I had a bad side effect with fossomax (sp?) and now my Dr. has me on Evista. These drugs do worry me, but so does losing bone density. Wish I knew how to advise you, or myself!

I've been on fosamax now the generic for 4 years. I had a 33 per cent improvement in my bone density scan last spring.

Part of the improvement I attribute to using the machines at the Y, for almost two years.

Never had any side effects from fosamax/generic one.

I know several women who have taken them for years without any major problems.

I am on boniva. No real improvement in 3 years.

But, who knows, how it would be without????

Moni

PS, no problems as far as side effects.

thank you ladies. I exercise, walk, do weights, I really thought it would be the same. I've worked hard!
guess chemo doesn't help.

thanks! when I get the energy I'll let you know what I
found out at the bone marrow transplant center. ONe of the top ones in the US... world

Here is a link that might be useful: here's where I went associated with the U of W and Fred Hutchinson

Most people on these drugs never have any side effects at all. But the only people one hears from are the one who do have a bad reaction in some way. They are vocal, and rightly so, but they are a small minority of the patients on a particular drug.

Discuss the side effect rates with your doctor, and you may be surprised at how low the percentage is. It's much, much more likely you'll have no side effects, than it is you will have any.

Kat, I won't take the bisphosphonates either.

My doctor suggested Evista. It mimics the effects of estrogen without the side effects of the bisphosphonates. In addition to the treatment of osteoporosis it is also prescribed to reduce the risk of breast cancer, which was a double bonus for me as both my mother and grandmother are, and were, breast cancer survivors.

The only side effect my doc cautioned me about was hot flashes. I do get minor ones, but not enough to outweight the benefits.

You might want to research it as an alternative.

"Raloxifene is used to prevent and treat osteoporosis (condition in which the bones become thin and weak and break easily) in women who have undergone menopause (change of life; end of menstrual periods). Raloxifene is also used to decrease the risk of developing invasive breast cancer (breast cancer that has spread outside of the milk ducts or lobules into the surrounding breast tissue) in women who are at high risk of developing this type of cancer or who have osteoporosis. Raloxifene cannot be used to treat invasive breast cancer or to prevent invasive breast cancer from coming back in women who have already had the condition. Raloxifene also cannot be used to decrease the risk of developing non-invasive breast cancer. Raloxifene is in a class of medications called selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs). Raloxifene prevents and treats osteoporosis by mimicking the effects of estrogen (a female hormone produced by the body) to increase the density (thickness) of bone. Raloxifene decreases the risk of developing invasive breast cancer by blocking the effects of estrogen on breast tissue. This may stop the development of tumors that need estrogen to grow."

I used to take fosamax and now take it's generic equivalent - 7-8 yrs on this. I also eat calcium with Vit D along with a separate Vit D tablet daily. I life weights.

My bone density has improved. I've never had any side effects.

I've also known 3 80-85 yr old women who have broken their hips and then within 1 yr, die of related causes.

I'll take the risk with the meds and, no, I don't want to live forever.

I saw on TV last night there was an ad calling for anyone who had major problems with bone loss drugs to call a certain phone number. They listed several drugs Boniva being one of them. I am suppose to be on them but won't take them. My arthritis doc wanted me to take a shot that was suppose to last 4 months but my reg doc said no. She said if you are allergic to it, we can't get it out of your system. She did want me on a daily but I wouldn't take it.

When they first started the high doses of calcium for bone loss, a scientist on TV said that you can't replace bone loss. You can prevent it, but you have to start taking it in your 30's.

thank you.
I will be taking chemo for a while. I don't have breast cancer. But it really does a number on your bones. And if I have the bone marrow transplant, they want, need my bones to be strong. I feel like I don't really have a choice if I want to live. I'd sure like to make it to my sixties! at least! lol

thank you Tally, I will talk to the doctor about that.
The bone marrow transplant doctor told me twice, making
sure I understood him. He said I HAVE to take something.
. m
, I have chemo again on 4-7 and I will also talk with my
my oncologist.

I've taken for a couple years with no problem other than some pain in my elbow bone - the part that hits the desk if I lay my arm on it. I stopped taking it for three months and this improved. I resumed taking and it's still better. As with any medication you have to weigh the risk benefit ratio. I have osteo in my right hip - long term side effect of having an above knee amputation to treat a sarcoma many years ago. I'm only in my early fifties and I'm very active and want to remain so. I've personally known several people who've had devastating impact of broken hips. No thank-you - I'll take my chances with the medication particularly since I may have many years at risk. I also have a friend who took it for 10 years - osteo also due to previous cancer treatment - and she had no problems with it.

I took Fosamax for years, then a 2-year stint on injectable Forteo, now I'm on Boniva. The doctor suggested that I switch to Evista (which as Tally says helps protect against breast cancers), but I said "no" because side effects include blood clots in legs and lungs, and stroke. These are not common side effects. The cardiologist told me if I switch to Evista, then I would need to be sure to take baby aspirin. Maybe I'll switch to Evista later.

All these bone drugs are fairly new, and I feel like a real guinea pig (squeek squeek!), but I am afraid to take nothing.

Kat, you have to talk with your doctors to figure out which one is best for you. If you want to see a specialist, that would be an endocrinologist. Good luck with all this. You'll want to be tested for vitamin D and calcium and take supplements for that as well if needed.

I send you a big hug for working so hard to take care of yourself. Good thing you are near to world class medical care.

I will not take any of these because of potential side effects. I took prem-pro for 10 years because it was touted to be the drug that did everything..heart health, bone health, a slight risk of breast cancer but negligible. Turns out it was none of these and I stopped cold turkey. With these bone drugs there're chances of esophageal cancer and weakness and breakage of the biggest bone on the body..the thigh bone.When I had my mammogram last summer, a heel scan said it said had gone from osteopenia to normal. This is because I have increased my exercise from two miles and day to four miles plus 30 reps in weight lifting. In December I will have full scan to see if it's still working.

Years ago, California GP prescribed Fosomax for osteopenia and insisted to QUIT SMOKING, which I did right then. We moved to NY couple of years later and new GP said that Fosomax was too strong, and prescribed Actonel. Took that for several years and with that, calcium, then had a normal DexaScan for my age two years ago. Stopped taking Actonel to see what results would be, and I am still normal for my age group. I had two minor falls this winter, one knee each, but no harm done :-)

diet is everything...but i'd really sit down with the doc and go over everything you can...

know there are some law suits on tv, that mention fosamax...but it could go back to when the drug was introduced in the 90's...

it kind of scares me, but since i'm on ferama (anti hermone) have kidney problems, i have to rely on my prescribed vit d, minus calcium! pray those 33 days of radiation don't do more damage...

kat you seem to hae a really good rapport with your oncologist...are they involved in this?

I took Actonel for as long as you can--there is a time limit. My bone density improved. I have taken Evista for about 10 years now, b/c I am a breast cancer survivor. I've never had any bad side effects for either. I had a tooth pulled recently and my dentist said I had some really strong jaw bones.

gibby, try laying a folded hand towel where you lay your elbow. I am allergic to the finish on my desk and the towel takes care of the problem and is very comfortable to rest my arms on.

Kat, I just want you to know I continue to keep you in my healing thoughts and prayers.

I have some bone loss, probably due to many years of strong steroids for asthma flare-ups before Advair. I've had two ordinary kidney stones and a staghorn calculus (surgical removal). I have two hip replacements. I'm 70.

MD's have mentioned the bone loss, but nobody has pushed me to take anything for it. I just do what I can by exercising and maintaining healthy weight and diet.

I'm very skeptical about the 'drug du jour', having had the same prem-pro experience as lilly and many others; having three benign-result breast biopsies; being over-diagnosed and 'scanned' practically to death!

Well, my mother has been on fosomax for 20(?) years or so and has maintained her bone strength. She has lost over the years about 7-8 inches and had quite a few hairline fractures, mostly in her back or hip, previous to taking the drug. After her heart surgery five years ago she had several fractures in her back, due I think, to having her arms open and pinned down during that long surgery--she also had to go off fosomax at that time. It has been a terrific drug for her and so far hasn't caused a fracture in her leg.