Osteoporosis

[stephen212]

I recently had a bone densitometry test performed to establish a base line. It revealed, not surprisingly, that I am osteoporotic (though my doctor didn't qualify *how* osteoporotic).

I've been taking calcium supplements (which includes magnesium and Vit.D)and my says that I will need to consider medication to prevent -- or minimize -- further bone loss.

Is there a medication of choice? What are the side effects of this class of medicine? Any other issues to consider?

Thanks.

[smokey]

Constipation can be a side effect of calcium, though I take 500mg. of Os-Cal twice a day and it hasn't clogged me up at all.

[antiquity]

FDA Endorses Osteoporosis Treatment
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Federal regulators on Friday endorsed a natural bone-building hormone that appears to be an effective treatment for women with osteoporosis, the brittle bone disease that afflicts millions of older Americans.

Forteo, manufactured by Eli Lilly and Co. (NYSE:LLY - news), won the unanimous endorsement of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (news - web sites)'s advisory committee as a treatment for osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. The committee issued a 5-5 split vote on its recommendation as a treatment to increase bone mass in men with the disease.

``Today's review of Forteo by the FDA advisory committee is an important step in delivering on our promise to remain at the forefront of osteoporosis research and in providing innovative solutions for the millions of Americans who suffer from this disease,'' said John Lechleiter, Lilly's executive vice president for pharmaceutical products.

Forteo is a bone formation agent that work primarily to stimulate new bone formation by increasing the number and activity of bone-forming cells called osteoblasts.

A study published by The New England Journal of Medicine (news - web sites) in May showed that Forteo stimulated new bone formation, significantly lowered fracture risk and significantly increased bone mineral density compared with placebo in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis during an average of 18 months' treatment.

Forteo can be administered only by daily injections.

[SCI-Nurse]

Stephen - It is my understanding that persons with SCI have an initial onset of osteoporosis within the first few weeks of the injury. The condition tends then to stabilize. I have looked for my resource for that information as I wanted to confirm this, but haven't found it. The following site has extensive information on osteoporosis: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/osteoporosis.html For a discussion on the intake of supplements: http://www.mayoclinic.com/home?id=HQ00371 I will try to find more information for you. CRF

[Wise Young]

A number of drugs have been reported to prevent osteoporosis in older women and these may well work in spinal cord injury. Osteoporosis develops in bones that do not get stressed. Many studies (which I posted on Cando) have shown that the loss of calcium is invariably located only in the bones that do not get mechanical stress. This would suggest that it is not a lack of calcium or general hormonal deficit (although both of these can contribute to osteoporosis). In addition to trying out some of the newer drugs that have been reported to prevent or even reverse osteoporosis, I would suggest that you regularly put do some standing in one of several devices that are available and go to a swimming pool where you can exercise and get the legs to move and bear some weight.

I don't have all the names of the drugs or the devices in front of me and so I will post them later.

Wise.

[SCI-Nurse]

Stephen - Go to the following link, http://www.osteo.org/osteolinks.html

Particularly look at the info on 'osteoporosis in men' and on 'weightlessness, bedrest and osteo' CRF

[SCI-Nurse]

Steve - I finally found the reference that I had cited in an earlier post. Go to www.craighospital.org (http://www.craighospital.org) Once on the site, click on 'health and wellness', then 'information to maintain your .....'. Scroll down to 'osteoporosis' for helpful info as it relates to SCI. CRF

[SCI-Nurse]

Be very careful about adding drugs such as Fosamax. If you take these drugs in a sitting or lying down position (or get in these positions within 1 hour after taking the medication) you may risk serious damage to or even rupture of your esophagas. For this reason we rarely use them in people with SCI.

Your physician may want to consider calcitonin nasal spray if you are interested in taking medication. The is no good research that shows these meds are actually effective in people with SCI though. (KLD)