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People need to be informed about their medications

Posted , 6 users are following.

kathleen65757
kathleen65757

I talked to a lady in the pool yesterday who had no knowledge of what she was taking! 

She has been on fosamax for over five years but did not know anything about issues when having extractions.

She asked me what my concerns were and I mentioned only a few with her being so unaware.

I did tell her when she needed an extraction which is a certainty considering her age to go to an oral surgeon and ask for the blood test to check the risk.

It reminded me how important it is for us to do our own research which is so easy now with the Internet and it is our responsibility to be informed.

Even my wonderful GP did not know about the blood test to check the risk before having an extraction after three years on fosamax or similar. She thanked me and informed other GPs.

1 like, 31 replies

31 Replies

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  • Mary_D_23339
    Mary_D_23339 kathleen65757

    Posted

    Hi Kathleen

    You are wise to be wary of AA , despite doing everything correctly I still damaged my throat with those pesky tablets!!

    I was interested in your comments re your xrays. My previous doctor was brilliant in advising me to have regular xrays to see the results of my medication, however he has now retired and my present doctor has told me every five years is the norm. Is it the same in Australia?

    In the meantime.... Best Wishes for the 22nd January - My husband and I have  beaten you by two years!

    Mary D 

    • kathleen65757
      kathleen65757 Mary_D_23339

      Posted

      I do not know about the timing of the X-rays. I think it happens if your GP decides you need it.

      I have never balked at taking medication before but something told me to be very wary.

      X-rays are different from bone density scans but my GP still looked for some hint in them.

      thanks for your well wishes for our anniversary.

  • Mary_D_23339
    Mary_D_23339 kathleen65757

    Posted

    Feminine intuition is one of the most powerful  thoughts we have - you are wise to be wary - go with the flow…. 
    • kathleen65757
      kathleen65757 Mary_D_23339

      Posted

      I think so. My husband said they should have a slippery coating.

      One person having issues with the Meds is one person too many!

  • carol32225
    carol32225 kathleen65757

    Posted

    Dear Kathleen and others

    Going back to your post from a couple of weeks ago regarding the use of the CTX blood test to measure current bone turnover as an aid to assessing the risk of ONJ to BP users. You were told that a reading if less than 150 pg/ml indicated that it could be safe to undergo invasive dental procedures -eg -extraction. I was very interested in this as I may need to have a couple of extraction's at some point. I had been on Fosamax for 4.5 years but thankfully made the decision to come off the drug nearly 2 years ago. I contacted a dexa scanning specialist who is a moderator on the NOF osteoporosis discussion forum who is also very well informed about all things related to OP. He was VERY CLEAR that in fact a result of below 150pg/ml indicates BP induced over suppression of bone turnover and would not advise extractions until the level can be raised. This is in complete contradiction to the information you received but, I have to say, makes sense to me. I then googled CTX and ONJ and everything I read confirms that you need to look at a reading of OVER 150. I also read that for the number of months/years of the drug you would expect to see a rise i

  • carol32225
    carol32225 kathleen65757

    Posted

    Sorry - posted in error before finishing. .....you would expect to see an incremental rise in the CTX score in accordance with the months/years you have been off the drug. Unfortunately, it can stay in your system for years! . The higher the value the better. I also read that the risk was greater with BP infusions than oral BP.

    It's all so complex.

    Just wanted to pass on the info I had gathered.

    All the best

    Carol

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