Hello! I have been taking Boniva injections every 3 months for 15 months for severe Osteoporosis in my spine, hips and femoral neck. A recent Dexascan (bone density) showed a further decline in my bones. *thinning and brittle* I have some compression fx's already.

I am devastated. I cannot take any of the oral meds, due to esophageal and stomach problems, so must find a drug that is injectible either IV, or daily injections.
My Rheumy suggested Forteo, which is a daily injection. An Orthopaedic Dr mentioned Reclast, which is a once a yr IV infusion and my Gyno is the one who put me on the Boniva injections every 3 months already. I am so bewildered as to what to do. I checked the Forteo online and quite frankly, the side effects frighten me.

Does anyone have any info or experience w/osteo drugs/info that are not in the oral form????

I am at my witt's end fretting over this. The constant back/hip pain is really starting to get to me and I don't want to waste any time getting a new drug started.

I am thankful for any advice/help I can get.

forum you will find two posters there who have severe issues, and have tried most of the drugs out there.

I did many searches for this subject then.
example of a search using "forteo" :
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/se...g_searchinfo=1

The bad news with bisphosphonates is that they don't really work. They tend to turn off the bone building cells, so over time the bones cannot mend themselves. The bone tear down is somewhat slowed.

They also cause many side effects. Muscle pain, bone necrosis, and some heart problems. They are turning out to be a disappointment.

Have you had your Vit D tested? You should. Correction of Vit D levels may be better than any drugs we have yet.

You need to look at other drugs you may be taking that may be making osteoporosis worse. Mainly proton pump inhibitors like Nexium, and SSRI antidepressants, steroids, anti-seizure medications.
Not getting enough vit K and B12 also speed osteoporosis.

Thank you mrsD! I take a daily women's vitamin, a calcium supp 2 X's a day and 400IU of Vit D3 a day. I think the vit D levels were checked w/recent labwork, but am having the results sent to me, so will check it out.

I do take Aciphex for gastro probs. hmmmm~ alot to think about.

Thank you so much for helping me try to sort this out. Curious sent me over here, as she said you'd find my post. I appreciate all the help I can get.

do get also a B12 test. Ask for the number result. If it is
below 500 you need to take a daily supplement.

Long term use of acid blocking drugs inhibit absorption of B12.
Other things get messed up too...
folic acid, calcium, magnesium, zinc iron also are inhibited.(that we know of so far).

Hey Mrsd and DM,

Any thoughts on the supplement Strontium? I sent DM some links through the Napster. My Aunt who has osteo and breat cancer can no longer take the Biphonsates (developed osteonecrosis) and her doc steered her towards this supplement.

Thoughts?

Here is a link to read from iherb.com

https://healthlibrary.epnet.com/GetC...hunkiid=111809

I have little experience with this. I think there are some combo products out there with strontium added.
example:
http://www.herbsmd.com/detail/stront...plex-27641.htm
notice the sorbitol...may be laxative, to some!

But please read the safety issues on that link... it can be ineffective or harmful if used the wrong way.

Is it true that if your take so called "bone builders" but don't take in enough Calcium and Vit D - that it will "rob" your system {teeth etc} of the available calcium to support the bones?

My mom took one of the bone builders for a few yrs and now her teeth seems to be cracking and breaking often.
She doesn't chew ice cubes or anything that would normally cause tooth breakage.
Although she was on Prednisone for yrs about 10 yrs ago.
due to a severe rare illness.

I"m assuming the pred caused the soft bones and that led to the bone builder... but maybe the pred also caused the teeth to get soft too...???

Just wondering...

DM,

I take a nasal spray for osteopenia. It's called Fortical. You spray one shot in one nostril once a day, alternating sides each day. My PCP RXed it for me. I can't take the pills either because of GERD.

I've been on it for over a year I think. I'm curious to know how my next scan will look.

The enamel of the teeth was made long ago. It can be eroded away with acidic foods or chronic vomiting.
The most common calcium leaching occurs at the root, and those teeth will become loose if calcium is lacking for whatever reason.

The body will "rob" the bones if there is not enough serum calcium to run the heart and nervous system. I am not really aware of the teeth going to save the bones. But it is possible.

Steroids are major disruptors of bone metabolism.

I think people are generally aware (and so are doctors) about taking calcium now. It is added to common foods even.
But Vit K and B12 are still neglected. So is magnesium. And the mineral boron. We are just learning that almost 1/2 of US population is low in Vit D. I think the Vit D connection is the most critical link at this time.

On the links at PN there is a link to .gifs showing how the various osteoporosis occurs... let me see if I can find it quickly.....

........ok ...I found the link. This link shows animations of how bone is torn down and reformed, and how that process is affected by drugs and life conditions:

http://courses.washington.edu/bonephys/opmovies.html

It is interesting, and you should attempt to watch them...if it seems difficult do it more than once. You will see how bone is remodeled. (and not).

Common drugs I think are also serious culprits. The information about SSRIs is daunting and very new. Millions and millions take these drugs...and have no clue that their bones are suffering, as a result. Same with proton pump inhibitors like Nexium, Prilosec, Acifex and Protonix, and Prevacid. We are talking millions and millions of people!

Thank you all for the info.

mrsD~ I have been away from my computer most of the day, so am just now catching up. Thank you for the links. Have you any knowledge of Reclast or Forteo. I'm supposed to be making decisions and I'm stumped. Build my bones or suffer from the side effects??? I should get my test results via mail tomorrow, so will know more then. Gosh, I need the Aciphex to heal my ulcer and keep Gerd at bay, but if it interferes w/my bone drugs~~~ ACKKKKK! I am in a tizzy over this.

How does one know what to take and what not to take??? Aren't you sorry I posted this thread? I don't mean to be a bother, but I really am upset.

Will check out the PN forum as suggested and again~~ giant Thank you's!!!!