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ABC News report: Fosamax can cause needless fractures

I hate to say "I told you so," but for years here at the Center for Better Bones, I've said that Fosamax and similar drugs had the potential to actually make bones weaker. This is because these strong bisphosphonate medications dramatically reduce both bone breakdown and bone formation, and thus can lead to the creation of "static" or "adynamic" bone — bone that is not capable of healing and renewing itself. I've seen cases of this myself. One was my client Carol, who had been using Fosamax for several years. One day, she simply twisted around, lost her balance, and fell to the floor. From this simple fall, Carol shattered her upper leg bone.

Now enough cases of such needless fractures related to long-term bone medication use have been collected that they've gotten the attention of the national news media. If you missed it, here's a link to Diane Sawyer's report on ABC News describing the risk of fractures associated with long-term bisphosphonate use.

There is a better way. A natural approach to bone healththat works with and not against the body's healing abilities can not only rebuild weak bones into bones that are stronger and more flexible, it can also support total health. If you or someone you care about is considering or already taking Fosamax or similar medications, please take the time to review our section on Rethinking Osteoporosis to learn more about supporting your bones with nutrition and healthful living.

 

We created the Osteo Blast blog as our forum to express opinions and educate the public about natural means of supporting and improving bone health and overall wellness. As part of this forum, we sometimes discuss medical issues and medications, and their effects on bone health in general. However, we cannot advise readers about specific medical issues in this forum. If you wish to obtain advice from Susan E. Brown, PhD, about your specific bone health and nutritional concerns, please visit our Consultations page. Other specific medical questions should be referred to your healthcare provider.

March 10, 2010 09:53
Bone Fractures | Drug Therapy  |  Comments (5)

Comments

March 13. 2010 09:05

Susan,

You are the first one I thought of when I saw this on TV about Fosamax.  You are doing such a good thing for people. Keep up the good work.  Hope all is well with you and all of your staff.  Say hello to everyone.  We sold the house in NY and now we are in Florida.  The sunshine in Florida has to be helping my Vitamin D levels!  Gotta love that sunshine.

Hedy

Hedy

March 14. 2010 21:44

Susan, yours was the first website I thought about when hearing about effects of Fosamax on the ABC broadcast. When my bone density test showed continued decline on weekly Fosamax, my trusted primary care physician sent me to a highly acclaimed rheumatologist for consultation. The specialist took me off Fosamax, and prescribed Forteo because of its bone-building effects. I was very hesitant about this and spent time online learning all I could about my condition. I kept coming back to the Better Bones site, because it was the most logical, balanced, and believable of those I found. I printed off various pages and took them to the specialist who continued to urge me to go with Forteo. I pushed down my negative reactions and thought I'd try it. I have completed 4 doses of the drug (28 days each) and then stopped, two weeks ago (before ABC news reported on long term effects of Fosamax).

I see the specialist again this week, and intend to again bring some of the things I've learned on your website to his attention. I am also stopping Forteo and intend to do what I should have done all along -- follow the urging of my spirit to take a natural approach to healing my body.

I do have one question: After 5 years on Fosamax (I started taking once a day and after about 2 years switched to once weekly) and 102 days on Forteo, what is the likelihood that I can undo the harm I've already done my body and return to a place where my bone is doing what it should be doing -- renewing itself naturally?  I am 65 years old, have always been active, am not overweight, and am committed to doing whatever I can to reverse the effects of these drugs.

After talking with the specialist this week, I intend to enroll in the "Repair" program.  Thank you for everything you are doing to help us take control of our medical decisions.

Carol

March 26. 2010 16:45

Hi Hedy,
Good to hear from you.  Remember to have your vitamin D levels checked from time to time, even though you now live in sunny Florida. Just today I spoke with an long-term client of mine whose vitamin d has slipped from 50 ng to a dangerously low 21 ng while living in the sunshine state.  Love, Susan

Susan Brown

April 18. 2010 10:54

Hi Carol,
Good to hear from you. I would not worry about any damage done from the bone drugs, but rather I would see my bones and resilient and look forward.  Be sure to ask for a complete osteoporosis work-up to help uncover any hidden causes of bone loss, also do all the steps to our Better Bones Program and then test for success.  If our program does not halt bone loss we would move onto stronger steps, often looking at the European therapies.
Best wishes, Susan

Susan Brown

May 19. 2010 21:02

Susan, I have a company called NYKNYC . I design and market weighted vests for women.I recently had my company mentioned an article on my weight vest in Readers Digest , response was huge in fact we sold out several times already and are currently on back order with a waiting list for our vests.
Many of our customers have osteoporosis and osteopenia and their physicians sent them to us at NYK for our weight vest, which is basically geared for a womans body, not unisex like many out there on the market. I speak to many women each day who have osteoporosis and These women are really trying to find natural ways to get better or at least to not get worse! None of them want to take the drugs on the market out there and many have had bad reactions to the drugs! These women are searching for information on how to strengthen bones naturally and the doctors mostly push dangerous drugs as they make big money on the drugs, and do not have much else to offer these women ( and men)
Your site is Fantastic!! There is nothing like it out there and I am going to run off copies of various articles that you have compiled on your site and include them with our NYKNYC weight vest when we send them out to customers.
This info that you have on your site is so important for everyone and I want to thank you for the site and all the good work you do to help women understand bone health and how the body works.
All THE BEST!!!

Rene Lynch

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