understanding osteoporosis treatment options

By mgard Tuesday, November 13, 2007

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I have a 20 year old daughter with osteoporosis due to an eating disorder in her early teens that lasted several years. She is finally at a healthy weight/ and exercises regularly as well as taking calcium supplements. None of this has significantly increased her bone density

Her endocrinologist is recommending Forteo....after researching it, I am wary, but there are very limited options and her bonebuilding years are quickly running out....any thoughts???

Comments (4) | Add comment

Maria Gifford, Editor

11/15/07 12:42am

Hello. Welcome to our community.

Here's some information that may help you and your daughter:

Osteoporosis Treatment

http://www.healthcentral.com/osteoporosis/treatment.html

Forteo side effects

http://www.healthcentral.com/osteoporosis/treatment.html

Let me know if you need more specific information. I'm glad to help.

Good luck in finding the treatment option best for your daughter's situation and continued bone health. Keep us posted on her progress.

Best,

Maria

Lila de Tantillo, Health Guide

11/16/07 4:38pm

Thanks so much for your question! WHat a challenging situation -- but it's wonderful to hear that your daughter is taking proactive steps to enhance her bone health with calcium and exercise. One thing that is tough about her situation is that many osteoporosis medicines, including Forteo, have been tested on and approved for use by postmenopausal women. In fact, Forteo is specifically contraindicated for "a child or growing adult" and anyone pregnant or nursing, which would be important to consider if your daughter plans to start a family in the next few years. While doctors sometimes prescribe drugs "off-label," there is currently incomplete knowledge about the potential effects of taking the drug during childbearing age (i.e. before menopause). .

mgard

11/30/07 2:10pm

Thank you for your response. We have done quite a bit of research and are becoming less inclined to use the Forteo,because as you said, she is still in her childbearing years and the information on medication such as this is virtually non-existent. I think at this point we will wait, continue calcium/vit d supplements and weight bearing exercises...it seems to be a healthier option and not experimental...thanks for your response...

Jocelyn Gardner

1/16/08 10:31pm

I was diagnosed with osteoporosis when I was 19 and had definatly had it before then. My t- scores for my back and hips were in the -3.4 range. I too had an eating disorder in my earlier years. After I was diagnosed I was required to gain weight and take calcium and eat more calcium. I run for a college so they were very concerned with this situation because you are more likely to get stress fractures. Unfortunatly I incountered what you have and that is that there really isn't any medicine out there for people still in child bearing years. But I was lucky because after 6 months of lifestyle change my -3.4 went up to -2.8. Now a year and a half later my hips are -.9 (normal range) and -1.8 (osteopenic). So just so you know there is hope still.

understanding osteoporosis treatment options

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