alternatives to fosamax for osteoporosis

Do you mean Fosamax (alendronate)? If you do, its for treating bone problems like Osteoperosis by adding bone mass and slows bone loss. I use it for Osteopenia.

If you have osteoporosis, I think it is best to take the medication prescribed by your doctor. Supplements and herbal remedies are not approved by the FDA. I have not seen any studies to indicate that this is an effective alternative. While this may be beneficial, I would think the treatment plan would be the one your doctor prescribes.

So hopefully we have caught the osteoporosis in time, and only have to be on fosamax for a year or two. We will do another bone screening in a year. The fosamax is affecting my ear buzzing too, so really don't want to be on it longer than necessary.

Hello! Welcome to MedHelp and thank you for posting on our forums. I'm sorry for the delay in response. This is a great question as so many and especially women eventually deal with this issue. Working with your doctor is always best and a doctor should listen to their patients. Perhaps they will still hold the idea that prescription medication is best to take, they can also be aware of your desire to avoid that and to use natural methods instead.

I have been on Fosamax for almost a year . In the last few months I have developed really bad heartburn. Zantac helps for a few hours but then it starts again.

are you still not taking any prescription drug for your osteoporosis? Am interested to know what/why your doctor is recommending for your treatment now... I'm 62 Fem. with T score -3.5. My doctor is putting me on Actonel but I am reluctant to start. Side effects are very worrisome... not sure what to do. I have started mega doses of supplements and calcium and D and excercise and I want someone to tell me that that has worked for them.

My wifes orthodontist recommended a consultation with a periodontist prior to him starting the procedure for braces. My wife is a 65 year old in good health who has taken FOSAMAX for 5 1/2 years. She wants to get her teeth straightened. The periodontist has recommended a procedure to reinforce the gums prior to the braces. This has added an additional 6K to the price and about 3 months to the total time to straighten the teeth.

I finished TX a little over a year ago. I was only on it for 14 weeks. When I stopped I felt rapid improvement for a month or so then felt fantastic for a few weeks. After that it has been all downhill, much worse than I was before TX. Needless to say I didn't clear after that short time (GT1). Looking at my numbers, my specialist thought that I would almost certainly relapse.

Thanks, I am thin but I don't t think that thin. 5'7" weight 126 lbs. I have about 19% body fat due to weight lifting. You would think the weight lifting would help. I did read that heavier women have less problems. My 80 year old nieghbor only has osteopenia. She has taken estrogen replacement for years though but is over weight. But my friend who is thin and older than me (60's) has osteopenia not osteoporosis. So I didn't know what to do.

I would search for any lawsuits against the manufacturer of Fosamax for injury like this resulting on facial bone loss and tooth loss. Seems to be me they should pay for any corrective dental or medical treatment and pay compensation for pain and suffering. I've read negative things about this drug and it's ironic that it is advertised as preventing bone loss, and yet it accelerates it.

Ijust had an ext and bone graft and it was recommended for me to also stop my osteoporosis meds as they do affect healing. I didn't aske for details,both my DS and MD agreed.

Many thanks for your response and advice. I have been on both drugs together - Arimidex for 4 yrs, Fosamax for 3 yrs. I stopped the Arimidex 4 wks ago but have continued with weekly Fosamax. The bone pain in my hip and foot has diminished considerably, although I still have shooting pains in both thumbs and 1st 2 fingers. I am a little confused as to your advice......when you say "a possible brilliant solution is to take these drugs together WITH bone protective agents...

Other hip and spine are in the yellow zone for osteopenia. I am allergic to Bonita and Fosamax so for now trying exercise, calcium, vitamin D to combat it. My mom has it and I've been menopausal for 10 years now at the age of 43. I don't take magnesium. Should I be and what would be a good starting dose?

I have taken 4 infusions of Rituxin,(which is the normal dosage to begin with)),hoping to control the cryo and they are now having me take 1 infusion treatment of Rituxin, every 3 mths. So possibly the Reclast is a maintainence therapy also?

Although I am 36 I have pretty severe osteoporosis and at one time was recommended to take medication for it. I have several spinal injuries which have resulted in Degenerative Disk Disease, other joint syndromes and overall bone density loss. I had not personally heard of the the fractures (femur) from the Fosamax, but I did hear of the other risk factors for some of the older drugs. I had heard also of the side effects like hot flashes and sweats which are none too pleasant.

I have had osteopenia for many years; I have been able to rebuild my bone density by taking calcium and magnesium, but if you've already been diagnosed with osteoporosis, you might need to go on a med specifically for that. What is your current thyroid status?

Hi Shelley, thanks for those links - most useful. I received my blood work results today, and although the Gamma G.T. was down (106, - had been 161 and 183 over this past month) it is still extremely high. Previously - for the past three years - it had always been within range - 22,19 and 20 - average range is up to 36. I phoned the endocrinologist, who thinks I may have had acute hepatitis, and she is also happy for me to stop taking the Fosamax.

The suspect medication is gabapentin (for pain confined to the left thigh secondary to nerve damage following back surgery to replace two discs and insertion of a titaniium rod for stabilization). The surgery was last June and the results have been excellent! I have been on the gabapenten since last September. I also have osteoporosis with the degenerative joint desease. I take fosamax 70 mg weekly. I have been on the fosamax for 2 1/2 years with no side effects.

Care should be taken when taking medications for osteoporosis, as there can be adverse side effects and some dental work should not be performed while on it. I have had osteopenia for many years, and my latest bone scan shows that I've actually rebuilt bone, by implementing a regimen of calcium (1200 mg/day, taken twice daily - I take it at noon and 6:00 pm to prevent conflict with my thyroid med), magnesium (200 mg/day, taken at bedtime, moderate exercise.

I am 61 and taking calcium and fosamax for osteoporosis so wonder if that is producing too much clacium?? Or am I just imagining this?

My wife is dying of a super strep infection with lymphedema cellulitis in her legs while on high power antibiotics and gamma blood infusions for 5 years. She has advanced osteoporosis at age 55, diabetic, steroid dependant, multiple vertabrae compression fractures-one with a bone chip in the spinal canal (she's already on fosamax). She is on 150mg of time-released morphine a day, and ora-morph and oxycodone for pain spikes and breakthrough pain.

Alternatives to fosamax for osteoporosis

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