Osteoporosis drug with the fewest side effects?

Posted , 7 users are following.

Hi, I have spinal osteoporosis and although I haven't seen a specialist yet, I will probably be faced with having to take meds. I don't like the sound of any of them, but if I do have to ultimately, I want to take the lowest possible dose of the drug that has fewest side effects. Has anyone taken a drug they've not been otherwise affected by? And also, did it improve/halt your osteoporosis?

I am also doing all the lifestyle stuff but I don't know if that alone can halt/reverse it.

Any advice welcome smile

2 likes, 23 replies

23 Replies

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  • Posted

    Hi Jeanette, i have taken actonel and  zodiac acid with no side affects but everyone is different, in my opinion treatment is all about balancing the risks, yes there are sometimes side affects taking drugs to treat osteoporosis but if you are at high risk of fracture this can often cause problems in itsself by reduceding your mobility. Your doctor will give you the facts on resurch carried out but dont forget the natural foods that are available and supplements like vit D. Also google FRAX score.

    All the best 

    Gary 

  • Posted

    I was deemed as being at sufficient risk according to FRAX score to have drugs recommended to me.  The risk factors were "low bone mass" aka osteopenia, fracture as an adult (I have always questioned it was a "fragility fracture" because the circumstances in which it occurred) and being on long term prednisone treatment.  I refused the drugs, and went completely natural with diet, supplements and appropriate exercise and in a single year (confirmed through DXA scan) improved enough that they are no longer recommending any drugs.  It takes some effort but well worth it, I feel better in every way.

  • Posted

    You cannot be forced to take meds. What is the tscore of your back? Also, do you have small bones? Have you had any falls?

    I have tiny bones with fairly bad tscores for mt back, the worst being -4.3.

    I do not take the drugs because after careful consideration although already having purchased some I deemed them too dangerous. I do, however, take dtugs for diabetes and Crohns. I am not adverse to taking drugs but in this case I hesitated.

    The natural route is not always the right way to go but in the case of osteoporosis I believe it is the only safe way to date.

    Of course the decision must be yours but research and wait until you feel happy with your decision.

    All the best.

  • Posted

    I take medication for osteoporosis and watch my diet and exercise I was diagnosed last August and will have a dexta scan again next August hope to stop medication then.
  • Posted

    I think my t-score is around -2.6, maybe a bit less. I've never considered myself to have small bones but I don't really know what that is. I'm 5' 5'', have lost an inch since my 20s, earlyl 50 now, normal weight. I have good coordination and balance and am not prone to falling. 

    I've been reading other threads where people have said osteo never used to be a 'thing' that had to be medicated. But I guess people didn't live as long right? Also, in my lifetime I have seen plenty of older people bent totally over at a 90 degree angle when walking etc, although it's not something you see as much anymore. Surely that's something that can happen with untreated osteo? I would take meds if I thought it would improve things without giving me side effects, and that's what I wanted to find out, whether people are actually getting improved T-scores on meds.

    I was told also by a medical professional that osteoporosis (as opposed to osteopenia) cannot be reversed. I don't know whether this is true.

    • Posted

      A friend of mine was diagnosed with osteoporosis.  In fact she became my inspiration because she did in fact improve her bone density.  This was all confirmed by her followup DXA scans over the years.  She moved from osteoporosis to osteopenia, and continues to improve.  She too must have been in her 50s at the time of diagnosis, not sure exactly.  She's a year or so older than I am and I'm 69, but she started the OP journey some years ago.  

      Posture can be improved through exercise.  Another acquaintance of mine, older, had become very bent over from OP.  She went to a Nordic Walking class and although she cannot yet use the poles the standard way she has become perfectly erect!  In fact the instructor looks on her as his star pupil.  I think she is in her 80s.

      You can only be guaranteed no side effects from the OP meds if you don't take them.  The risk is yours to take and the choice is yours to make.  I and my friend chose the non-med way and it worked for us and we both feel very much healthier overall.

      It takes more "work" in a way than taking a pill or getting an injection, but really it isn't work, just a modification of lifestyle. 

      When I got my improved t-score results my doctor was blown away.  She asked me how I did it!

    • Posted

      That score is not too bad. I would not take drugs with osteopenia anyway! If under -2.5 it is not osteoporosis. 

      Anhaga has achieved great results with natural means.

      By mentioning small bones I suspect people with tiny bones like mine could get a worse result anyway! I have not broken any bones but I take care not to.

       

    • Posted

      The bentness is scoliosis and I have that in a mild form. However, that is very common. Much happens as we age unfortunately!
    • Posted

      I do too Kathleen. I feel I drew the short straw with my skeleton, but I have to keep reminding myself there are folk worse off...
  • Posted

    Hi Anhaga, thanks for the encouragement. Can you tell me exactly what you did? Re supplements, I've been taking a really good multivit containing (among others) mg, vit D, calcium and K2. I find that when I take the combined calcium citrate/vit D supplement, my blood calcium levels show up high and I don't know if that's such a good thing so I've not been taking them. I don't really like Tai Chi but I do like Pilates, and I want to do a rigorous weights program. I also walk and swim. Is there anything else I can do, eat etc?

    • Posted

      Hi Jeanette, how did you come to find out you had osteoporosis?
    • Posted

      How high a dose of calcium are you taking?  The optimum dose should be about 300-400 mg at a time, up to twice a day.  A rheumatologist I met at a "bones" clinic at our local hospital actually said she didn't believe in calcium supplements.  I kind of agree, although I do take a bones supplement which includes calcium.  if we have a good diet with various sources of calcium, like the leafy greens which provide bioavailable calcium (kale, broccoli, collards for  instance) an average amount of dairy, that kind of thing (check internet for non-dairy sources of calcium for ideas) then I think the supplements are not as important.  We need to make sure we get all the micronutrients we need to absorb and use that calcium.  K2 is one of those, and D3 of course, also magnesium, boron and a number of other things, most of which (except K2 and D) should be easily available in a balanced diet.  

      My friend who has done so well said, when I asked her, that she thought Nordic walking was the single exercise that had helped her most, although she does other things as well.  

      I have bought a weighted walking vest and I think that has helped improve my spine t-scores.  You can get one which has tiny weights so you can gradually build up over time, and the extra weight stimulates osteoblasts to lay down new bone!

      Swimming helps insofar as it strengthens your muscles, which thus exert a greater force on the bones, but doesn't have a direct effect on stimulating bone growth, as weight-bearing exercise does. 

      I'm afraid I know nothing about what blood levels of calcium might signal altough I expect someone on this forum will know.  

    • Posted

      My GP believes everyone should take vit D throughout the winter months in the UK as we don't get the vit D we need from the sun

    • Posted

      I think any of us who live far enough North, or South, need supplemental D part of the year.  The rheumatologist I mentioned only said she didn't think calcium supplements were necessary.  She said we should take Vitamin D.

    • Posted

      I live in Australia and people are needing vitamin D supplements here too which is surprising!

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