on oxygen, use a nebulizer, medication for A fib. Severe emphysema. Total downward spiral. I will never, ever take reclast again.
It seems people love it or hate it. Just do your research. I pray it works well for you.

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Thank you. I hope that your health will return and this downward spiral will end very soon.🙏❤️

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All I will say is I’m a 64 year old who has refused the osteoporosis drugs for many many years. I slipped on grass three weeks ago and broke my hip. I am recovering well but will start evenity soon. I do not want another fracture. I was active too — walking miles daily. It happens.

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@lbtw

All I will say is I’m a 64 year old who has refused the osteoporosis drugs for many many years. I slipped on grass three weeks ago and broke my hip. I am recovering well but will start evenity soon. I do not want another fracture. I was active too — walking miles daily. It happens.

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Good luck with the evenity.

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@guinivere

I would like to say I don't think I will be taking any drugs but I also realize I don't realistically have that option, given my age (86) & the state of my bones.

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Would you mind sharing your DEXA scores and did you ever decide to start taking drugs to improve your BMD? I have some decisions to make soon in that regard. Thanks.

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@takady

I'm a 72 year old woman and had a Reclast infusion in May, 2023. The first 48 hours were rough. Fever, worst flu like symptoms ever. 2 weeks later, short of breath, had to cut my activity by half or more. I needed back surgery but stress test was abnormal. Heart cath done, 2 years prior there was nothing wrong with my heart. Found a 99% blockage, attempted to stent, aorta directed, quadruple bypass done. More problems from that. Now at the year mark, I still have leg, foot and hand cramps. I'm on oxygen, use a nebulizer, medication for A fib. Severe emphysema. Total downward spiral. I will never, ever take reclast again.
It seems people love it or hate it. Just do your research. I pray it works well for you.

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Did you take any other drugs before or after Reclast? I have to make some decisions soon on what to take for my severe osteoporosis. I'd like to avoid taking anything, but Reclast especially scares me due to the terrible side effects some have experienced with it.

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