My wife takes Fosamax plus and a chance comment from her doctor sent us searching. Apparently you only take it for five years then go off it for a similar period with bone density checks. She has been on it for nearly thirteen years!
I have added a couple of links on my message about it on www.rvsupertramp.com.au
Worth checking out and of course with your doctor if you're on this type of medication.
-- Edited by Legendts on Thursday 14th of November 2013 04:23:39 PM
-- Edited by Legendts on Thursday 14th of November 2013 04:27:37 PM
Gerty Dancer said
04:33 PM Nov 14, 2013
Actonel is another version of Fosomax. They are bone strengtheners, can have some rather unfriendly side-effects of stomach upsets, but so far so good over 2 years, and bone density has improved. Thanks for the tip Legendts!
The rvsupertramp site isn't helpful on this though.
-- Edited by Gerty Dancer on Thursday 14th of November 2013 04:41:32 PM
-- Edited by Gerty Dancer on Thursday 14th of November 2013 04:43:15 PM
Happywanderer said
12:27 AM Nov 15, 2013
Not sure what it is Jeff, but if it's a hormone replacement that could be true.
My sister was on one for well over 10 years when she found out it's not safe to do long term, so had to come off it.
Legendts said
12:30 AM Nov 15, 2013
Oh Master. (bow three times) it is to do with building bone density for osteoporosis sufferers.
Love your title HW.
Happywanderer said
12:50 AM Nov 15, 2013
I googled it Jeff. I see it is for post- menopausal woman, I was on the right track.
neilnruth said
01:39 AM Nov 15, 2013
That's because post-menopausal women often have low bone density I guess HW. We get all the 'good' things.
Pejay said
01:47 AM Nov 15, 2013
I too was on Actonel for quite a few years with two yearly bone density checks, and although yes, there was improvement to start with, over the years it slowly got worse, and when my T score took a dive down to -3.56, the doc took me off it and started me on Protos. my bone density improved in my spine by 42% in one year - that was last year. It will be interesting to have it checked again on 4 Dec.
A few other 'tid-bits' I have picked up over the years is:
a) carbonated drinks minimise the effect of calcium in your system
b) calcium carbonate (the most popular form) doesn't really help all that much, and you need to get the calcium citrate. The ones I take are Wagner's Total Calcium Complete which has a high absorption rate and has added Vitamin D.
c) don't EVER agree to have any injections/pills that have in them/or based on cortisone - it leaches the calcium out of your system too.
milo said
02:44 AM Nov 15, 2013
my dad is on that too, not sure how long he has been on it though..
Aus-Kiwi said
05:44 AM Nov 15, 2013
We seem to get low on magnesium also.. Seems a rotating script works best to reduce long term issues ???
Always consult Doctor ..
The dog lady said
07:09 AM Nov 15, 2013
Pejay wrote:
I too was on Actonel for quite a few years with two yearly bone density checks, and although yes, there was improvement to start with, over the years it slowly got worse, and when my T score took a dive down to -3.56, the doc took me off it and started me on Protos. my bone density improved in my spine by 42% in one year - that was last year. It will be interesting to have it checked again on 4 Dec.
A few other 'tid-bits' I have picked up over the years is: a) carbonated drinks minimise the effect of calcium in your system b) calcium carbonate (the most popular form) doesn't really help all that much, and you need to get the calcium citrate. The ones I take are Wagner's Total Calcium Complete which has a high absorption rate and has added Vitamin D. c) don't EVER agree to have any injections/pills that have in them/or based on cortisone - it leaches the calcium out of your system too.
It seems all drugs can cause problems, however as we live longer than ever on average, modern medicine gets my vote. BUT, always do your own research and get more than one opinion so you can make an informed decision for your own situation.
I didn't know carbonated drinks did that, just as well I've never really liked them.
Actonel seems to have it's good points, but I get the impression long term use of any drug is not so good.
And as for cortisone, some years back the vet prescribed it for my old dog, with the warning that it would eventually kill him but in the mean time he would have no pain and think he was super-dog. Same day I was horrified when my mum phoned and said her doctor had diagnosed polymialgic rheumatica and prescribed cortisone for the pain. "Mum you can't take cortisone it will kill you"! Her reply? "Well without it I wish I was already dead." It comes and goes and she doesn't use cortisone much these days, I just wish that same doctor had warned her about bone density loss due to cortisone so that she would have known to use Actonel in conjunction with the cortisone.
And now that I am some years older I understand why she took the cortisone. I am currently on some rather heavy pain relief drugs myself, and although 10 years ago I would have said that's a bad thing, now I can only say it's better than begging the doctor for euthenasia!
Pejay said
04:17 PM Nov 15, 2013
Hi Marianna,
Pete first pushed me to have bone density testing back in my 40's, and I have been having them ever since. His reasoning was that his mother was in absolute agony after cortisone injections that in turn leached the calcium out of her bones and her spine started crumbling. He did not ever want to see me go through that.
The dog lady said
05:16 AM Nov 20, 2013
Thanks Pejay, 3 weeks ago I was in so much pain that I really didn't care about possible side effects so long as I could take something to reduce the pain to a manageable level. But you're right, we should always get a second opinion and do our own research. Last Friday I went to see the doc and I asked her if the patches she had prescribed the week before could be causing my feet to swell and me to fall over a lot. She said No, and then gave me a referral for an injection in my spine which she maintained could do no harm but might cure all pain. Well, yesterday I went to the radiology people and asked if the referral was for a cortisone injection, which it was and which I'm not having. Then I went to the chemist and asked the pharmacist if the morphine patches could be making my feet swell and causing me to fall down a lot, and he said "definitely YES". So I checked the internet and guess what, they were also likely to cause depression. So needless to say I took the patch off. 24 hours later and I find the pain has settled to a manageable level (how could I know that without going without the patches?) And, the feet are not swollen, I can walk without collapsing, plus I realise now I was fuzzy headed and descending into depression!
To be fair, I needed something really strong for a couple weeks, but I'm damned if I know why the doc would just have me keep taking them without checking that it was still necessary.
Legendts said
11:18 PM Nov 20, 2013
Where have all the good family doctors gone.......buried from our experiences!
The dog lady said
08:01 AM Nov 21, 2013
You could be right. I recently visited Babinda and thought I'd lookup the great doc I used to see there when I lived at Battle Frere, found that he had died a few years back from cancer. Mum always told me life is not fair!
My wife takes Fosamax plus and a chance comment from her doctor sent us searching. Apparently you only take it for five years then go off it for a similar period with bone density checks. She has been on it for nearly thirteen years!
I have added a couple of links on my message about it on www.rvsupertramp.com.au
Worth checking out and of course with your doctor if you're on this type of medication.
-- Edited by Legendts on Thursday 14th of November 2013 04:23:39 PM
-- Edited by Legendts on Thursday 14th of November 2013 04:27:37 PM
Actonel is another version of Fosomax. They are bone strengtheners, can have some rather unfriendly side-effects of stomach upsets, but so far so good over 2 years, and bone density has improved. Thanks for the tip Legendts!
The rvsupertramp site isn't helpful on this though.
-- Edited by Gerty Dancer on Thursday 14th of November 2013 04:41:32 PM
-- Edited by Gerty Dancer on Thursday 14th of November 2013 04:43:15 PM
My sister was on one for well over 10 years when she found out it's not safe to do long term, so had to come off it.
Love your title
That's because post-menopausal women often have low bone density I guess HW. We get all the 'good' things.
A few other 'tid-bits' I have picked up over the years is:
a) carbonated drinks minimise the effect of calcium in your system
b) calcium carbonate (the most popular form) doesn't really help all that much, and you need to get the calcium citrate. The ones I take are Wagner's Total Calcium Complete which has a high absorption rate and has added Vitamin D.
c) don't EVER agree to have any injections/pills that have in them/or based on cortisone - it leaches the calcium out of your system too.
Always consult Doctor ..
It seems all drugs can cause problems, however as we live longer than ever on average, modern medicine gets my vote. BUT, always do your own research and get more than one opinion so you can make an informed decision for your own situation.
I didn't know carbonated drinks did that, just as well I've never really liked them.
Actonel seems to have it's good points, but I get the impression long term use of any drug is not so good.
And as for cortisone, some years back the vet prescribed it for my old dog, with the warning that it would eventually kill him but in the mean time he would have no pain and think he was super-dog. Same day I was horrified when my mum phoned and said her doctor had diagnosed polymialgic rheumatica and prescribed cortisone for the pain. "Mum you can't take cortisone it will kill you"! Her reply? "Well without it I wish I was already dead." It comes and goes and she doesn't use cortisone much these days, I just wish that same doctor had warned her about bone density loss due to cortisone so that she would have known to use Actonel in conjunction with the cortisone.
And now that I am some years older I understand why she took the cortisone. I am currently on some rather heavy pain relief drugs myself, and although 10 years ago I would have said that's a bad thing, now I can only say it's better than begging the doctor for euthenasia!
Pete first pushed me to have bone density testing back in my 40's, and I have been having them ever since. His reasoning was that his mother was in absolute agony after cortisone injections that in turn leached the calcium out of her bones and her spine started crumbling. He did not ever want to see me go through that.
Thanks Pejay, 3 weeks ago I was in so much pain that I really didn't care about possible side effects so long as I could take something to reduce the pain to a manageable level. But you're right, we should always get a second opinion and do our own research. Last Friday I went to see the doc and I asked her if the patches she had prescribed the week before could be causing my feet to swell and me to fall over a lot. She said No, and then gave me a referral for an injection in my spine which she maintained could do no harm but might cure all pain. Well, yesterday I went to the radiology people and asked if the referral was for a cortisone injection, which it was and which I'm not having. Then I went to the chemist and asked the pharmacist if the morphine patches could be making my feet swell and causing me to fall down a lot, and he said "definitely YES". So I checked the internet and guess what, they were also likely to cause depression. So needless to say I took the patch off. 24 hours later and I find the pain has settled to a manageable level (how could I know that without going without the patches?) And, the feet are not swollen, I can walk without collapsing, plus I realise now I was fuzzy headed and descending into depression!
To be fair, I needed something really strong for a couple weeks, but I'm damned if I know why the doc would just have me keep taking them without checking that it was still necessary.
You could be right. I recently visited Babinda and thought I'd lookup the great doc I used to see there when I lived at Battle Frere, found that he had died a few years back from cancer. Mum always told me life is not fair!