I google this question and the first thing that comes up: Rates of treatment with osteoporosis, or bone loss, medicines dropped dramatically over the past decade from 15 percent to 8 percent, a new analysis of a large nationwide private insurance database found. (note: 2019 study)
Having been diagnosed in my late 50's with osteoporosis, I know the fear and concern that I often read on this and other sights. We feel alone, without options, fearful of dying younger or in a wheel chair. Yet, we are not alone, as often : What percentage of people with osteoporosis take medication? Rates of treatment with osteoporosis, or bone loss, medicines dropped dramatically over the past decade from 15 percent to 8 percent, a new analysis of a large nationwide private insurance database found.Mar 18, 2021
Keep googling rates/percentages of those who take it and it's quite small considering all the drugs out there. Then read the research about how many stop taking it and that's quite high.
I do not want folks to think I am against meds etc. This is a personal decision. But it has become clear to me that these drugs scare the hell out of people and have side effects many refuse to deal with. This tells me drug companies are failing us and are not the only line of defense.
Anyone have research to share that the majority of folks with osteoporosis take the meds and stay on them long?
Written by
dcdream
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
I love what you wrote- we aren’t really alone, there are millions of us.
However the world is not taking care of us.
We don’t know what to do, we don’t want to fracture or get a hump back or lose height.
It’s a problem if we take meds. It’s a problem if we don’t take meds.
A percent of us are worse off with meds for fractures or dental problems. A percentage of us is at risk of vertebral fractures if we don’t take meds. The hip fractures from falling I believe will happen on or off of meds. So I really think the issue is protecting the spine. I am fine with medicine if it won’t give me side effects of brittle bones or temporary symptoms that are both stomach / anxiety / depression.
So far I am told quality supplements cannot build bone and exercise cannot. The liv marodyne at $3000 supposedly can build bone . Then when I called the company I asked is this the answer - and he said no it’s only one part of what will help. We still need to exercise and take supplements. Idk what else.
My friend who has no side effects is happily taking fosamax. Fosamax gave me stomach problems and then I got nausea, also had repeated bathroom visits for 24 hours+.
I take Alendronate sodium tablets one morning a week. I have a full glass of water on an empty stomach and usually take my dog for a walk ( to make sure I eat nothing for at least 30 minutes!) After more than a year, I have had no side effects. I get my new DEXA in a week and will let you know of any changes.
yes it’s a medicine that millions do well with and millions do not do well with. If you lead a normal healthy life and have healthy teeth and don’t fall and don’t have a sensitive type of stomach it’s all good.
I am adding an update. My osteoporosis was present in L1-4 in April 2021 with T score -2.7. On May 10, 2023 it has improved to -1.7 into the osteopenic range. I will keep taking Alendronate sodium 1/week and Calcium /Vitamin D. I feel happy with this improvement and will maintain walking, biking, swimming, rowing and yoga.
I am beginning to believe my focus is on not falling, which appears to be the main reason of fractures, which is the main focus of drugs. I've been told by my doctor no amount of exercise, vitamins, diet changes will help...only the meds. But recent research since the 2019's is showing yoga and other weight bearing exercise does help and does slow down the disease.
I do 30 -60 minutes per day at the gym. I really do believe it’s helping me:
I am now used to the muscle “ burn” and when I don’t have the soreness I want it because I feel it’s helping my health and bones.
I am getting used to the idea there is no free lunch: we either have to commit to exercise or commit to the drugs and the drugs don’t help with coordination and balance. I even notice the coordination of getting on and off the stair climber takes agility and carefulness.
I notice there are only young people on the stair climber where I go and I see why you have to go up to the top of it and back down.
I do 4 weight machines and stair climber elliptical and rower. Basically rotating the weights and the stair climber and elliptical . The weight machines are every other day and the elliptical and stair climber are every other day . The rower is thrown in too.
I am hoping this all will at least keep me from getting worse but some exercise regulars of decades also have osteoporosis.
I agree completely the focus is on not falling but also not weakening the bones further
1) An article for a couple of years ago -- NY Times I think (I'm out of my office and don't have it in front of me) -- that people fear the meds, and hesitate to take them . At the same time hip fracture rates have gone up significantly.
2) For a recent "grand rounds" type of webinar on bone health (attended by some of the top experts in the US and Canada). That compliance and adherence to the meds is not good. And the lack of compliance/adherence makes drug treatment less effective.
3) Adherence/compliance for the "natural way" -- diet, exercise, and healthy lifestyle -- is even lower than compliance/adherence for the meds.
4) And 70% of the people who have an osteoporosis fracture are not receiving treatment for osteoporosis. Many are not even diagnosed until they have a fracture (sometimes until their 2nd or 3rd fracture).
I don't think the failure lies with pharma -- they are providing the treatments. The problems lie -- in part -- with sensationalizing rare events. And the failure lies in prioritizing osteoporosis as the long term chronic condition that it is. I think the population would be outraged if we viewed treatment for high blood pressure or diabetes in the same way.
I agree with you on those points but the failure seems to be in the meds and the side effects, which corporations need to address and develop new meds that address this issue. Also, I get the impression science isn't certain about how to avoid said problems in the meds or how to create a drug that builds new bone that isn't brittle, because those bones break easily as well. There's no easy answer.
the new bone is harder and stronger and I don’t know if it’s more brittle. I’ve heard that a lot that it’s more brittle but why would the world give us medicines that worsen us. It must be that the medicine both helps and hinders - but how much does it do of each ? I just don’t get it
My understanding is that the meds cannot replicate true bones which are living entities that also are flexible so that every time you fall, you don't break bones. The bones the med create lack that living source and flexibility (maybe flexibility isn't the right word to use but our bones have a certain amount of "give." Therefore, the new fake bones, upon falls, break easily. I can only speak from my mom's experience and my mother in law, both who had osteoporosis and did the entire med protocol of off and on and then onward to other drugs once the first line of meds began to not have great outcomes. Both women fractured and broke bones even while on osteoporosis meds. My mom did a reclast infusion over a year ago, within that same year, she fell and broke both wrists, thumb. The prior year, broke her shoulder, prior year before that, broke her wrist. Her hump was not prevented even though she did the meds. So honestly, I can't speak to the issues and questions many have because the research isn't there for us regarding the long term use of said meds. We're all guinea pigs for the drug companies on this illness. We are now seeing women who started on these meds 20 years ago and entering their late 80's and 90's and it would be good if the drug companies did studies now regarding long term use. Keep in mind that the majority of folks with osteoporosis, do not take the meds or stay on them due to side effects. Perhaps someone on this forum can show research that demonstrates that the majority of women with osteoporosis take the meds and have no real issues long term. If we had that information, woman would be more prone to take the meds.
do you take strontium citrate - that is supposed to increase bone density and create like real bone. My understanding it’s the best thing there is for building like real bone
I don’t believe the meds have to be taken on an empty stomach . I read a study on that. It said if you take a calcium , the study used cheese, the reduction of absorbing the medicine is -24% , if you take egg whites the reduction is like -12% . This is insane. Millions won’t take the medicine bc of side effects that they would not have if they could eat some food with it, but so what if you get 75 or 90 % of the Medicine. If people need the medicine than some is better than none. I think the world should hear that 75 or 90 % of all medicines and osteoporosis medicine is better than none.
To DC dream, no question you are right that we haven’t seen long range research over decades . If you take medicine and don’t fall then the medicine should work to prevent fragility fractures
I agree that we are in a failure status with OP. Simply getting my MD's attention that something "is/was" wrong took years...step one in the destruction of my spine/wrists/nerves was a parathyroid tumor/adenoma. Male doc says female patient is just stressed. So I self-diagnosed, referred to surgeon had it removed, fired PCP MD. Fast forward to last Sept...hard landing on a plane, pain surges in spine, thoracic fracture out of no where, I have never taken a fall, I'm 61 at the time, walk 5 miles a day, adhere to a whole foods only diet, no sugar/grain/starch/seed oils, and take all the "bone health" supplements since the parathyroid tumor removed in 2017. Doc says pulled muscle. Lesson learned that base level radiology will NOT show a spinal fracture, demand a MRI as I did in Nov. Surgeon "stunned". December reaching for a cup in lower cabinet, the same hot electric surge of pain in the thoracic...no other action, no fall, lunge, slip....5 more fractures. Surgeon again "stunned"....he firmly believes in kyphoplasty, which helps save height and removed inflammation viewed from procedure. There are a high percentage of us with cascading fractures...no falls, no accidents, other issues hiding that doctors are not willing to explore, search for root cause....just hand a prescription, not even ask if there are questions or whatnot....! These OP medications do not correct the root cause, and never will.
I am researching every lab since the parathyroid tumor was removed. I had two good DEXA reports, got back density. So down to an 18 month period, that may be related to when they increased my thyroid meds, which is concurrent to when I started having severe diarrhea episodes, and malabsorption issues. I don't have Grave's, I'm actually quite Hashi's hypo, and testing shows my poor thyroid is half the normal size. I'll figure it out long before my doctors...30+ years in healthcare, with a heavy research side. I'm certain it's hormone related...but there are so many active in the bone development/maintenance process.
I agree a pcp does not know about OP, does a specialist like endocrinologist ? I called the American Bone Health office for advice a few weeks ago. She said you choose an osteoporosis doctor who has the speciality of osteoporosis. She asked who my endocrinologist is, I said her name , she looked her up, she said - her specialty is hormones and not osteoporosis, she said you should only see a dr who has the specialty of bone health. I gave her two more choices and she said both of those are specialists at bone health and she chose the owner of the practice she said he’s been doing this forever but you probably won’t get in with him but I did get an appt with him.
So her answer was a specialist at bone health. I understand about bones being living beings. I just wonder if the medicine really harms the bones . I think the real reason the doctors push the medicine is to prevent fragility fractures and that nothing helps the falls. Idk my cousin said his mom was a fragile egg shell. However she always took the medicines and never fell and never broke a bone. My mom fell at 87, and had a hip fracture, no surgery. Healed well, lived 5 more years .
She never took medicine . I told my endocrinologist and she said “ maybe if she took medicine she wouldn’t have broken the bone. “ I disagree I think she healed well bc she never took medicine, but I think she was at risk of fragility fractures which she never had. I am taking 5 mgs fosamax like two times per week, every 3 days to possibly strengthen my bones a little, I think there is little info on taking a little medicine. In other countries the osteoporosis medicine is taken every third day.
That's interesting how they prescribe the dosages in Europe and I wonder why they don't follow that protocol of every 3 days in the USA? It's not easy to find a bone specialist in osteoporosis in rural areas and you are fortunate to live near one. Falls are extremely dangerous for anyone over age 65 which is why many natural approaches to living with osteoporosis focus on avoiding falls via changing your home / living space to avoid falls, balance and posture work out routines. I have friends (over age 65) who do not have osteoporosis but have fallen and broken bones playing sports etc., so I have changed my lifestyle to be more cautious and aware of activities that are dangerous for me and my bones. You should see benefits to taking the meds and time will tell how that impacts your bones as you age. In the meantime, you're doing the best you can for yourself, with the information that is available to you at this point in time.
I actually read the doses in India and Japan I think are every third day. I don’t know about the other countries. However other countries as a whole in general accept aging gracefully and are not so for toxic chemicals so if other countries recommend medicine, they seem to do the minimum. I wish there was a world wide article I could read on what country is managing osteoporosis the best and how are they doing it. I e once the person has the condition.
I think there is still a great amount of unknown, hence why we don't have great medicines to help build bone. It's really complex, and you would think in a developed country we would be better off than 3rd world countries...but that's not the evidence! My Rheumy sent me to this Endocrinologist, not impressed with her. Rheumy should be the "expert" on bones, mine is autoimmune disease. So many variables in this puzzle. I'm on Tymlos, doing better at 30 days than 14. Most of the side effects are greatly reduced. I'm back to no exercise, since the newest fracture last Monday...that is bugging me. I hate the thought of losing muscle! So I'm increasing protein!
No, just the typical bone supplements, without calcium. Every time I've tried to add calcium, by blood labs go too high. Strontium in the morning, and silica as well are the two add-ons. I eat foods with calcium, but no extra.
you take strontium citrate in the morning ? I guess you do it in an empty stomach like people take their osteoporosis medicines in the morning. The problem with either strontium or bisphosphonate in the morning is if you want coffee, the calcium within two hours after either reduces the efficacy
I have a cow's milk allergy, and do not consume anything in the cabbage family or Brassica oleracea...can't eat "greens" either...they all "bounce" up in 30 minutes, or "speed through" in a couple hours. Most likely it's an extreme sensitivity to oxalates and lectins, plant toxins. Which those all bind to minerals you are consuming, and you lose the minerals, so not a good benefit. Which either wrecks your gut microbiome, over and over. Most plants severely disagree with my fickle digestion system. Been like this since I was a young child, my mother kept trying to get me to keep them down, finally the Pedi doc told her to stop! I was suffering from malabsorption problems due to her "religion" of eating mostly plants. That "religion" killed her with numerous heart attacks, blocks, strokes, and malnutrition, she barely ate enough protein to keep a small mouse alive. Her Cardiologist tried in vain to get her to eat more animal protein, but Dr Ornish brain-washed her.
My kefir says lactose free. So it's out there. Also I broke my own anti fad diet stance after I gained weight when mom was dying and went on a ketogenic kick. I think this has caused my bone loss.there is an Australian study on ketosis diets they did on athletes and they stopped the study because the subjects were showing bone loss ..I did myself no favors. As I study more about bone building foods I'm learning eat a healthy variety. You wont be hungry for snacks. I'm trying to get most of my vitamin and mineral through diet. Read up on k2-7. There are ways to get it in diet. It directs your calcium to bone. There is a slew of foods with boron. I tell myself I'm feeding my bones. Like feeding my baby lambs.
I take K2, boron, all the bone supplements, I have since post-parathyroid tumor removal. Not sure you read my message...but I cannot eat all the foods you do. I get very sick and don't absorb nutrients. So my doctors agree that I must take the supplements with foods I can digest success fully. I've had extensive labs, DNA, since 1980 to identify what's wrong with me...and foods. I take 3-4 digestive enzymes to get what I can eat to process through my system. My bone density actually came up on a meat heavy diet post parathyroid tumor...I was almost normal with density at the 3 year mark, eating meat heavy whole foods. But the tumor destroyed my spine, and 7 fractures and 4 fusions later, it is what it is. I don't get hungry...that's part of the issue...I don't care if I eat or not, I will because humans still need protein and fats...but luckily, there is no essential carb for humans, so I'm good skipping those.
Yes I did read your post. Everything is new to me as I just had the evil dexa 4 weeks ago. I've done massive reading learning as best I can what I can do. I dont get hungry either. I make myself eat. I pour my fortified o.j. and mix my ovaltine set out all my meals for the day so I remember to eat. I mix my collagen too. I'm full all day because I add in a variety of vegetables and fruits. I live in a rural town with no grocery stores so I had been basically starving myself unknowingly
Beaumont, Texas...an hour east of Houston. I emailed Terry of Terry's Naturally supplements on strontium...he's very knowledgeable...I also use his brand. He said to take it in the morning with breakfast, with the silica. I take it with coffee and real cream, as I rarely eat before noon. I don't take calcium, but do consume foods with calcium....supplemental calcium causes my blood calcium levels to go too high, so I stopped them six months ago.
If I don't have my cream for coffee, I pass on coffee! I misread it I didn’t see the word If
So I read
I don't have my cream for coffee, I pass on coffee! My mistake I thought you were saying you don’t have your cream for coffee and you pass on coffee . Sorry
It may, but it would have to go through the digestive process and stay in my system long enough to get to the small intestine, where micronutrients are extracted...I either throw up, or have rampant diarrhea within 30-90 minutes if I make a poor choice and consume those foods. Cow's milk allergy since age 1. There's also a good bit of science now that shows the micronutrients in our current food supply is not what it once was, even organic, as the soil has been over farmed, not rotated, and the printed micronutrients of 10 years ago are no longer valid. We have to somehow calculate the amount of minerals that are bound to oxalate foods, thus to replace them. Example, you get no use of iron in spinach, which is not great anyway...but the oxalates in the spinach, it's one of the highest levels of any food, bind the iron, and it goes to your urine.
Thanks you. Since the beginning of COVID I've been teaching tai chi and yoga online. Our "spring semester" is just ending and we haven't started planning for the fall yet. Normally we cut back on classes in the summer, because so many people (instructors and students) have other things they would rather do. So I may not teach again until fall. I can send you a private message once we have a fall plan.
What gives me pause is without fractures many of us are told we have osteoporosis. So many stories of women who have always done weight bearing and resistance exercise that are told they need these meds seems pharma driven to me.
It reminds me of the statin marketing venture. Now, decades later after pushing statins as a preventive, it's used more for those who've had heart attacks or disease. Many had side effects on statins and stopped taking them, similar pharm journey like osteoporosis meds. What concerns me is the lack of focus on doctors to have us start bone strengthen work/habits in our early adult years. Also, doctors fail to instruct osteopenia patients to take action to protect their bones via natural approaches like strength training, yoga, etc, which can help build bones. Also doctors fail to send women to therapy to learn balance and proper body mechanics to lessen spine damage through daily body mechanics. All these things are helpful to prevent osteoporosis yet, doctors don't bother mentioning that and sending a script for therapy. I had to demand that from my doctor send me to therapy to learn balance and body mechanics. He did so after I said I would find another who would do that for me. The purpose of meds is to avoid fractures. Falls cause fractures and poor body mechanics causes falls. Humps cause falls and humps can be avoided through proper body mechanics and exercises that help the spine avoid said fractures and curving forward.
my daughter worked for a neurosurgeon who on the first visit of almost every patient told them to do yoga daily for an hour and take naproxen . He didn’t do surgery on most .
Thanks, I understand it wasn't for osteoporosis, but rather an anti-inflammatory to help avoid surgery. Just surprised about the advice to take a daily NSAID for an indefinite period, since they can cause issues of their own. Kudos to the surgeon for first recommending a way to avoid surgery!
yes the dr recommended that patients use that when they wake up in order to avoid surgery, and do yoga, for as many weeks or months as needed, I dont really know if he changed people off of that plan eventually
Much is a feedback problem. Osteoporosis is evil. The major risks are hypothetical. The effects without incident happens so slowly that people tend not to notice until someone points them out. Treatments of all kinds are weak and slow so people tend not to appreciate them. Meanwhile, side effects are quick and obvious. Time spent on exercise and diet is clear while the benefits are not. With the downside clear and upside murky, it not a surprise that people decline to act. I am more aggressive than most due to a lifestyle quirk. I can't skate with osteoporosis. But most people's lifestyles are compatible with declining bones, at least for a few years so they let it slide.
I wonder if there is a false sense of security for those on meds? What seems common is that women use the meds, the meds begin after a few years or several on and off sessions, to then weaken in effectiveness. This then begins the slide into another drug because if not, these women begin to fracture. Its a chronic life long condition on the meds that seem to progress as one ages and remains taking the drugs. My friends who took the meds 10 years ago, off and on, are now facing decisions on taking another med because their fosamax, etc. is no longer working. These friends are in their late 60's and if they live into their 90's, I wonder if they will experience what my mom has, who has been on osteoporosis meds and that is fracture quite a bit. Just asking??
Thanks for this post. I am 69, was diagnosed with osteopenia earlier this year, and my doctor prescribed generic Boniva (ibandronate). No one in my family has ever had spinal or hip fractures and I exercise regularly. The doctor said that tablet supplements would not help and I needed to get calcium through food, though many foods are enriched with a supplement, calcium carbonate. The ibandronate was to be taken once a month. I took it once and it caused a great deal of muscle pain, unlike anything previously experienced. I was taking no other medications. So I stopped taking it and decided to take calcium supplements instead and just continue exercising and eating a nutritious diet. Also, some research into actual bone density readings, not the T-scores, indicated that for my age, my bone density is high for spine and in the middle for hip.
I prefer to avoid a generic medication with miscellaneous unknown fillers, especially when my condition is not especially serious and the medication does not build healthy new bone. Technical papers are confusing, with some indicating that ibandronate does not help prevent hip fractures (my lowest reading).
As a practical matter, it makes sense to remove trip hazards from and add night lights to your living space. And if you fall, try to land on your backside, not your hip.
My experience has been that doctors are not consistent and thorough about monitoring and following up on meds they or other physicians have prescribed the patient. Some prescriptions are written by physicians practicing defensive medicine, because they wish to avoid a lawsuit.
I am admittedly a cynic, but I think there is too much blind faith in drug manufacturers. Do they cherrypick test and study data? Do they disregard results from tests that do not produce the desired outcome? Drugs are regarded as a secret sauce that will magically solve some problem, but side effects can be downplayed by the manufacturer even if distressingly real.
Diagnosed with osteoporosis 4 years ago. Doctor immediately wanted to put me on meds which I refused upon which they told me they couldn't help me!! Guess they consider me a risk. I am skeptical of conventional pharma focused healthcare. I spent countless hours researching osteoporosis and will share following highlights : -
1) Monitor your CTX test to check how fast you are losing bone - My score deteriorated sharply in the 18 months after diagnosis as it coincides with a very high stress period in my life. Stress is a KILLER for losing bone because after that initial stress induced loss, my CTX score stabilized showing little additional bone loss.
2) T-Scores are very misleading as it measures against someone in the 20s!!! Instead check your Z-scores which compares with someone in your age range!!!
3) Take K2 if you are supplementing with calcium as it is needed to deposit calcium in your bones rather than tissues
4) Try to worry less by focusing on research on what foods to eat and exercises to do daily to help you develop better balance so as not to fall. You are unlikely to fracture unless you fall.
5) My 2nd DEXA results showed no deterioration 2 years after my diagnosis even though I had not taken a single med!!! I am due for my 3rd DEXA scan in a couple of weeks and hope and believe that I will be just fine so long as I keep eating healthy, sleeping well, exercising and staying stress free.
Everyone is different so what works for me may not work for others. I am blessed in that I am healthy and am not on any meds even though I will be 70 this September so God has blessed me thus far. Hope above highlights is helpful.
That's great news for you. Can you update after your next scan? I have not stabilized after 10 years with osteoporosis although my z scores are ok for someone my age
I agree with your story. Make sure its k2-7. The other problem with dexascan is if you are small your numbers cant be relied on since the results are part of a large group that includes all sizes.
I am 37 and have been diagnosed with this condition since 31-32, after my pregnancy. I have always been thin and prone to hormonal disorders, even now I have some disorders, but already another condition called "lactose intolerance" has emerged which doesn't let me take drugs and supplements which are mostly made with lactose. So even I have difficulty finding Calcium which is derived from plants in my region and I am ordering from overseas sometimes not knowing what will be the outcome just waiting and hoping for the best until further DEXA scans and blood test results on the calcium and D levels. My doctor upon revealing my condition prescribed me Fosamax, I went and bought it without knowing what was. Then I started to read since I have had chronic stomach disorder, too which is usually becoming acute while taking drugs and back in those days I was undergoing dental implant surgeries, too. I started to consult my gastroenterologist and dentist as well as I talked to my endocrinologist one more time indicating my current problems, so all of them decided to advise me to opt out of Fosamax. So now I have changed my diet and lifestyle, I am exercising regularly, and every 3 months I am checking my calcium and D levels, and the condition is not becoming worse although not becoming better either. I am trying to eat more veggies, also I am taking vegan protein supplements to build up muscles to protect my bones. I am hopeful that I won't have ever fractures, although, after each of my DEXAs, I am falling into a deep depression for a short period. Long story short I have researched, asked, and talked to many elderly ppl about taking meds since I have never met young ppl having this condition, none of my sources reassured me that taking OP meds will at least 90% be helpful if I don't take supplements, don't exercise and conduct healthy lifestyle. I hope scientists will find a cure for this one day 🙏
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
Have you stopped things that might hurt your bone health?
Newly Diagnosed 
Newly diagnosed with Osteoporosis 
Recently Diagnosed
really panicking over infusions, please help
