Reclast for osteoporosis

[Goldencbc]

I have just been diagnosed with osteoporosis and my doctor wants me to get an annual infusion of Reclast. Reviews of side effects on line are frightening. However with PD I know I am at risk for falls so feel it is probably necessary. The osteoporosis is in my left hip and leg which is where I experience a lot of pain.. Does anyone have experience with Reclast? With so many other issues I hate to add these side effects..I take c/l cr and Selegiline plus many other meds for other stuff. Thanks, Carol

[chartist]

Carol,

Or you could try a less invasive method with minimal side effects that seems to work about as fast as anything else and is very inexpensive while having a much better safety profile than Reclast and none of those side effects you have read about! :

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

scientificamerican.com/arti...

50 grams is about 4 or 5 per day.

Add in an absorbable form of magnesium, boron and vitamin D and even better!

Art

[Goldencbc in reply to chartist]

Thank you. This is very interesting and doable. Now to convince my doctor.

[chartist in reply to Goldencbc]

Carol,

The squeaky wheel gets the grease!

Art

[Goldencbc in reply to chartist]

LOL. I find myself debating quite a bit with my doctor. We usually come to an agreement. My body.......etc.

[park_bear]

Reclast is a bisphosphonate. Bisphosphonates increase bone density by setting up an abnormal condition in the bone. Density is not the same as strength. In the case of Fosamax here is the result:

academic.oup.com/jcem/artic...

"Results: Subtrochanteric* and diaphyseal fractures occurred at a rate of 13 per 10,000 patient-years in untreated women and 31 per 10,000 patient-years in women receiving alendronate"

*Subtrochanteric is the classical hip fracture. Diaphyseal is lower down on the femur.

In other words Fosamax more than doubled hip fracture risk. Yes you are reading this correctly - Fosamax made the rate of hip fractures worse rather than better. There is no reason to believe other bisphosphonates are any different.

I wrote about how such travesties come to pass here - When Good Doctors Prescribe Bad Medicine: tinyurl.com/zvgcu79 How Big Pharma pollutes the scientific record and propagandizes doctors.

What to do?

Vitamins D and K and a couple of minerals improve bone strength, reduce fracture risk and prevent hardening of the arteries. In so doing they result in better outcomes than both bisphosphonates and statins. I wrote about this in more detail here:

Vitamins and Minerals for Bone Health and Reduced Risk of Cancer

tinyurl.com/hya5dwd

Vitamin K: Unsung and Essential

tinyurl.com/yd9l4j3q

Details of the vitamins and minerals that improve bone strength, reduce fracture risk, prevent hardening of the arteries, improve cardiovascular outcomes, and reduce cancer risk.

What You Need to Know to Reduce Risk of Hip Fracture and Cardiovascular Disease

tinyurl.com/y8o9jy8u

A review of the foregoing + calcium deposits on teeth as a sign of trouble.

[Goldencbc in reply to park_bear]

Wow. I am going to research this further. Do you know anything about a product called AlgaeCal? Thanks so much. Negotiating our meds is challenging and I so appreciate the support. Carol

[park_bear in reply to Goldencbc]

I took a look at AlgaeCal plus. They are in the right ballpark but they are skimping on key ingredients. Their recommended daily dose of four capsules contains:

• Vitamin D – 1600 IU. I take five times that much and my vitamin D level is right in the middle of the desired range. Response to vitamin D supplementation is very idiosyncratic, so keep it on your agenda to have your vitamin D levels checked when you get routine bloodwork.

• Vitamin K2 - once again a minimal dosage. The literature is conflicting as to whether vitamin K1 or vitamin K2 is what is needed. I use this product: amazon.com/gp/product/B01K3...

• Boron - 3 mg. This dosage is ok.

• Silica -not specified, and is needed. I take capsules of the herb horsetail, which contains silica.

• Calcium - they provide plenty of calcium, but most Western diets have plenty of calcium already and it is not needed to supplement. The machinery that gets calcium from the bloodstream into the bones is what needs help. The foregoing vitamins and minerals supply the essential cogs in the machinery.

• Glucosamine and chondroitin - I have personally found this helps also

[Goldencbc in reply to park_bear]

Thanks for the information. You have been so helpful.

[to67]

I'm also going to message you as I don't wanna talk here. Wishing you the best!

<3 Tricia

[hopedope]

My doctor (a Geriatrician) also wanted me to try Reclast about a year ago but I too was worried about side effects and told her I wanted to wait until after my next bone density test to decide. I have osteopenia but not osteoporosis. The bone density test is due again in early Spring next year. I have been taking 2 prunes at lunch and 1 or 2 prunes in the evening. The evening ones might help provide melatonin according to a tip in Good Housekeeping magazine :-). I agree with you that we are more likely to fall so a product like Reclast or Prolevia (that one is twice a year) might be needed but the longer we can put it off the better.

[Goldencbc]

Thanks so much for your reply. Right now I’m going with the prunes too until I meet the specialist for a consultation. Although I have osteoporosis I’d like to pursue supplements first and get another bone scan next year. We will see after the consultation and whatever testing he does in addition.

[Jshapz]

I’m in the same predicament as you except a bit further down the line. My bone density has worsened 3 years down the line. I was prescribed alendronic acid but I was too scared to take it I’ve read loads of articles and have been taking vitabiotics osteocare tablet and jointace plus Vit K2. I will now read what you’ve been advised above as the whole thing is really getting me down as I don’t want to take the meds

[Goldencbc in reply to Jshapz]

I have found several websites to help: Melioguide and Saveourbones. Hope they are helpful. They discuss supplements and specific exercises.

[Jshapz]

Thank you. Are you also going to take the meds x

[Goldencbc]

I am not planning to at this time. I do meet with my Dr today to let her know. I know she will argue with me but I need to try it on my own. I have Parkinson’s and take so many meds and struggle to feel good. The last thing I want to do is feel worse.

[kaypeeoh]

I take several medications, some twice daily. They all come with warnings, often dire. But side effects are rare. If one person in a thousand has a side effect it ends up in the literature. If a doctor prescribes something, maybe he knows more than 'internet experts'. Perhaps get a second opinion?

BTW, I have no side effects from any of the dozen meds I take.

[Goldencbc in reply to kaypeeoh]

That’s great that you have no side effects. I tend to have reactions to meds. PD meds can make me nauseated and ill . I have pain as well. My problem with Reclast is it is a once a year infusion and if you have a reaction you are stuck with it for a year. I can’t take the pills due to acid reflux. I take a lot of meds most of which keep me healthier and make life easier. I tolerate side effects to the degree I can. There are always choices we have. And yes a second opinion is in the works. Thanks for responding. This group is amazing.

[Dap1948]

Another good product for bones is bone broth. If you don't want to make your own you can buy organic bone broth concentrate. Add a spoonful to a mug of boiling water.

[Goldencbc in reply to Dap1948]

Thanks!