They're pumping Actonel for osteoporosis again.... won't these

[HysteryDiagnosis]

people ever quit poisoning Amurkans??? There are better ways... but then they are unpatentable.


http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic/risedronate_ad.htm

Table 5 Adverse Events Occurring at a Frequency ³2% and in More ACTONEL-Treated Patients than Placebo-Treated Patients Combined Phase 3 Osteoporosis Trials

Body System
Placebo % (N = 1914)
ACTONEL 5 mg % (N = 1916)

Body as a Whole

Infection
29.7
29.9

Back Pain
23.6
26.1

Pain
13.1
13.6

Abdominal Pain
9.4
11.6

Neck Pain
4.5
5.3

Asthenia
4.3
5.1

Chest Pain
4.9
5.0

Neoplasm
3.0
3.3

Hernia
2.5
2.9

Cardiovascular

Hypertension
9.0
10.0

Cardiovascular Disorder
1.7
2.5

Angina Pectoris
2.4
2.5

Digestive

Nausea
10.7
10.9

Diarrhea
9.6
10.6

Flatulence
4.2
4.6

Gastritis
2.3
2.5

Gastrointestinal Disorder
2.1
2.3

Rectal Disorder
1.9
2.2

Tooth Disorder
2.0
2.1

Hemic and Lymphatic

Ecchymosis
4.0
4.3

Anemia
1.9
2.4

Musculoskeletal

Arthralgia
21.1
23.7

Joint Disorder
5.4
6.8

Myalgia
6.3
6.6

Bone Pain
4.3
4.6

Bone Disorder
3.2
4.0

Leg Cramps
2.6
3.5

Bursitis
2.9
3.0

Tendon Disorder
2.5
3.0

Nervous

Depression
6.2
6.8

Dizziness
5.4
6.4

Insomnia
4.5
4.7

Anxiety
3.0
4.3

Neuralgia
3.5
3.8

Vertigo
3.2
3.3

Hypertonia
2.1
2.2

Paresthesia
1.8
2.1

Respiratory

Pharyngitis
5.0
5.8

Rhinitis
5.0
5.7

Dyspnea
3.2
3.8

Pneumonia
2.6
3.1

Skin and Appendages

Rash
7.2
7.7

Pruritus
2.2
3.0

Skin Carcinoma
1.8
2.0

Special Senses

Cataract
5.4
5.9

Conjunctivitis
2.8
3.1

Otitis Media
2.4
2.5

Urogenital

Urinary Tract Infection
9.7
10.9

Cystitis
3.5
4.1

[bmbmd]

1. What are these "better ways " of which you speak?

and don't you think that "they" might want to outlaw that placebo stuff while "they" are at it? Looks pretty dangerous to me.

[havocmom]

2. Melted wax spa for my hands does wonders

and ginger, tumeric, cumin are big helps. Alfafa sprouts make a big difference for my old dog so I tried it. Knees better.

Yoga is a big help for the problems in my spine.

There are lots of things that help. One pill doesn't fit all. ;)

[OldLeftieLawyer]

4. Stretching, as in yoga,

does, I am convinced, wonders for most people.

But, most people are lazy and would rather pop a pill.

Frankly, when I hear the side effects of some of these meds, I think the original affliction is the least of it.............

[havocmom]

5. Do you have cat, dog? They sure have different approach to yoga!

Cat: Hmmm, interesting, calm brain waves going on... must ommmm along with mom. Wonderful, soothing music. I shall lower my heart rate and become one with the flute... Now, I shall slowly s t r e t c h and show mom how it's done.

Dog: Yippee! Some idiot is on the floor for me to maul! WHOOMP.

Over time, cat has taught dog some respect for eastern disciplines. (cat is presently on second lifetime, as dog is stubborn student) But it's still a better experience if the big hound is involved OUTSIDE! ;)

[OldLeftieLawyer]

6. Kids

I started with yogo 38 years ago - when I was, you know, 3 years old :::: cough, cough ::::

Try doing it with kids in the house.

This is why I invented Children's Chewable Quaaludes.

(The dog will never learn, the cat will never stop being smug, right?)

[HysteryDiagnosis]

3. Read

http://www.umm.edu/altmed/ConsSupplements/DehydroepiandrosteroneDHEAcs.html

http://www.womhealth.org.au/factsheets/alternativestoHRT.htm

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/dhea/NS_patient-dhea

[bmbmd]

7. I thought so. You are confusing HRT

with osteoporosis treatment. Actonel is not an agent for HRT-it is a bisphosphonate, and inhibits osteoclast mediated bone resorption. In English, that means that it stimulates calcium deposition into the bone. It is especially useful in the prevention of primary and secondary spinal fractures. (fosamax has better t-score numbers and better hip data) Actonel likewise is superior to Fosamax and Boniva in steroid-induced osteopenia. HRT is no longer considered as primary treatment of osteoporosis, with the possible exception of Evista. In my book, HRT is only prescribed for women who just by God can't live without them due to estrogen withdrawal symptoms. I trust my women patients to make their own decision after they have reviewed risks and benefits of HRT.

I think you would have a hard time at Mayo or University of Maryland or any other academic center finding someone to recommend DHEA for anything. I have personally treated acute hepatocellular injury, DVT, breast and prostate cancer, gynecomastia, and impotence in patients who have been taking DHEA. I notice it got a grade of "C" for op, and was no higher than "C" for any of the conditions noted.

As far as adjunctive therapy of op, you are correct in saying that exercise and massage are beneficial, as are appropriate calcium supplements. I certainly agree that wax baths offer great symptomatic relief and improve function, but they do little or nothing to heal the bone. Basically, in a patient with advance osteopenia or osteoporosis, especially one with radiographic evidence of pathologic fracture, not to offer bisphosphonate therapy is an injustice.

[retread]

11. Actonel doesn't rebuild the lost bone does it? Doesn't it just stop

the loss and for only around 5 years?

[bmbmd]

18. Bisphosphonates certainly improve t-scores

but you are correct-a more important value than the bone mineral density is the fracture reduction rate. Improved bone density correlates to reduced fracture rates, but there are other factors to consider. Treatment may improve bone elasticity and recoil, (making bones less likely to break under impact) and there are certainly analgesic benefits to having stronger bones. Patients with less pain in their spines and hips and long bones tend to be more active. More active patients tend to be generally healthier.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

14. Perhaps I was, but isn't there some benefit to be gained with

bone loss if the endocrine system is supported, or if plant based therapies are used to support the endocrine system?

1: Planta Med. 2004 Mar;70(3):220-6. Related Articles, Links


In vivo antiosteoporotic activity of a fraction of Dioscorea spongiosa and its constituent, 22-O-methylprotodioscin.

Yin J, Tezuka Y, Kouda K, Le Tran Q, Miyahara T, Chen Y, Kadota S.

Institute of Natural Medicine, Toyama Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Japan.

The antiosteoporotic activity of the 90 % EtOH fraction of the water extract of rhizomes of Dioscorea spongiosa and methylprotodioscin, its major constituent, were examined in the model of postmenopausal bone loss using ovariectomized (OVX) rats or mice. After 6 weeks treatment, the proximal tibia of rats or mice and the distal femora of mice were scanned by peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT). Both the 90 % EtOH fraction (100 mg/kg/d) and methylprotodioscin (50 mg/kg/d) significantly inhibited bone loss in bone mineral content (BMC) and bone mineral density (BMD) in total, cancellous and cortical bones, and the decrease in bone strength indexes induced by OVX, without side effect on the uterus.

PMID: 15114498


1: Biol Pharm Bull. 2004 Apr;27(4):583-6. Related Articles, Links


Antiosteoporotic activity of the water extract of Dioscorea spongiosa.

Yin J, Tezuka Y, Kouda K, Tran QL, Miyahara T, Chen Y, Kadota S.

Institute of Natural Medicine, Toyama Medical and Pharmaceutical University, 2630 Sugitani, Toyama 930-0194, Japan.

After 60 MeOH and water extracts of natural crude drugs were screened for their ability to stimulate osteoblast proliferation, four MeOH extracts (Cynomorium songaricum, Drynaria fortunei, Lycium chinense, Rehmannia glutinosa) and seven water extracts (Cornus officinalis, Dendrobium nobile, Dioscorea spongiosa, Drynaria fortunei, Eucommia ulmoides, Lycium chinensis, Viscum coloratum) showed that potent activities were evaluated for inhibition of osteoclast formation. The results indicated that the water extract of D. spongiosa not only showed the strongest stimulation of osteoblast proliferation but also possessed potent inhibitory activity aganist osteoclast formation, whereas it showed lower cytotoxicity in osteoblast and bone marrow cells. A further in vivo experiment determined the antiosteoporotic activity of this extract, in which it inhibited the decrease in cancellous bone mineral content, cancellous bone mineral density, and cortical bone mineral content of the proximal tibia in ovariectomized rats.

PMID: 15056872

[Cleita]

21. I've been taking it for a year with no ill effects.

It has helped the pain of my osteoporosis immensely and I didn't relish having a broken hip as a result of the thinning of my bones.

I will keep taking it until my doctor puts me on something else.

[proud2BlibKansan]

8. With my doctor's approval

I am dealing with my osteoporosis through diet and exercise. So far, it is working.

[retread]

9. I know a woman whose doctor has said her bones were like glass,

another has over 50% bone loss and is desperate that she will reach the "like glass" stage. I know for a fact both of them have done everything right; diet, exercise, yoga you name it they do it, nothing has worked.

[proud2BlibKansan]

10. In my case, it is hereditary

[HysteryDiagnosis]

12. Link

http://www.lef.org/protocols/prtcl-085.shtml

Osteoporosis
Updated: 07/12/2004

Detection Of Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis And Hormone Metabolism
Vitamin/Mineral Treatments And Bone Loss
Osteoporosis And Men
Toxins
Suppressing Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines
Conclusion And Recommendations

[proud2BlibKansan]

13. Thanks!

[HysteryDiagnosis]

15. It's a good article and it doesn't rule out medications, I consider this

source of information to be fairly unbiased and highly valuable.

[proud2BlibKansan]

16. I didn't like the meds

but it has been a couple years. If my next bone scan looks bad, I will consider going back on meds.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

17. Vitamin K

1: Clin Calcium. 2005 May;15(5):839-44. Related Articles, Links

Ichikawa T, Inoue S.

Division of Gene Regulation and Signal Transduction, Research Center for Genomic Medicine, Saitama Medical School.

Vitamin K is used as an anti-osteoporosis drug in Japan. Moreover, vitamin K intake has been found to decrease hip fracture risk. In the bone homeostasis, vitamin K action is mediated through two molecular mechanisms: posttranslational modification of proteins, and regulation of gene expression. The former is vitamin K-dependent carboxylation, in which vitamin K functions as an essential cofactor for modification of glutamic acid residues to gamma-carboxyglutamic acid residues. The latter is a novel mechanism that regulates the transcription of target genes by vitamin K through activation of steroid and xenobiotic receptor (SXR). The two mechanisms may coordinately contribute to vitamin K function in the bone metabolism.

Publication Types:
Review

PMID: 15876748

[bmbmd]

19. You are finding lots of interesting articles.

It is your doctor's job to help you sort through the hoopla. Vitamin K in the wrong patient is incredibly dangerous, and phytoestrogens are, well, estrogens. My previous comment about antiresorptive estrogen therapy stands-most clinicians don't use estrogen for bone loss alone. Here-go see what the guys at Harvard have to say.

http://www.brighamandwomens.org/medical/handbookarticles/osteo/osteoporosis2.asp#mgt

[HysteryDiagnosis]

20. Phytoestrogens are protective, and the reason I bring up some of

these articles is that I know for a fact that bone loss has been reversed in many women without drugs. I can't find the proof in clinical studies, but I know that women who have used wild yam, beta-sitosterol, a good calcium FORMULA not just calcium and not a chemical form of calcium have regained tremendous amounts of bone density. There are many unknown benefits to achieving better blood sugar control, control of low grade inflammation and other parameters that affect all aspects of health. For men in particular check out what isn't broadcast about Beta-Sitosterol.

http://www.beta-sitosterol-info.com/


Then there's this:
http://www.naturodoc.com/library/hormones/osteo_rev.htm

[bmbmd]

22. Beta-stiosterol has long been known to improve prostate

health. It is available over the counter and in prescription form. By the way, did you read Dr. Lee's article? He is trying to sell his progesterone cream, along with other products.

Caveat emptor, I always say.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

23. Is progesterone dangerous?? Or not effective/beneficial in your

opinion.....

As far as Harvard trained goes.... here you go.

http://www.isnare.com/?id=5932&ca=Medicines+and+Remedies
Natural Progesterone And Osteoporosis Treatment Success
By: David Buster