Biophosphates

[CountAllVotes]

:hi:

Well, got the bone density test back. Seems I am shy of osteoporosis by .2. I barely still fit in the osteopenia range I was told.

The doctor wants me to start taking biophosphates now. I'm not real hot this idea for many reasons.

I have a very serious problem that prevents me from doing much as far as exercise goes and I cannot stand for much longer than 10 minutes without having to sit down.

My vitamin D level was 11. I am now taking 100,000 units of this a week with no ill effects (nor any noticeable effects).

I read about biophosphates messing up your stomach and sickening you badly and necrosis of the jaw is not something I real care to worry about. I have an aunt that took them briefly and she gave up on them because they sickened her so much.

I have few things going for me but the one thing I do have is a good set of teeth. I read that some dentists refuse to even clean the teeth of a patient that is taking biophosphates. (?)

I've noted that biophosphates have been in use since 1995 but they have no long term studies on them for use beyond 10 years and that they tend to pull you off of them after 5 years of use.

I'd really appreciate any info./advice that anyone here might care to share with me re: biophosphates and osteopenia/osteoporosis.

Thanks a lot!

CountAllVotes

[Warpy]

1. Biphosphonates are the gold standard for treating osteoporosis

There are two types of cell in bones, osteoblasts that form new bone and osteoclasts that destroy old bone. They're in balance in young adults.

The osteoclastic activity is higher in people with osteoporosis. The biphosphonates act to destroy osteoclasts and prevent them from destroying bone.

Most of the cases of necrosis of the jawbone have been in cancer patients receiving high doses of these drugs intravenously. Others have been associated with particular genes. That's why dental work is done on these patients before the infusion is given.

Since your activity is limited, your bone loss is likely to increase. Talk to your doctor about your concerns. He's your best guide in this.

[CountAllVotes]

2. thanks for the info. Warpy

thanks very much - it helps.

I don't know what I am going to do but one thing and that is research research research this whole thing.

I'm think it is quite complex!

[mopinko]

3. by all means get your vit d and calcium levels up to where they belong.

you can't rebuild your bones without them, anyway.
but i have been taking these things for quite a while. even though i do not take them any where near as often as i am supposed to, my bone density is now back in the normal range. i never had any side effects. just a hard time finding an hour with an empty stomach to take them.

i don't think people realize what happens to you when your bones start to go. we take them for granted. when we think about breaks, we think about our youth, and wearing a cast a while, then being fine. but it is not like that when we get older and other things are failing.
my mother basically died of osteoporosis. she broke her knee, and was barely able to get through rehab. then her hip broke. they fixed it, but she lost control of her right foot. so she had to give up driving. so she had to give up her apartment. and walk with a walker. her life got narrower and narrower, and she began to hate doctors. she got one of her cataracts repaired, but before she got to the other one, she had to have her gall bladder out. she swore off docs, and didn't get the other one done. soon that eye wandered off, and she couldn't do any of the things that kept her brain young. she gave up. she sat in her chair, and ate candy bars, or whatever else came along, because she started to forget what she had already eaten. she gained so much weight that she could barely move around. pretty soon, she was in a wheelchair in a nursing home, getting less with it by the day. when she had a massive stroke, it was a blessing.

yeah, i know there are a lot of dominoes in that run, but really, those falls started something that was going to end badly, no matter what.

take care of your bones.

[CountAllVotes]

4. thanks for the words mopinko

I'm doing the best I can which is all anyone can do. I managed to get out and walk yesterday and my hip is sore today. :(

However, my calcium levels are ok luckily.

Not sure what to think about this vitamin D thing BUT I am following the doctors recommendations.

I'm sorry to learn about your late mother. :(

Take care of yourself too! :hug:

[CountAllVotes]

5. mopinko

are you taking biophosphates or have you taken them? Please let me know (pm me if you wish).

I'm not certain which one the ones on the "list" is the best one to go with. ?????

Thanks!

[mopinko]

6. i think they are all pretty much the same. i have taken fosamax and actonel

the trouble with them is that you have to have an absolutely empty stomach, and wait an hour to eat. i have always had a hard time finding the right time to take it. i am on the once a week actonel right now, but when my current supply is used up i will go on the once a month.
i am almost back up to normal, tho, so i don't know how much longer i will be on it. have had the whole vit d thing also. hope to get up and keep it up.

good luck. pm if you need anything.