Get Informed: Fosamax

Question/Comment:

There is a very valuable blood test that will tell you if you have sufficient levels of vitamin D. Go for the best test - your doctor should know what it is. There is now some significant research that shows the value of D levels. What does this have to do with Fosamax? I am reading a lot here about people taking calcium and vitamin D to alleviate their osteoporosis issues. You need to know if you are actually getting enough or if your body is metabolizing these supplements.

There is also another factor - magnesium. You simply will not metabolize your calcium without a lot of magnesium. What is added to a multi vitamin is not enough. Therefore, you can be taking all the calcium in the world but may not be metabolizing it well. You cannot take magnesium at the same time as Fosamax or Synthroid. Take the magnesium at bedtime. It will help you sleep also. It also has been advised for people with migraines.

I am the exception to everything written. I was taking 1500 - 2000 mg of calcium plus 800 mg. of magnesium per day and had an amazing bone loss in one year anyway. I have now added vitamin D (even though I live in Florida) and Fosamax. I will see in 6 months if I improve at all. I also get a fair amount of weight bearing exercise. Some of us need extraordinary measures to stem bone loss. Don't assume anything. Get the tests done and watch it carefully.

Do your research online. There is plenty written about vitamin D, calcium and magnesium. You can Google the combination of the three and probably will get a lot of information. Do not rely on your doctor to provide this info. Once I asked him, he agreed that I needed the blood work for vitamin D but never offered it. A great, well informed person at an independent health food store also can be a great resource as can your pharmacist.

Thanks to everyone for their information posted here. It has been helpful to me.

Question/Comment:

I was prescribed 20mg Alendronic acid by a member of my endocronologist's team because of pain in my lower back caused by degenerative bone desease which is a result of a hormone defeciency. I was on it for about 4 months and was very pleased with the initial results in that it took the debilitating stabbing back pain completely away. After another appointment at the hospital and after seeing my actual doctor she advised me to come off the alendronate because of possible side effect of jaw desease and her insistance that the pain relief after taking the medication was merely a coincidence. I was worried about this but i did not want the pain to come back as it always drained me of mental energy but i agreed to stop the alendronate and insisted i would go back on it if the pain returned. within a week the pain returned and i couldnt get hold of my doctor at the hospital (2 calls no return calls) so i contacted my gp who advised me to start taking it again which i did as the pain was getting worse again. The pain again disappeared and after seeing another different doctor at the hospital 3 months later i was again advised to stop it and the side effect were explained to me.
Well now i am pain free in my back but am starting to get aches in my jaw and slight throbbing in areas of my mouth were i have had teeth removed. I am now in a quandry as to what to do stop the alendronate and have back pain again or continue taking it and risk getting some sort of jaw desease? i think im probably going to stop taking it so as not to create more problems!!!
43yr old male

Question/Comment:

I've been taking alendronic acid now for two years. Over the last year I have suffered pain in my legs with twitching and cramps both day and night. More recently I've had muscualr and bone pain throughout my body which is worse in my back. All these symptoms are worsened by exercise. I also have occasional palpitations at night. My hair has thinned and I have night sweats.

I was prescribed the medication for osteoporis found when I broke my ankle. I had an early menopause in my twenties with was probably the cause.

I've also reacted badly to other osteoporosis medications such as Raloxifene.
Any advice would be welcomed.

Answer/Reply:

I am no longer taking Femera

Question/Comment:

I have been given a prescription for alendronate because I was prescibed predisinole steroids for polymyalgia rheumatica. I am really scared to take it after reading about side effects. How quickly can oesteoporosis take a hold when on steroids - I will be on them for 6 months I started on 20mg then 15mg then 10mg slowly decreasing the dose to 5mg per day for a further 6 months. I would like to hear your opinion.
Gloria

Question/Comment:

I took Fosamax for 4 years, until I had to have a tooth extraction, My dentist expressed a great reluctance to do it. He said that due to the Fosamax, an extraction had the possibility of leading to necrosis of the jaw. The deed was done, and I am alright. I've had several other dentists express the same fear. My personal physician was unaware of the potential risks when she prescribed it. After doing some research, she stopped prescribing biphosphonates. I have found information re: the connection between Fosomax and necrosis of the jaw on the internet. I don't understand why this info is largely not known to the general public. I am hoping I can find another drug that will treat my osteoporosis safely.
70 yr. old female

Answer/Reply:

I have been on Fosamax for approx 8-10 yrs. I have severe joint & muscle pain but chalk the pain up to all the chemotherapy treatments I had 4 yrs ago. My dentist also showed concerns about possible necrosis of the jaw if any tooth extraction was needed. She advised me that the benefits of Fosamax outweigh the negative effects and commented that even if I discontinued using the drug, it would still be in my system for years afterward. It is my dentist's belief that she will save a tooth even if she has to perform a root canal to prevent any possibility of jaw necrosis due to tooth extraction.

Answer/Reply:

I TOOK THE RED RICE YEAST AND WAS TOLD NOT TO TAKE THIS ANYMORE- THEN I WAS TOLD TO TAKE GEMFIBROZIL FOR CHOLESTROL. I TOOK THAT AND NOW MY MUSCLES ARE IN PAIN AND ARE WEAKER. WHAT CAN I DO TO IMPROVE MY STRENGTH? I NOW TAKE RED MEGA KRILL OIL. IM HOPING THIS WILL BE BETTER-IT SAYS ITS 3X BETTER THAN FISH OIL. AS FAR AS THE FISHY SMELL- FISH OIL IS ALSO SOLD WITHOUT ANY AFTERTASTE OR FISHY SMELL. I AM 70 YRS OLS
LYNN OF SPRING HILL,FLA.