Medication Input

[Shinedown]

Has anyone here taken any of these meds WITHOUT having side effects? I'm so torn ..... trying to fix (which won't really be fixed) one thing to have a new problem(s) (stomach, esophagus, jaw, etc.) arise just seems counterintuitive.

The struggle is that with osteo, you don't feel any symptoms (unless you break something, of course) but if you take meds to try to prevent that, then your stomach ends up totally destroyed, which you do feel every single day and will affect your quality of daily life.

Anyone, after taking meds for a year or two have any outcomes to share? How much did your numbers improve? My numbers are so bad already that I struggle to believe that they are going to improve enough with medication to really make a difference. ? I feel like someone else wrote on here - you are damned if you do and damned if you don't. Very frustrating indeed.

I did the weight bearing exercises plus diet and added calcium and Vit D for two years. My numbers continued to get worse. So ..... I'm at a crossroads now.... have to make decision on the meds. Thanks for listening and for any input.

[Stella1618]

Hi, I took Reclast IV for 5 years with no side effects. Had a 7 year ‘vacation’ until my numbers started to go down and have been on it again for a year with no side effects. I had a thorough dental check before starting. Along with meds, I take the usual calcium, D3 and K, magnesium, etc. I also do TRX twice a week as well as walk, dance and Pilates.

[Shinedown in reply to Stella1618]

Thank you for your reply.

[Chi-lover]

I started Prolia in February of this year. So far, I have not experienced any side effects. I am due for my second shot next month. I worked on the Class Action Lawsuit against Fosamax, Reclast and the other drugs that were available in the early 2000's. The problems that my clients experienced were horrifying to say the least. That is why I waited over 20 years before taking anything for my Osteoporosis. I did not do myself any favors. My DEXA scores are very bad. I need spine surgery for severe Scoliosis and can't have it because my bones are too weak. I know two other women who are on Prolia for many years and have had no side effects. Please do your research and find what you feel you will be comfortable with. I trust my doctor, and when he said to go on Prolia, I researched it, and did it. It is all a crap shoot. What works for one person, may not work for another. I wish you the best of luck.

[Shinedown in reply to Chi-lover]

Thank you for your reply. A crap shoot indeed. I wonder why the fosamax and reclast are still being used after some of the stories I've heard.

[MyCheesecake]

I don't know if any of the RX treatments work, I've recently been diagnosed with 3rd stage Osteoporosis &was referred for Reclast IV fusion. When I researched that& other treatments oral phosphates,& estrogen, I'm 67. All of them have big warnings& all the phosphate drugs either oral or IV have over 80% who got it had bad side effects, I mean severe scary ones. I have other severe health issues,so don't have much time left anyway & decided not to do any Drs treatment. But you can't take vitamin D unless take K2 with it or the D won't go to the bones. Instead it'll float in your blood & leave calcium deposits all over,like your arteries, kidneys,etc causing low bone mass. That's why you're#s aren't better. The one endocrinologist I saw after diagnosis pushed the vitamin D,eat 3 portions of high D food, nothing about k2.I haven't seen an orthopedic & wonder if they'd advise having to take k2 with D for it to help? I'm more apt to take the chances of a blood clot &take estrogen, which has a lot to do with bone health & why most people with Osteoporosis are women.

[gerrirose]

Shinedown

I just read your recent post on evenity follow up options. Can you share what your numbers were before starting and if you have new numbers yet?

Gerri

[Shinedown in reply to gerrirose]

Hi.

Spine -4.0, hips -3.0 and neck -3.2 These were from 2023. First read in 2021 and they weren’t much different. I just started Evenity in July of this year.

I won’t have new numbers for a while.

So, not good. I’m 59 years old.

[gerrirose in reply to Shinedown]

Your hip numbers don’t look all that bad. Maybe even the spine. And they didn’t change for those two years. I’ve had numbers like that for over 12 years. Did have a. Vertebral fracture 7 months ago. Terrible pain. Then had a kyphoplasty which ended up causing two more fractures. Would never recommend that procedure.

But there are so many problems with the medications I just can’t see doing it. Maybe I’m wrong.

[Shinedown in reply to gerrirose]

So, you are not on any meds, correct? The evenity is supposed to reduce vertebral fractures by like 73% so ..... we'll see I guess. Believe me, I didn't want to do meds either and fought it for several years after reading/hearing about all of the side effects. But, I do believe that my numbers are pretty bad. -2.5 is when they diagnose with osteo so I was already way past that at only age 59. Good luck to you! I'm sorry that you had the fractures - that sounds terrible.

[gerrirose in reply to Shinedown]

That’s right. I’m not on any drugs. I’m 80 this month. Now that I’m about 80% recovered from the vertebral fractures I’m feeling pretty strong. Don’t want to spend the next years of my life dealing with medication side effects.

And then not really having a guaranty I won’t fracture anyway. I feel like I could easily be in the unlucky 30%!

We all have to make that judgement call and hope for the best!