Is there a herbal or natural alternative to alendronic acid
Posted , 12 users are following.
I have been taking Alendronic Acid for 2 years after breaking my femur and was diagnosed with Osteoporosis, I know drugs have side effects but I was not told about coming off them and the effects, getting some problems with it and would love a herbal or natural alternative I am 65 soon. My recent scan was good but I would prefer not to take this drug. How do I wean myself off this drug or can I just quit. help please thank you
0 likes, 20 replies
jane_07218 anne64773
Posted
wfaf jane_07218
Posted
i was not told about the 2 years max. i have been on them for 3 years .
do you know who said about the 2 years ?.
thanks
anne64773 jane_07218
Posted
Thank you Jane, My doctor told me I would have to take this drug for 5 years, I have been on this for 2 years and want to come off as I am getting problems with it. Will be seeing Doctor on Monday. I have a nurse friend and she said eat healthy and supplement with vitamins and walk and exercise and you can't go wrong.
Anhaga anne64773
Posted
I believe current guidelines are in fact leaning towards two years on the drug. By now you'll have received the most benefit the drug can give you. It remains in your bones for many years after stopping taking it. And you really want your bones to be able to start normal bone remodelling again so you don't risk serious side effects. Please make sure if an dwhen you stop that you are taking all the right nutrients, plus doing appropriate weight bearing exercise, whatever is best for you, I do walking, Nordic walking, tai chi, wear a weighted vest some days, and a few other things. Your nurse friend is right!
kathleen65757 anne64773
Posted
Weight bearing exercises are recommended. Walking is therefore a good idea.
Research as well because there is a lot of information online to help you take care of your bones.
AA stays in your system for a long time so that will continue to work as well.
anne64773 kathleen65757
Posted
beryl81552 kathleen65757
Posted
My gp has just prescribed AA for me but after receiving the info I definitely don't want to take it. Even the most common side effects (affecting 1 in 10 people) are horrendous and for me the worse one would be hair loss because at my age (75) once its gone its gone! I expect with the other side effects once you stop taking AA the other side effects would eventually go. Gp's don't always do what's good for patients as they get perks from drug companies so I don't always do what gps tell me. I used to go to a dental hospital because I have TMJ and I was prescribed Amytriptilene and because I stopped taking it they refused to see me so it's all about drugs even if the drugs make people feel really ill. I've had Dexa scans and I've been diagnosed with osteoporosis and I haven't been told any details about my scans only that's there's no cure and all I can do is take painkillers and AA. Also I usually eat a lot of the right foods and I take vitamin D3 and calcium magnesium and boron (all in one tablet) and probiotics. I don't know whether this is enough or whether I need something natural or herbal but stronger than what I already take. I expect if I talk to my doctor about it he will probably try and get me to take AA but I'm not going to! I was told not to start AA until this May 2020 as I have a dental at the end of April so I have some time to research and decide and get advice about herbal alternatives.
kathleen65757 beryl81552
Posted
Add vitamin K2 as that puts the calcium onto the bones and out of the arteries.
I don't take the drugs either as I do not think we have been offered anything safe or effective.
Anhaga anne64773
Posted
I have never taken AA or any other pharmaceutical for bone thinning. In one year, despite being on steroid treatment for polymyalgia I improved my t-score from -2 to -1.6. So, yes, there is an alternative to AA, and it is, as Kathleen briefly outlined, using natural means. As well as supplements and diet if you are able you should also do appropriate exercise. Dependiong on your vulnerabilities, you may need to consult with a physiotherapist for techniques to protect your spine. Otherwise, any weightbearing exercise, including walking, Nordic walking, some kinds of yoga, tai chi, and possibly wearing a weighted walking vest, can all help.
If your recent scan was good, I personally would just stop taking AA and do what I could to maintain and improve bone health naturally. It's a lifetime commitment but the advantage of natural methods is there is only one side effect - overall improved helath!
anne64773 Anhaga
Posted
Thank you Anhaga, I do some light exercises at the moment and walk. I will be seeing the doctor on Monday, I did mention to her over the phone that I want to come off this AA and she said there is no alternative to this drug but I am adamant I don't want it. My recent scan was good but I rally want a natural approach to my osteoporosis.
Anhaga anne64773
Posted
Anne, google combination of micronutrients osteoporosis. You will find an article describing a study where people took nutrients and improved their bone density. Unfortunately the doctors have been bamboozled by pharmaceutical companies who are mostly interested in their bottom line - I hate to say that but I believe to a large extent it is true. It isn't the doctors' fault, they don't have time to do reserch on all the drugs they have to prescribe, so of couse they rely on what the salesman tells them, and trust that government overseers have done due diligence.
If your scan is "good" does that mean you are not in the osteoporosis range?
anne64773 Anhaga
Posted
I found an article on Vitality who say this drug will be taken off the market, and the company have taken out millions to cover the cot of all the lawsuits they will be getting, it was very interesting. I will try supplements and am eating good now and walking and exercising. My scan said I had increased by bone density by over 3% but I still want away from this drug, starting to feel sick and taste buds diminishing.many thanks I will google micronutrients.
Anhaga anne64773
Posted
Merck recently settled a class action lawsuit in Canada regarding fosamax and fosavance. They settled out of court and said this did not mean they were admitting any liability - this was over jaw necrosis and atypical femur fractures. Of course all the bisphosphonates have the same problems.
How did you find out what your % improvement was? I only know the t-scores but don't know how to translate them into a percentage.
kathleen65757 Anhaga
Posted
Weren't there class actions in America?
anne64773 Anhaga
Posted
When I had my bone scan the nurse said that it was over 3% improvement.
Anhaga anne64773
Posted
Anhaga kathleen65757
Posted
Sheilamac_Fife Anhaga
Posted
I do think that adding this information is much more useful than just these weird T-scores.
Anhaga Sheilamac_Fife
Posted
I don't quite understand. What are those percentages measuring?
Sheilamac_Fife Anhaga
Posted
Using my example, my lumbar spine has only 81% bone density of what would be expected of a woman my age.
so if Anne had a 3% increase that would make sense as an improvement.