Actonel is another version of Fosomax. They are bone strengtheners, can have some rather unfriendly side-effects of stomach upsets, but so far so good over 2 years, and bone density has improved. Thanks for the tip Legendts!

The rvsupertramp site isn't helpful on this though.

-- Edited by Gerty Dancer on Thursday 14th of November 2013 04:41:32 PM

That's because post-menopausal women often have low bone density I guess HW. We get all the 'good' things.

Pejay wrote:

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I too was on Actonel for quite a few years with two yearly bone density checks, and although yes, there was improvement to start with, over the years it slowly got worse, and when my T score took a dive down to -3.56, the doc took me off it and started me on Protos. my bone density improved in my spine by 42% in one year - that was last year. It will be interesting to have it checked again on 4 Dec.

A few other 'tid-bits' I have picked up over the years is:
a) carbonated drinks minimise the effect of calcium in your system
b) calcium carbonate (the most popular form) doesn't really help all that much, and you need to get the calcium citrate. The ones I take are Wagner's Total Calcium Complete which has a high absorption rate and has added Vitamin D.
c) don't EVER agree to have any injections/pills that have in them/or based on cortisone - it leaches the calcium out of your system too.

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 It seems all drugs can cause problems, however as we live longer than ever on average, modern medicine gets my vote. BUT, always do your own research and get more than one opinion so you can make an informed decision for your own situation.  

I didn't know carbonated drinks did that, just as well I've never really liked them.

Actonel seems to have it's good points, but I get the impression long term use of any drug is not so good.

And as for cortisone, some years back the vet prescribed it for my old dog, with the warning that it would eventually kill him but in the mean time he would have no pain and think he was super-dog. Same day I was horrified when my mum phoned and said her doctor had diagnosed polymialgic rheumatica and prescribed cortisone for the pain. "Mum you can't take cortisone it will kill you"!  Her reply? "Well without it I wish I was already dead." It comes and goes and she doesn't use cortisone much these days,  I just wish that same doctor had warned her about bone density loss due to cortisone so that she would have known to use Actonel in conjunction with the cortisone.

And now that I am some years older I understand why she took the cortisone. I am currently on some rather heavy pain relief drugs myself, and although 10 years ago I would have said that's a bad thing, now I can only say it's better than begging the doctor for euthenasia!

Thanks Pejay, 3 weeks ago I was in so much pain that I really didn't care about possible side effects so long as I could take something to reduce the pain to a manageable level. But you're right, we should always get a second opinion and do our own research. Last Friday I went to see the doc and I asked her if the patches she had prescribed the week before could be causing my feet to swell and me to fall over a lot. She said No, and then gave me a referral for an injection in my spine which she maintained could do no harm but might cure all pain. Well, yesterday I went to the radiology people and asked if the referral was for a cortisone injection, which it was and which I'm not having. Then I went to the chemist and asked the pharmacist if the morphine patches could be making my feet swell and causing me to fall down a lot, and he said "definitely YES". So I checked the internet and guess what, they were also likely to cause depression. So needless to say I took the patch off. 24 hours later and I find the pain has settled to a manageable level (how could I know that without going without the patches?) And, the feet are not swollen, I can walk without collapsing, plus I realise now I was fuzzy headed and descending into depression!

To be fair, I needed something really strong for a couple weeks, but I'm damned if I know why the doc would just have me keep taking them without checking that it was still necessary.