Forteo

• By sadgirl
• Reply 3457374
• October 14, 2012 at 12:05 pm
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hi there,

this is an informative place, but be careful - it's always best you speak with your dr., do your own research and maybe get a 2nd drs. opinion as well.....however, from years of personally dealing with osteo and trying to figure out what to do, i do know there's a great difference between the two...

1. forteo is the only medicine that will supposedly help 'build bone'

as opposed to bisphosphonates which:

2. supposdly help you 'maintain bone'

two completely different mechanisms - so it really depends on your scores and what you and your doctor are trying to achieve...

however, if you do forteo, they'll probably suggest bisphosphonates after the 2 year course to maintain whatever, and if any gains you achieve at all....(you can look up past discussions here on forteo too)

my dr initially wanted me to take bisphosphonates, but i fought her a long time thinking to myself i'll take it one day to build bone like the sally field commercial advertised years ago.....however, when i finally decided to take it because my scores dropped sooo low, my dr yelled at me and said 'bisphosphonates do not build bone!' (i guess that's why we don't see that sally field commercial anymore!)

at this point, after losing a great deal of bmd, my ONLY option now is to take forteo...

yes, i'm sure you'll get many responses from the supplement/diet/excercise route gang!....that's what i've done for years too thinking that maybe it will work - but things just got worse....(however, i do strongly suggest you review your supplement/diet/excercise routine because that will be just as important as whatever you ultimately decide to do....)

this is a great site with (i think) reliable info because it's from a medical school - so hopefully they should have the best and most up to date info:

http://courses.washington.edu/bonephys/index.html

good luck!

• By drugvictim
• Reply 3459357
• October 15, 2012 at 8:56 am
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Sadgirl is correct. I have been on most of all of the drugs and
My bone needed to be built so I have been
On Forteo for a year and it does build bone
My orthopedic surgeon can see it on
X-rays . I wish I had taken it in the beginning.
Depends on your needs but, don't wait
To treat it . Good luck !

• By chalk
• Reply 3460134
• October 15, 2012 at 1:28 pm
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Yes Mike good advice from both of them.
Forteo builds bones by raidly growing new bone.

Bisphosphonates maintain bone by slowing the resorption rates. This can cause bone to build up thus raising bone density scores and is a positive thing for a few years but after 5 years (the now cut off time) saving more bone isnt beneficial see: http://www.natap.org/2012/HIV/051712_03.htm.

Strontium renalate and probably in its citrate ( see: http://www.metadocs.com/pdf/pp_strontium.pdf) form both replace bone matrix calcium with strontium.

Every method has side effects for someone. Each studied method has been shown to reduce fractures. Each person must weigh their needs with their age and risk factors and medical health and personal goals.

Good luck to you.

• By Taxrose1
• Reply 3462409
• October 16, 2012 at 8:59 am
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I was on Actonel for 2 years. The first two years, my bone density showed improvement, but it started decliniing in the third year. That's when my doctor put me on Forteo.

The big problem with bisphosphonates is that the bone density is brittle and extended use of these drugs can cause spontaneous fractures of the femur. They can also lead to osteonecrosis (rotting of the bone). Here's a list of the many potential side effects.

http://orthopedics.about.com/od/osteoporosistreatment/p/bisphosphonatesidee ffects.htm

I refuse to take that drug anymore.

The Forteo works wonderfully well, but it too has a number of potential side effects:

http://saveourbones.com/forteo/

By the way, the saveourbones.com website has a wealth of information about osteoporosis and various treatments.