| LA JOLLA CHIROPRACTIC HEALTH CENTER |
| LA JOLLA CHIROPRACTIC HEALTH CENTER |
- THE UNTOLD DANGERS OF TAKING
- OSTEOPOROSIS MEDICATION
The following drugs (called bisphosphonates) are all in the same chemical category and have
similar effects on the bones in your body:
- Fosamax alendronate
Didrone etidronate (not approved by FDA for osteoporosis)
Boniva ibandronate
Actonel risedronate
Actonel with Calcium risedronate with calcium carbonate
Reclast zoledronic acid
It's important to note the potential side effects of these drugs, which include…
- • pain or trouble with swallowing
• chest pain
• very bad heartburn or heartburn that does not get better
• ulcers in your stomach or esophagus (the tube that connects your mouth and stomach)
• diarrhea
• pain in extremities (arms or legs)
• dyspepsia (upset stomach)
New research findings show that while these drugs can strengthen bone in the short-term,
there appears to be little further improvement in bone building after three years of use...
After four to five years, they may actually cause weakening of bones--making you even more
susceptible to fractures!
It takes 10 years to remove these drugs from your system after discontinuing their use.
Healthy perimenopasual women who merely have below average bone density may wish to consider
natural means for building bone. Calcium in the form of “microcrystalline hydroxyapitate" (one of the best
supplements containing this is "Bone Up" by Jarrow Formulas) is the only proven type of calcium
supplement that can actually add to bones after age 35 -- and even after menopause! This particular
supplement also contains several potentiating vitamins and minerals which also build bone, as well as
magnesium and vitamin D --but since your total ideal vitamin D intake should be about 2000 units per day,
extra vitamin D3 supplementation may be advised. This is especially true for persons who do not receive
adequate weekly exposure to sunlight.
For the treatment of osteoporosis, dietary changes should also be included, such as insuring the intake of
adequate amounts of greens (high in magnesium and vitamin K), protein, as well as fruits and vegetables.
Decreasing one’s sugar intake, minimizing caffeine to one serving a day at most, and decreasing ones
intake of high sodium foods also helps preserve bone density. Weight bearing exercise, such as
cardiovascular conditioning and light resistance exercise for the upper body, stimulates bones growth
naturally. These good health habits are far superior to insure proper bone re-mineralization, without all of
the dangers and side effects of the commonly prescribed drugs available today. If you do choose to take
a natural approach to building your bones, be sure to schedule a bone density scan every few years to be
certain your program is having the desired effect. An average increase of 1% to 2% in bone mass is all to
be expected per year, even with the best natural therapy approaches.
For persons at high risk for bone fractures, parathyroid hormone therapy may be a better option than
most other drugs, yet more research needs to be done on the long-term side effects of this treatment.
- ** Never discontinue prescribed drug therapy without consulting
- your medical doctor for more information! **
References:
1. Cummings SR, Black DM, Thompson DE, Applegate WB, Barrett-Connor E, Musliner TA, Palermo L et al. Effect of alendronate on risk of
fracture in women with low bone density but without vertebral fractures: Results from the Fracture Intervention Trial. JAMA 1998: 280(24):2077-
2082.
2. Pols HAP, Felsenberg D, Hanley DA, Stepan J, Munoz-Torres M, Wilkin TJ, Qin-sheng G, et al. Multinational, placebo-controlled,
randomized trial of the Effects of alendronate on bone density and fracture risk in postmenopausal women with low bone mass: Results of the
FOSIT study. Osteoporos Int 1999: 9:461-468.
3. Tonino RP, Meunier PJ, Emkey R, Rodrigues-Portales JA, Menkes CJ, Wasnich RD, Bone HG, Santora AC, Wu M, Desai R, Ross PD. Skeletal
benefits of alendronate: 7-year treatment of postmenopausal osteoporotic women. 2999. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 85:3109-3115.
4. Black DM, Thompson DE, Bauer DC, Ensrud K, Musliner T, Hochberg MC, Nevitt MC, Suryawanshi S, Cummings SR. Fracture risk reduction
with alendronate in women with osteoporisis: The Fracture Intervention Trial. 2000. J Clin Encocrinol. Metab 85:4118-4124.
5. Orwol E, Ettinger M, Weiss S, Miller P, Kendler D, Graham J, Adami S, Weber K, Lorenc R, Pietschmann P, Vandormael K, Lombardi A.
Alendronate for the treatment of osteoporosis in men. 2000. N Engl J Med 343:604-610.
6. Ravn p, Bidstrup M, Wasnich RD, Davis JW, McClung MR, Balske A, Coupland C et al. Alendronate and estrogen-progestin in the long-term
prevention of bone loss: Four-year results from the early postmenopausal intervention cohort study: A randomized, controlled trial. Ann Intern
Med 1999: 131:935-942.
7. Bone HG, Hosking D, Devogelaer J-P, Tucci JR, Emkey RD, Tonino RP, Rodriguez-Portales JA, et al. Alendronate and estrogen effects in
postmenopausal women with low bone mineral density. J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab 2000; 85(2):720-726.
8. Lindsay R, Cosman F, Lobo RA, Walsh BW, Harrris ST, Reagan JE, Liss CL, Melton ME, Byrnes CA. Addition of alendronate to ongoing
hormone replacement therapy in the treatment of osteoporosis: A randomized, controlled clinical trial. J Clin Endocrinol & Metabol 1999; 84
(9):3076-3081.
9. Odvina CV, Zerwekh JE, Sudhaker Rao D, Maalouf N, Gottschalk FA, Pak CYC. Severely suppressed bone turnover: A potential
complication of alendronate therapy. J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metabolism 2005; 90(3):1294-1301.
10 .Ott SM. Editorial: Long-term safety of bisphosphonates. J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metabolism 2005; 90(3):1897-1899.
11. Jennifer P. Schneider. Should Bisphosphonates be Continued Indefinitely? An Unusual Fracture in a Healthy Woman on Long-Term
Alendronate. Geriatrics 2006; 61(1) :31-33,
Doctor Michael Ackerman helps patients to understand and release the emotional stress patterns underlying their physical
problems and disease. Dr. Michael Ackerman has been in practice as a chiropractor in La Jolla, California, for 11 years of his 23
years in practice. Being a La Jolla Chiropractor has been extremely rewarding for Dr. Michael Ackerman, and he is unique
among the chiropractic doctors in La Jolla in that he has worked with professional athletic teams, such as the New Orleans
Saints, the Delta Festival Ballet Company, as well as collegiate and amateur athletes from most sports backgrounds. Dr.
Michael Ackerman enjoys practicing as a chiropractor by the sea in such a beautiful town as La Jolla, California, but he also does
healing consultations by phone with people from all over the country.
problems and disease. Dr. Michael Ackerman has been in practice as a chiropractor in La Jolla, California, for 11 years of his 23
years in practice. Being a La Jolla Chiropractor has been extremely rewarding for Dr. Michael Ackerman, and he is unique
among the chiropractic doctors in La Jolla in that he has worked with professional athletic teams, such as the New Orleans
Saints, the Delta Festival Ballet Company, as well as collegiate and amateur athletes from most sports backgrounds. Dr.
Michael Ackerman enjoys practicing as a chiropractor by the sea in such a beautiful town as La Jolla, California, but he also does
healing consultations by phone with people from all over the country.