hi ladies,
Does anybody take any meds for osteoporosis? I heard so many horror stories about them. My sister in law takes Boniva with no problems. I don't want to get brittle bones as I do have the start in one of my hips. I feel like I'm too young to start that crap (46) .
char

hi char i have osteoporosis in both my hips doctor gave me alendronic acid tablets she told me to take the tablet with lots of water and sit upright for 30min so the tablet did not get stuck that put me of stright away also adcal d3 chewable tablets 2 a day take care denise

2 years ago I had osteopenia in one area, at least that's what my dexascan indicated.

My GP is a really reasonable guy, but he whipped out his prescription pad, and I asked him if there was a way to avoid the meds, for now. He told me to up my calcium/vitamin D and try to find a way to get more exercise (sometimes a challenge for me because I have MS and can't walk long distances.) But we found an exercise machine I could use and I was recently retested, no problems at all were detected, so his advice worked.

However, I had researched the drugs, should I have had to go on one, and I found that miacalcin seemed the best fit for me. It's a nasal spray rather than a pill. I had a friend who had progressed to osteoporosis, and she had used that med and the osteoporosis had gotten much better.

Dawn,
Thanks for the info. I also have osteopenia in one hip. Doc wanted me on a med ( I can't think which one ). I said no not yet.
char

I had osteopenia. My doctor prescribed boniva. I took it once and suffered incredibly from severe bone pain. Subsequently I took a 1/60th dosage of fosamax for about 6 months before deciding against taking any of the medications. I started taking Bone Restore by Life Extension and Physician's Choice SuperCalMag -- and cured my osteopenia.
The meds can cause arrythmia which I now have - never had it before. I'm totally recommend vs. the meds.

Thanks edee. I think I will look into that...
char

Just answering the question, I'm 57 and was diagnosed with osteopenia at age 52. I've been taking Boniva ever since with absolutely no problems. I take it first thing in the morning on the 1st day of the month and then I stay upright for an hour while I shower and get ready for work, and then I can eat. Last year, after 4 years on Boniva, I had another bone scan and it indicated improvement. I also slowly jog 4 miles every day. I do not plan on stopping Boniva until my doctor advises me to; I feel that it has helped me when otherwise I would have proceeded into full osteporosis. My grandmother was forever falling and breaking something; her wrist, her hip, even her back. I would avoid that at all cost, and am grateful we now have medication available.