Osteoporosis - Bone Density Concerns

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Osteoporosis - Bone Density Concerns

Osteoporosis - Bone Density Concerns

Date : 07-16-2003 - 06:46 PM - Readers : 3996

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Previous postings regarding Bone Density can be found by searching on the site using keywords: bone density, fosamax and Actonel.

Hi Ladies,

I have recently been diagnosed with Osteopenia, and my doctor has perscribed the 5 mg. daily dose of Actonel.

I have been taking it for 2 days so far, and I am not having any side effects with it at all which is wonderful. I was very concerned about the acid reflux problems sometimes associated with bone building medications, as I already suffer this from eating certain foods, but so far so good. My doctor stressed the importance of not eating or drinking anything for at least 30 minutes after taking it and not lying down after taking it as well.

I am also on 1500 mg. of Calcium daily as well as estrogen in gel form which is applied to my upper arms daily. I am hopeful these will all help in building my bone mass, and prevent me from developing osteoporosis.

Hugs,
Maria

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Just wondering how those of you on the Fosamax and Actonel and other bone building meds are doing?

I have now been on the 5mg. Actonel (daily) for exactly one month, and so far so good. The hardest part is having to wait the 30 minutes to have my coffee in the morning, as I guess morning is the best time to take it, but I have become used to the wait by now.

I have noticed occasional reflux but not sure if its this or perhaps the combination of this and the Zyban doing it, but its not happening too often. And that is something I had before anyway once in awhile, but do notice it a bit more now.

So.....just wanted to touch base and see how everyone else is doing. The thing with this type of med is that we don't actually "see or feel" anything for quite some time down the road when when have another density test.

I am curious if anyone knows if this is something we will have to take for life or if at some point provided our bones improve we can stop taking? I didn't think to ask my doctor this.

Hugs to all!
Maria

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Hi Maria,

I've been on bone-building meds for about a year now. I started out with the daily Actonel and switched to the once-a-week Fosamax when I learned about it - waiting one morning a week for coffee isn't as hard

I have changed PCP's because of an insurance company change, but as soon as I can get in for my annual check-up, I plan to ask for another bone density test and will ask if this is a life-time med, or if we can ever get off of it.

If you are having slight reflux, you might want to try Gaviscon. It's over-the-counter and comes in tablets as well as liquid. I warn you, though, that the tablets foam up when you chew them!!

Be sure to have a full glass of water handy!! Since I have severe reflux, I take the liquid, plus Prevacid every night, but keep a bottle of the tablets in my desk at work for emergencies.

Karen

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Hey Karen,
Thanks for the tips on the reflux!! I sooo wish I could have had the once a week pill, but my gyn seems to think this one has less of the reflux effects. Its funny....when I take it in the morning, I swear its not going down, and staying in the throat. But you know why that is??? Because they say its important not to lie down and to stay upright, I am assuming so its doesn't stay up in that area......so of course....I would expect if its going to happen to anyone it will happen to me. Its a tiny pill, so I am sure it is going down. But my first reaction is to eat a piece of bread to make sure its down. But of course...you can't eat for 30 minutes so thats out of the question.

Oh well....if I can handle the football size calcium pills that I am taking, and they aren't getting stuck, then I am sure this little bitty thing isn't getting stuck either.

Thanks again for the info Karen. I should get some Gaviscon to have on hand just in case. So they foam up do they??? Memories of that candy called fizz that used to do the same thing!
Hugs
Maria
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Actonel

I've been on Actonel 30 mg once a week for 3 weeks. This dose is not yet approved by the FDA for osteo, BUT it is used for Paget's disease (a bone disease) and is, in fact, prescribed by a lot of docs for osteo. My endocrinologist, who specializes in osteo, says the once-a-week dose of Actonel is LESS likely to cause GI issues than the daily 5 mg dose. He says this based on Fosomax studies, which show the weekly dose is better in that area.

I already had GERD and GI problems beforehand. The first week after trying Actonel I had severe constipation and stool that looked like spaghetti (sorry for the graphics). But that has eased a lot. There's some evidence of GERD and heartburn (which, frankly, the doc is a bit concerned about), but I'm hoping it will improve as the body adjusts.

KDeit, you said you already had severe reflux. How are you doing on the Fosomax now? It is said that Actonel is often easier on the GI tract than Fosomax.

I understand that you need LOADS of calcium (at least 1200 - 1500 mg daily) + vit D as these drugs take calcium from your system and put them into the bones. It's also important not to take calcium or antacids at the same time as the drug because they interfere with absorption. I wait at least 5 hours. I also remain standing for at least an hour after taking the Actonel, as that's better than sitting, according to the pharmacist. No big deal, I just read the newspaper standing up. I take 8 oz of plain water with the pill and continue to drink plain water afterwards.

Has anyone suffered headaches from these drugs? I also have a history of migraines, so it's hard to tell. On 2 of the 3 times I've taken the weekly Actonel, I've had a big-time headache starting the next day. But again, it could be coincidence. Time will tell.

trackgal

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Hi Trackgal!
I didn't realize they made a once a week Actonel. I am on the daily and haven't had any problems with it. Almost 3 months now. My biggest thing is having to wait 30 min. for my coffee in the morning, but I saw my Gyn Monday and she said I could switch to taking it a few hours after supper provided I would be remaining up for another few hours after taking it.

But, I think I will probably stick to the morning dose as its really not so bad and I am used to it now. I just usually take it, drink my water and come to the site for a half hour, then have my coffee and get dressed for work.

I am on the high dose calcium daily as well. 1500 mg. and Vit D. I did read that this med should not be taken at the same time as the vitamins, so I usually take half my vitamins around 7:30 before leaving for work and the other half when I get home before eating.

I will be interested to see if the once a week pill comes becomes available here in Canada and I would be very interested in that.
I didnt' have any problem with constipation with it so far. Mind you I am taking Magnesium along with the calcium and that helps alot with the constipation, as I tend to suffer from that a bit anyway.

I haven't had any headaches, but as you say you suffer migranes and that may have something to do with it as well I suppose.

Best of luck with it. It will be great when all of us that are on this and the fosamax start having the bone density tests again to see how its working. I dont' expect to have one until at least next fall.

Keep us posted on how you are doing on it!!
Holiday Hugs
Maria

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Actonel once a week

Maria951,

I'm sure the 30 mg-dose of Actonel is available in Canada because it is used to treat Paget's disease. It's not yet FDA-approved here in the US for osteo, but lots of docs are prescribing it for that, and it's expected to be approved soon. If you're interested, talk to your doc about it.

BTW, my pharmacist says that the longer you wait before taking food & meds the better the Actonel absorbs. MOST of it is absorbed in the first 1/2 hour to hour, but there's more that can be absorbed within the first 3 hours. The longer you can hold out the better. That's another reason why the once-a-week dose is easier to deal with.

Best wishes,
trackgal
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Hi again Trackgal,
Thanks for the additional info. I will look into it. If its not approved yet for osteo that may be the reason she didn't perscribe it for me. You know...different doctor, different ways of thinking etc.
Thats also good to know about the longer you go without eating the better it works. I don't eat breakfast and most days I don't eat lunch either, so I guess mine should be working to full potential then.
Thanks again for the added info!!

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Hi Maria & Trackgal,

I have a bone density scan scheduled for January 9th and I am very anxious to see whether there is a difference after being on Fosamax for over a year. (Well, I actually started out on the once a day Actonel, but switched from that to the Fosamax once a week.) I'll be sure to let you know as soon as I get the results.

Trackgal, you asked about my reflux. I've had severe reflux since 1993 and have been on Prevacid or Prilosec (whichever was on the insurance company formulary at the time) for all that time. SInce I was taking the Actonel everyday, as opposed to once a week for the Fosamax, I can't truthfully say that one is less apt to aggravate the reflux than the other, with the exception of saying that once a week is easier to deal with than every day. I also did not know that the Actonel could be taken once a week. Thank you for that information.

Maria, is it getting any easier for you to swallow the pill?

I've been reading posts almost every day, but haven't participated as much lately - I don't seem to have the energy that I had hoped to have by now (almost 4 months post-op). I had gone back to my GYN 3 times, telling her I had pain and a discharge. She kept saying it wasn't anything to worry about. On the 3rd visit, after checking my urine, her nurse told me "you STILL have an infection". I said, STILL????? They finally put me on antibiotics, and I am beginning to feel more like myself.

I'm also looking for a new GYN.

Happy Holidays.

Karen

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Article on once-a-week Actonel

Here's an article on once-a-week Actonel at 35 mg:

http://www.pslgroup.com/dg/20d8fa.htm

Also, if you do a search on any search engine (Yahoo, Google, etc), you can find more.

The 35 mg dose is not yet available (I believe) -- It was used in a study. But the 30 mg dose is available. It is generally used for Paget's disease DAILY, but lots of docs prescribe it once a week for osteo. This is called off-label prescribing, I believe. (It's legal.) Clearly the FDA will very likely approve the once-a-week dose soon, though it may be 35 mg rather than 30 mg.

KDeit, do you actually get irritation from Fosomax or is the GERD under control? I switched to Nexium recently from Protonix. I'd also used Prilosec and Prevacid before. Nothing wrong with any of these PPIs, it's just that they tend to stop working after a few months, at least in my case.

trackgal

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Hi Karen,
Good to hear from you!! I am so excited for you to have your next BD test. I hope there is a noticable difference. I am sure there will be after a year.

Yes the pill is easier to swallow now. Its a mind thing I think, as I know that its important to have lots of water with it, and I was feeling like it wasn't going down. But I am doing really well on it. No problems so far.

Please let us know as soon as you can when you get the results. I will be very anxious to hear.

I am so sorry you haven't been feeling well since your surgery Karen. I hope your energy picks up for you. You know what they say, it can take a good year before you have complete energy back. I am 14 months post, and I can honestly say I tire more easily than I ever did. You may want to visit the Road forum and see if anyone else is going through something similiar Karen.

All the best, and I hope you have a wonderful holiday season!!
Holiday Hugs
Maria

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Improvement on Fosamax!!

I have been on Fosamax for a little over a year now and had another bone density test last week. The results show that I have made a slight improvement in the last year and my doctor wants to keep me on the Fosamax.

When I was diagnosed, I was told that the osteoporosis was pretty bad in my lower spine, so this is really good news, and it's worth the slight bit of discomfort that the Fosamax causes.

I originally started out on Actonel but switched to the once a week pill that Fosamax came out with.

I hope everyone else is doing as well as I am on this medication.

Karen

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I know you got my email...but I wanted to say it again here.......

Great news Karen!!!

This makes taking this stuff all worth while, hearing results like this!! I was thinking...I wonder if there is a certain time limit that they want us to take this for...like....3 or 5 years or something. I would think at some point it would get as good as its going to get and then we would stop taking it I suppose. I must write that question down for the gyn when I see her in June.

Thats really encouraging Karen. Thanks so much for sharing your good news with all of us!!!
Hugs,
Maria

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Thanks, Maria, for the encouragement!!

I am seeing a new GYN today and I'll try to remember to ask that question while I'm there.

If we quit taking it in a few years, I wonder if the new bone will start to deteriorate, too, like the old bone?

I'll e-mail you soon. Hope work isn't as today for you.

Karen

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