After six years continuously on lupron, I had scan done on April 1st. I was DX with osteopenia. Doctor wants me too take alendronate 70mg once a week, I have some concerns about the side effects. Anyone taking this drug and what was your side effects.
Thank
ET51
Hopefully, side effects will be milder with aledronate than with zoledronic acid or denosumab.
Thank you TA
I have been taking one 35mg Actonel (Risedronate) tablet weekly with no side effects.
Osteopenia (T score between -1 and -2.5) is not treated unless a FRAX score indicates 10-year risk scores of > or = 3% for hip fracture or > or = 20% for major osteoporotic fracture or the cancer is castration resistant and there are bone metastases. In these situations the treatment is usually with Denosumab or with zoledronic acid.
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/201...
sheffield.ac.uk/FRAX/tool.aspx
Tango 65 is right again. If T score on DEXA scan comes less than -1.5, there is no need to use bone building meds esp. if one does not have other fracture risk factors such as personal or family h/o fractures, use of steroid meds etc. For mild osteopenia, (T score below -1.5) , one can manage it by daily use of Calcium, Vit D, Turmeric and lot of physical activity.
If you like to assess your risk of fractures ..go to the web site "American Bone Health" They have an excellent fracture risk assessment tool and its free.
Osteopenia is not treated only osteoporosis. Suggest follow up DEXA in two (2) years.Alendronate indicated if bone density T score is less than 2.5, definition of osteoporosis
Good luck!
I’ve been on prolia 21/2 yrs for osteopenia?
Alendronate is a very effective drug to increase bone density and to reduce risk of fractures. Its an inexpensive generic tablet which has been used by tens of millions of men and women over last few decades. In short term, most people do not notice any side effects.. but if used for years without any break...there is a tiny risk of osteonecrosis of jaw. ONJ happens rarely with ALL bone building medicines and is somewhat more likely to happen with infusions of bone building meds such as Zeledronic acid or denosumab.Alendronate tablets are considered safest bone builder med and with minimum side effects.
Thank you leanAll, I needed that info. I’m going to get my test results out later today and post the numbers. I think I understand the results,ET51
I wonder why I was put immediately on Denosumab, calcium citrate and d3 if there's a safer alternative
Safer and cheaper meds are not in fashion in today's world.
Me too
Now you tell me? 😂
I've been on Xgeva for 3 yrs this coming June. For the last 3 weeks my jaw has been sore and the jaw bone is exposed behind a rear molar . I won't see an oral surgeon until next week to get an opinion. I'm thinking the worst Osteoncrosis. I've been told I have excellent hygene, excellent teeth and gums. When I started Xgeva I had osteopenia, the reason for prescribing it. I'm scheduled for my next 2 yr Dexa scan next week. I'm wondering why I didn't start on Aledronate to start? My next MO visit is in June. Too bad we can't neutralize the last IV of Xgeva. Reading Dr. Google, ONJ causes are patients on long term steriod therapy and patients with metastasis who use IV Bisphosphates. Thats me. For what its worth.
Have you checked your estradiol [E2]?
If <12 pg/mL you will have bone loss. If so, try a low-dose E2 patch before resorting to drugs.
I just had my E2 checked and waiting for results. I have been on ADT for 5 years now. Does age determine the speed of bone loss as well as the ADT. The last bone scan was a couple of years ago and they said I was within normal range. I do get overwhelmed with all the information to digest over the different treatment options for this pc.
It's well known that post-menopausal women are at risk for bone loss & I think that many men are not very concerned about their own risk, but age is a risk factor. It happens much later in men than women. Men tend to lose 1-2% of their testosterone [T] every year from their early 30's. At some stage, T might become low enough to affect estradiol [E2] levels. But also, as we age, our diet may suffer. It's too much trouble to prepare the meals we used to eat.
I have an interesting story about bone health. I am using Diethylstilbestrol [DES] for ADT. And I use a form of BAT - I periodically inject T-cypionate. Before I figured out my current protocol, I was having pain related to a lesion at S1 that did not show on a bone scan. My radio-oncologist sent me to a spine guy because he didn't think that my pain was due to cancer. The spine guy disagreed. He said that my spine looked remarkably good for my age - in spite of being on ADT. DES is a synthetic estrogen, and even though my E2 is <5 pg/mL, DES is recognized as an estrogen for bone health.
I only eat twice a day. My meals are small & often not balanced. I make do with snacks. etc, etc., but DES alone seems to have kept my spine strong.
Non-estrogenic ADT leads to E2 deficiency & bone loss. Men on ADT should be prescribed a low-dose E2 patch from day one - IMO. Bone loss is a consequence of ADT - not a possible side effect. It is a direct consequence. So why do doctors prescribe bisphosphonates, etc? It's a mystery.
-Patrick
I've been on weekly 70 mg of Alendronate for about 14 months - no known side effects and it works for me.
Good, thank you for replying .
Hello all, as we age we all develop some bone loss, or osteopenia, defined as T score -1 but higher than -2.5. Osteopenia does usual not require treatment other than calcium, vit D and stay active. When the T score is lower than -.2.5 we talk about osteoporosis, which is indication to start alendronate or denominan (Prolia). So ask what is your T score and ask why are meds indicated.
Hi echotango. I’ve been on eligard and aberaterone for 5 years now and on alondrenate for 2 years since, at 53 at the time my bone density was dropping fast w t around -2.5. Since then, the drop has stopped most everywhere w slight gain in BMD in the spine. No side effects at all so far. Thank you for the thread. DougNOLA ✌️
Thank you for your reply, I’m going to get my test results and look my numbers up and will post them later.Et51
Tingling and Numbness in fingers and toes
Prednisone from 10mg to 5 with Zytiga?
Chemo or Abiratone Upfront 
Time for radiotherapy
Anyone taking Orgovyx (ADT)? If so, how do you compare your side effects to Lupron?
