NATIONAL OSTEOPOROSIS FOUNDATION
Reply: ProliaDear Bowm0052, In addition to the healthy foods and nutrients you...
Dear Bowm0052,
In addition to the healthy foods and nutrients you mentioned, it's very important that you get 1,000 milligrams of calcium and 400 - 800 international units of vitamin D every day. Since you have experienced bone loss, you might also ask to have your vitamin D levels checked to see if you need more vitamin D. Here are links to detailed information on these topics:
www.nof.org/aboutosteoporosis/prevention/calcium
www.nof.org/aboutosteoporosis/prevention/vitamind
Treating bone loss in young premenopausal women is complicated. That's why it's important that you work closely with a qualified healthcare provider, such as an endocrinologist, who has experience treating osteoporosis in younger women. You mentioned that your hormone levels are low, so you might also think about seeing a knowledgeable reproductive endocrinologist.
All of the FDA-approved drugs currently available are approved for use in postmenopausal women and several are approved for men. Osteoporosis medications have mostly been studied in postmenopausal women since they are most often affected by osteoporosis. Because we have less information about the safety and effectiveness of osteoporosis medications in younger women, these medications should be used with caution in premenopausal women. You can read about the differences between Prolia and Reclast by visiting our website at www.nof.org/aboutosteoporosis/managingandtreating/medicinesneedtoknow . While these drugs are very different from one another, both are antiresorptive medications, meaning that they slow the breakdown of bone which helps to reduce the risk of fracture. These drugs have not been studied against each other in head-to-head trials. Therefore, they cannot be compared to each other to know if one works better. Their side effects differ and are described in the link provided.
You might want see if there are any clinical trials in your area studying premenopausal women with bone loss. You can look for trials at http://clinicaltrials.gov . Finally, you might benefit from reading NOF's information about bone loss in young adult women. This information is available at www.nof.org/aboutosteoporosis/whatwomencando/youngadultwomen .
I hope this information is helpful to you.View Thread
Thanks for your Reply!
NATIONAL OSTEOPOROSIS FOUNDATION
Thanks for your Reply!
NATIONAL OSTEOPOROSIS FOUNDATION
Reply: need help !If you need assistance for paying for your osteoporosis medicine,...
If you need assistance for paying for your osteoporosis medicine, here are some resources that may be able to help you:
The Patient Advocate Foundation
Visit www.copays.org or call (866) 512-3861
Partnership for Prescription Assistance (PPA)
Visit www.pparx.org or call (888) 477-2669
NeedyMeds
Visit www.NeedyMeds.com
In addition, if you haven't contacted the drug company that manufacturers your medication, they may also be able to help. Here is contact information for the drug manufacturer patient assistance programs:
(800) 521-8813 Actonel, Warner Chilcott
www.pgpharma.com/patient_assistance.shtml
(888) 587-9438 Boniva, Genentech
www.rochereimbursement.com
(800) 545-6962 Evista, Eli Lilly
www.lillycares.com
(877) 214-3475 Forteo, Eli Lilly
www.lillycares.com
(800) 245-5356 Miacalcin, Novartis
www.patientassistancenow.com
(877) 776-5421 Prolia, Amgen
www.proliaplus.com
(800) 245-5356 Reclast, Novartis
www.patientassistancenow.com
*Merck no longer offers financial assistance for Fosamax due to the availability of generic versions. Upsher-Smith also does not offer financial assistance for Fortical.View Thread
Thanks for your Reply!
NATIONAL OSTEOPOROSIS FOUNDATION
Reply: Forteo and Belly FatDear bjhidge56, We're not aware of this possible side effect from...
Dear bjhidge56,
We're not aware of this possible side effect from taking Forteo. I checked the drug's prescription insert, which includes a comprehensive list of side effects that were reported in the clinical studies, and I didn't see any reports of increased belly fat, weight gain, adiposity, etc. You should discuss your concerns with your healthcare provider. Your pharmacist is another excellent resource for any questions related to your medications.View Thread
Thanks for your Reply!
NATIONAL OSTEOPOROSIS FOUNDATION
Thanks for your Reply!
NATIONAL OSTEOPOROSIS FOUNDATION
Reply: What doctor do I see now?The National Osteoporosis Foundation may be able to help you. Please...
The National Osteoporosis Foundation may be able to help you. Please call us at 1-800-231-4222 and ask to speak to a Health Education Specialist. The best time to call is between the hours of 9 am and 5 pm, EST, Monday through Friday.View Thread
Thanks for your Reply!
NATIONAL OSTEOPOROSIS FOUNDATION
Thanks for your Reply!
NATIONAL OSTEOPOROSIS FOUNDATION
Reply: I have a Question concerning my Grandmother"Overt osteoporosis" is not a specific type of osteoporosis. Your...
"Overt osteoporosis" is not a specific type of osteoporosis. Your grandmother's doctor was most likely explaining that it is clear to him or her that she has osteoporosis. Since your grandmother has both osteoporosis and scoliosis, our new electronic publication Protecting Your Fragile Spine may be helpful to her. It's also important that she take steps to reduce her chance of falling , improve her balance and treat her osteoporosis . All of these steps can help your grandmother reduce her chance of breaking bones and improve her quality of life. For more helpful information related to osteoporosis, please visit www.nof.org and click on "About Osteoporosis."
We hope this information is helpful to you and your grandmother.View Thread
Thanks for your Reply!
NATIONAL OSTEOPOROSIS FOUNDATION
Institute of Medicine Recommendations for vitamin ...Yesterday, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) released updated...
Yesterday, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) released updated recommendations regarding calcium and vitamin D intake. IOM recommends 600 international units (IU) of vitamin D every day for most healthy adults under age 71 and 800 IU for healthy people age 71 and older. The updated IOM recommendations for vitamin D intake are sufficient for most healthy adults, however, some adults may need more. These include those with very little sun exposure (or who consistently wear sun screen or protective clothing), dark skin, osteoporosis, problems absorbing dietary fat or who are taking medicines that interfere with vitamin D.
This is an increase from the previous IOM recommendations that cited 200 to 400 IU per day for healthy adults under age 71 and 600 IU per day for those age 71 and older. Since 2008, NOF has recommended that healthy people age 19 to 49 get 400 to 800 IU of vitamin D every day; and that adults age 50 and older get 800 to 1,000 IU every day.
NOF's recommendations for daily intake remain higher than IOM's but fall well within the margin of safety.
The IOM report issued on November 30, 2010 set the safe upper limit for daily intake to be 4,000 IU. The IOM report did not address the vitamin D requirements for high risk individuals or those who require treatment. NOF strongly recommends that you consult with your healthcare professional for your particular requirements.
NOF applauds IOM for their comprehensive review of the evidence supporting their updated recommendations for vitamin D and calcium intake.
Read NOF's Bone Basics on Vitamin D to learn more by visiting
http://www.nof.org/sites/default/files/bonebasics/NOF_BoneBasics_VitaminD.p df
View Thread
Thanks for your Reply!
