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what was the reason/s that the use of strontium ranellate for treatment of osteoporosis was ceased?

MayGodBlessYou profile image
14 Replies

in Australia at least

thanks

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MayGodBlessYou
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14 Replies
Met00 profile image
Met00

It hasn't been authorised in the US either, but is sometimes prescribed in the UK and Europe. There have been concerns that it may cause a heart attack, but in the UK at least it's been concluded that the risk is only to those with existing heart disease. There's a good article here that explains it all: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stron...

fmkkm profile image
fmkkm

My understanding is the prescription form was the element of strontium combined with ranalate to help with absorption. This was found to cause blood clots in some people. You can still buy strontium citrate as a supplement on line. I take this with D, MK-7, and a plant calcium formula. My bone density scan has gotten better over 5 years but I have no proof why. I also walk a couple hours every day.

Raleigh59 profile image
Raleigh59 in reply tofmkkm

how much strontium do you take each day

walk21 profile image
walk21 in reply toRaleigh59

I am prescribed 2g strontium ranelate each day

Raleigh59 profile image
Raleigh59 in reply towalk21

I thought that’s not available anymore

my endocrinologist said for me to not take any strontium and I don’t know why but he said it could hurt my bones rather than help them. I tried to discuss it and he said I am not going to discuss this. But I know he doesn’t want h r t bc of risk of blood clot. He’s a very top Endocrinologist in my location.

notanotter profile image
notanotter in reply toRaleigh59

As I recall, the mineral strontium can enter the bones, sort of preventing the calcium from binding. You then have bones that appear to be mineralized but are not mineralized by the calcium your bones need. Early research was promising but I believe showed bones ended up more brittle. I’m sure I have mixed up some of this explanation, but strontium was a dashed hope for researchers in osteoporosis.

Raleigh59 profile image
Raleigh59 in reply tonotanotter

I thought strontium renelate was the dashed hope. I thought strontium citrate is positive .

notanotter profile image
notanotter in reply toRaleigh59

Strontium ranelate was the one a doctor might consider, so I thought that’s the one you were referring to .

I don’t think there’s any clinical trial data on strontium citrate or chloride. But it appears there are supplements being sold by retail online.

Personally, I am wary of a supplement because their composition is not regulated. The maker isn’t required to test them either. When there are a lot of desperate people, scammers jump in with all four feet. So, I gave up on that idea.

If you’re in the UK, you could make a case for using the generic strontium ranelate “Aristo”(?). A German generic drug maker bought the formula from the original maker after the precipitous drop in sales. The UK NHS allows SR to be prescribed for people who cannot tolerate any other drug option, as long as the person has a high risk of fracture and doesn’t have a risk for the conditions that appeared in later clinical trials - DVT and (coronary artery disease/ heart conditions).

HeronNS profile image
HeronNS in reply tofmkkm

You do know that strontium, which is replacing some of the calcium in your bones, is heavier than calcium? It makes it harder to compare bone density and I think a calculation is usually made to account for the relative heaviness of strontium.

MayGodBlessYou profile image
MayGodBlessYou

a dr i really admire mentioned strontium to help osteoporosis

HeronNS profile image
HeronNS

It is really quite extraordinary that some drugs, like Prolia and Evenity, can be actively pushed on elderly people, especially women, in spite of black box warnings that side effects can cause death, but strontium is actively discouraged, although as far as I know strontium citrate (natural) version doesn't have the same issues as the manufactured (because it could be patented) strontium ranelate.

MayGodBlessYou profile image
MayGodBlessYou in reply toHeronNS

it's heart break for my Mum and for me, very helpless

Raleigh59 profile image
Raleigh59 in reply toHeronNS

I think the black box warning are bc of animals that had reactions but humans haven’t or it so rare that they think one in 100k people it’s worth the risk

Raleigh59 profile image
Raleigh59

I personally think 250 mgs of strontium citrate is good to do but my dr doesn’t want me to

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