Should I go back on Boniva even though there have been reports of it harming the liver?
Fosamax is not good for people with glaucoma. What medication is better?
What are the side effects for men taking Actonel?
These questions are just a few of the many posted in the Q & A section of this site. And the majority of questions you’ll read here are about drugs: not osteoporosis itself, nor its causes, nor questions about a cure. I also answer questions on HealthCentral’s breast cancer site, and there the vast majority of questions center around fear: “Here are my symptoms; do I have breast cancer?” Very seldom does a woman want to know about the drugs so many of us survivors routinely take.
Yet for those of us with osteoporosis, it’s all about the drugs. There are no clear symptoms to worry about; and there’s no known cure. So what’s left? Treatment. And that means drugs: in most cases, bisphosphonates, the long-time gold standard medication for osteoporosis prevention and treatment.
Millions of us take (or have tried to take) oral bisphosphonates. And millions of us do regular battle with them, too. This most common class of osteoporosis drugs includes Boniva, Fosamax, and Actonel. And most of us have a love-hate relationship with them: while they work to slow down osteoporosis, they also come with a host of potential problems and side effects.
Bisphosphonates, also called anti-resorptives, work by slowing the rate at which your bones “shed,” or lose their density. Throughout your life, your bones break down, and then build back up; it’s their natural cycle of growth. When you’re young, your bones build up faster than they break down. It makes sense; they need to grow, to lengthen and thicken in pace with the rest of your body.
During middle age, your bones no longer need to become larger; they build up and break down at an even pace. But as you age, your bones start to break down more quickly than they can rebuild. If the balance tips too far towards breakdown, bingo: you’ve got osteoporosis.
And what do bisphosphonates do? They slow the pace of bone breakdown, putting it more in balance with bone buildup. Thus your bone density increases. How do they do this? By hindering the cells (osteoclasts) that break down your bones; and perhaps by stimulating the cells (osteoblasts) that build up your bones. So far, so good, right?
Well… yes and no. Bisphosphonates have been known to chemists since the 19th century, and were originally found in fertilizer and washing powder, among other uses. This should tell you something about their potency—and the care with which they need to be administered.
Typically, someone taking an oral bisphosphonate is advised—make that ordered—to take it first thing in the morning, on an empty stomach, with 6 to 8 ounces of plain water. After that, the person may not eat anything for 30 minutes, and must also remain upright during that time.
