I looked into it...It is advertised, by the maker, for women who are menopausal. Also fairly expensive and I can't find it on my drug insurance formulary. It may not be covered.

I've been on generic Fosimax for 2-3 years...no problems.

I've been taking Fosamax, which will be 5 years, this coming August. No problem. Have been on the generic for almost 2 years.

What is the latest news and what's the source? Did the doctor suggest options to prevent further deterioration of your bones other than medication?

I've also been taking generic fosamax for a while without any difficulty. I'm an above knee amputee and have osteoporosis in my hip on the amputated side. I'm only 52 so I figure I face a lot of years at risk for a broken hip and probably a higher risk of falling as I get older.

I was a little concerned about the side effects as well and did quite a bit of research on this. In the end I decided based on my somewhat unique circumstances that the benefits of taking the medication outweighed the risks. My mother also had some osteoporosis in her spine and I would prefer to avoid that as well - though my spine is fine right now.

I was on Fosomax for a couple of years and in the meantime, QUIT SMOKING. New dr. in 2003 felt that Fosomax was too strong so switched me to Actonel. Last year my dexa-scan showed the osteopenia has reversed and that I am normal for my age (well my bones are LOL), so I'm off the Actonel for a year to see if there are any changes.

Not smoking (7 years) made all the difference in the world :-)

For gibby

Here is a link that might be useful: Wall Street Journal

I reversed almost all of my osteopenia diagnosis with weight bearing exercise 3X a week, quitting smoke 2.5 years ago, and making sure I get required calcium via diet and or supplements. I'm hoping next year's bone density scan is even better.
If you really don't want to take the drug, talk to your doctor about other measures, provided you are motivated to follow through. Good luck!

Gardenspice, I've had osteopenia a couple of years. Your advice looks good. I can't take Boniva or Actonel or Fosamax due to my kidney failure. But I can walk and exercise, so I'll ceretainly try your recommendation! Another thing any woman can do is take 1000 International Units of Vitamin D every day. Or spend 5-15 minutes a day in the sunshine.

I took Fosamax and got off it due to GERD. Then I found out I had Vitamin D deficiency. The dr. gave me an rx for 50,000 units of D to be taken once a week for six weeks and then once a month after that for six month. Went for a bone density and osteopenia is gone!!! Soooooo look in to checking your D level.

okwriter--the article cuts off after the first paragraph or so. Is there a way to see the whole thing?

Thanks everyone for your responses. I have never smoked and thought I was getting enough calcium and exercise. My Vit D leveled was checked recently and was normal. This all came about as a result of a fall in the snow this winter that left me with a broken wrist. I certainly don't want anymore broken bones, but I'm conflicted about which if any medication to take. I've started to increase my walking and weight bearing exercises. Insurance will only pay for a bone density test every 2 years so a lot of time has passed if exercise is not working!
Thanks again, Whistle

Jannie - thanks. I just re read my response and have to correct myself - I wrote "all" and should have written "reversed most". My doctor was very enthusiastic. You and vavagal also reminded me about he vitamin D - very important supplement and I used to be deficient. I want to believe that the exercise makes the most difference, but maybe that's just to keep myself going to the darn gym!

okwriter - thanks for the link - very helpful. It sounds like there's an hypothesis but no conclusive scientific evidence. It does definitely make you think twice about taking it for more than four years though. But then it also makes me wonder - would you really be any worse off if you took it? You break your hip if you don't or you break your femur if you do? Fortunately my doctor's strategy seems to be two years and then we'll see. Unfortunately it's pretty difficult for me to do any weight bearing exercise on my right hip and though I walk 45-60 minutes several times a week my right hip bears no weight during walking. Oh well, it's the price I pay for having survived cancer that was supposed to kill me about 32 years ago - long term survivor side effects as they say.

I take the generic of fosamax now, have for years, used to take fosamax and then it changed to the generic.

I have had no problem at all.

Make sure you drink lots of water with it and wait to eat anything afterwards.

I was also told to take 3 pills a day of calcium plus large dose of vitamin d.

Now they are saying that everyone should from babies to elderly a daily vitamin d.

I have osteopenia but won't take any drug for it. I have bad side effects from any drug. I remember how I was told Prempro was a Godsend, and I took it for almost a decade only to find out it caused many health problems that it was supposed to prevent. I need another density test, but I take 2000 units of Vit D a day, walk the dog 2 miles and walk the treadmill for 2 and 1/2 miles and do a little weight training.

I took Fosamax for several years. Stopped taking it when I experienced a femur fracture and needed surgery to repair it. Then I took Forteo for 2 years (injectable), now I'm taking Boniva. Probably need a bone density test in another year.

There have been rumblings about Fosamax causing bone fractures--how could a drug help with bone density and cause fractures??????? But there have been no definitive studies or proof that this is true.

Who knows if these drugs help or do more damage with side effects? I feel like a guinea pig, but I'm afraid not to take these meds. The dr. also advised me to take 2000 iu of Vitamin D a day. so I do that as well.

I was given the dx of osteopenia in my hips 5 yeats ago. I was put on Actonel and later switched to Fosomax. I have sinced quit the meds due to stomach problems. I recently heard the following on NPR. Take a listen. I'm sure we can look at this issue from all different sides. The more we know the better off we are.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=121609815

sooey