Fosamax

[Cooper1145]

Hello. I’m looking for positive feedback from people that are taking or took Fosamax in the past.

Thank you

[dmm23]

Me too I just took my 2nd dose. Am advised to stay with it for 1yr., re do a scan at 1 yr. and see how things go. I am also continuing to be very proactive with my diet and exercise.

[Cooper1145 in reply to dmm23]

Hi I have not started it yet but plan to. Just wanted to see if anyone was having issues or success with it😍

[Kaarina]

You can always use the search button to find out if forum members have posted positive posts on taking alendronic acid/ fosamax.

I would think that those who get/got on favourably with it are more than likely not on this forum and busy getting on with their lives.

[Mark_ABH in reply to Kaarina]

That is a very important point!

[FearFracture in reply to Mark_ABH]

Mark, bisphosphonates are supposed to reduce/stop bone loss, not actually build bone. If someone taking bisphosphonates sees an increase in bmd, does that mean something else they are doing (diet, supplements, exercise) is causing the increase?

Also, since bisphosphonates are supposed to stop bone loss, shouldn’t doctors check bone turnover markers before prescribing bisphosphonates?

Thank you.

[Mark_ABH in reply to FearFracture]

Hi, I honestly don't know on either of those questions. Maybe someone else who is reading could answer you? Those are probably questions for a physician or advanced practitioner who specializes in this area.

[Alisa25]

Hi. I’ve been taking this for 3 months, so far without any issues. I resisted taking this drug for 6 years. I’ll have lab work soon to see if it’s helping with my bone turnover. I also take a bunch of supplements and I exercise. If I continue having no issues with this, I’ll take it until my next scan in April and hope things improve or at least stay the same. Best of luck to you.

[FearFracture in reply to Alisa25]

So you’re taking alendronate (oral bisphosphonates) and while taking it your doctor is monitoring your bone turnover markers? Was this your doctors idea or yours, meaning did you have to ask your doctor to test your bone turnover markers? Also, did you have you bone turnover markers checked prior to starting osteo-meds?

[Alisa25 in reply to FearFracture]

I actually saw an endocrinologist who had me do all the lab work in July of 2021. I opted not to take any meds at the time and instead consulted with a chiropractor, Dr. McCormick. who wrote “The Whole Body Approach to Osteoporosis”. I followed his advice on what supplements to take and he had me do lab work again this past March. My bone turnover markers got worse (although other things had improved ) He recommended that I take the Alendronate for a year, get lab work after 3 months on it, and continue with the supplements. I’ll get lab work again in late fall with my Endocrinologist. I’m really hoping that this medication slows down the turnover.

[Cooper1145 in reply to Alisa25]

Best of luck

[FearFracture in reply to Alisa25]

My endocrinologist did no testing prior to prescribing bisphosphonates so I really don’t know if I was losing lots of bone when I was 1st diagnosed with osteoporosis in July 2019. At my endo recommendation, I started taking alendronate in January 2020. I took it for a 1.5 years. I didn’t see any significant improvement in my bones when I had my 2nd DEXA in July 2021 but my t-scores were slightly better. Three other ppl I know who take/took alendronate all stopped bone loss. I stopped taking I alendronate due to digestive tract issues and have a zoledronic acid infusion in November 2021. Can’t wait to see what my next DEXA shows.

[Alisa25 in reply to FearFracture]

I’m surprised that you’re endo didn’t have lab work done prior to starting the medication. I thought that’s how they monitor you to see if it’s working. Maybe some just rely on the dexa scan. I hope this alendronate works for me.The increase in my bone turnover from July to March scared me enough to go on it. I’ll have lab work this month and again late fall. I pay out of pocket for one ( hope it’s worth it)

I’d be interested to hear how you do with the infusion and if you dexascan shows improvement. Best of luck to you.

[FearFracture in reply to Alisa25]

I wish I’d done my own research instead of just listening to my endocrinologist when I was 1st diagnosed. Prior to being diagnosed w/ osteoporosis, I was seeing this endocrinologist because, in 2017, I was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (hypothyroidism), so when he told me my bones were “horrible” and pushed me toward meds, I followed his advice. It was only after I’d taken alendronate for 1.5 yrs and then had my a zoledronic acid infusion that I started researching on my own and that’s when I learned there are approximately a dozen test your doctor should run before rushing you on to osteo-meds.

On the morning that you take your alendronate make sure you don’t take any calcium supplements w/i, I think 4 hours. You may want to look up the exact time they say.

One change I’ve made to my diet is making sure I get small doses of calcium throughout the day. The reason I made this change is because the parathyroid glands will release PTH is your blood calcium levels begin to dip. If you are taking in calcium every 3 to 4 hours, it seems like that should help keep you blood calcium levels even so there’s no need for the parathyroid glands create PTH to get calcium from your bones.

This website is awesome but it’s hard to remember where you wrote what, if you know what I mean. But I have every intention of posting my next DEXA results. Most likely that will be in November of this year.

[Alisa25 in reply to FearFracture]

I’m with you on doing your own research. When my gynecologist got the results of my 1st Dexa scan and recommended Fosamax, I asked him if there was something else I could do such as diet and exercise, and he literally just shrugged his shoulders. That’s when I started to do some research. Sometimes so very confusing.So now it’s research, doctors, diet, exercise, medication and fingers crossed.

[FearFracture]

I took alendronate (generic for Fosamax) for 1.5 yrs but due to digestive issues I stopped taking it the week of my 2nd DEXA scan. I know three, 75+ y.o. women who’ve all taken alendronate with no issues. One of the women stopped taking it because she’s been on it for 20+ yrs and a doctor finally told her she needed to stop taking it. Note, it’s my understanding that you really shouldn’t take it for more than 5 years. One of the women stopped taking it because she’d taken it for 5 yrs and her doctor said she should stop. Her doctor moved her to Prolia, which she took for 2 yrs. She stopped the Prolia and is back on alendronate now, to prevent rebound fractures after having stopped the prolia. She will continue to take the alendronate for another 1.75 yrs. The third woman has been on alendronate for approximately 4 yrs. her bmd has improved and she no longer has osteoporosis, her t-scores are all in the osteopenia range. She’s planning to take alendronate for 1 more year and then stopping. None of the 3 women have had any fractures. The last one mentioned has lost some height which indicates some compression fractures in her spine.

[Mkasher]

I am 53. I was finally diagnosed with osteoporosis in August 2020 after years with osteopenia. I think being a pilates instructor and former runner might have kept it from happening sooner. Being a fitness person I decided that of course I could adjust the outcome through diet and exercise! I decided to push back on the recommendation to take Fosamax and explore a more strict diet, pay close attention to getting enough Calcium, protein, magnesium and Vitamin D, also incorporate weight lifting into my routine. My doctor ordered a Dexa in August 2021 to see how things were going. I lost 7% of my bone despite the very concerted efforts. I didn’t want to risk losing even more so decided not to wait another year to get on medication (it takes that long for changes to show in the scores.) It took 6 more months to find an endocrinologist I trusted and to decide between the anabolic bone builders (& figure out if insurance covered it) and Fosamax. I went with Fosamax. My first dose was in February of 2022. I drink about 16-24 oz water with the dose and am very diligent about staying upright for 30+ minutes after taking it and so far have had no side effects at all. My new doctor ordered another Dexa this August and my scores have minimally changed from the prior August. Now that I’m stabilizing I’m going to still try to build bone - by adding a weighted vest when I walk and working with a personal trainer to find safe ways to add impact. I’m also giving Osteostrong a go for the heck of it. I’ve also discovered Onera Online - a two year program online that gives exercises to complete 3-5 days a week for 2 years to help build strength and balance. I’m not ready to give up!