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Hi All: Ever since I read the links Sarah posted from the NOF, I've been trying to find something that will substantiate the statement that Fosteum has Omega 6 in it, and the answer is *it doesn't*. Soy contains Omega 6, but Genistein is isolated from soy and does not contain Omega 6 fatty acids; check with your pharmacist or the drugs website.
With reference to increased fibromyalgia flares on this drug, I'm not convince the Drug can be blamed since auto-immune/fibro disorder flares happen, and many many different things can cause them, as any Dr will tell you.
I'm not diminishing any side effects anyone may have with a drug, but before you worry other patients, try to be sure the drug is the cause. Again if you are allergic to any of Fosteum ingredients listed in the post, then you wouldn't be able to take it. When we include these arbitrary statements, without medical or chemical substantiation, it would be nice to include the positive posts as well, to give a more accurate picture. All ingredients that are in Fosteum are listed on their site, down to the type of capsule used and dyes/colors used to print the name on the pill. So whenever you aren't sure about an ingredient read the FULL list of active and inactive ingredients in any drug.
Thanks for all input...
Hi Pam,
This is a really nice article on Fosteum. I saw the comments about side effects and thought I'd add my two cents. I have fibromyalgia and arthritis and am hypothyroid. I've been taking Fosteum since summer of 2006. I have experienced no side effects and have noticed no increase in FM flares. They still happen, but Fosteum has no effect on them, positive or negative. The best part is that it works for me. My follow up DEXA showed a significant increase in bone density, I went from a negative to a positive at the hip! So I'll keep taking Fosteum, and I'll back you up when you say that we are much more likely to hear the complaints than we are the success stories. Otherwise, no one would refill a prescription. But I'm a happy success story.
Mary Ann
Hi Mary Ann: Thanks for posting your fantastic results with Fosteum. I hope your next dexa continues to improve. Going from a negative t-score (hip) to a positive is absolutely stupendous, and something you don't hear often with the other drugs available, in that amount of time.
Your comment about fibro flares is so true; there are *so* many things that can cause this, that it would be almost impossible to blame it on Fosteum without first looking at all things that you take or eat on a daily basis, or looking at other things that cause these flares.
I'm glad you added your history of hypothyroid along with the other disorders, because those with hypo/hyperthyroid, auto-immune disorders and arthritis, are afraid of soy, not realizing that Genestein is isolated from soy, so therefore does not contain the same ingredients of un-isolated soy, which may be of concern for them with certain medical disorders.
I hope some other people with positive results will be encouraged to post as a response to your excellent explanation of your benefits seen while taking this treatment.
For anyone looking for a natural treatment for osteopenia/osteoporosis, that are pre-menopausal, going through menopause, or post menopausal, do some reading on Fosteum, it might just be the thing for you.
Thanks for your reply and I hope you'll have continued success!!!
Best Wishes, Pam Flores
Hi,
I was diagnosed with osteopenia and have moved over to osteoperosis in the spine (however it is slight, -2.7). I recently had my levels of vitamin D tested and it was almost non-existent! I am now taking 1,000 milligrams of vitamin D3 and I take a fosteum pill in the morning and at night. I've only been on Fosteum for about 6 weeks, so it is too early to have another bone density test. However, I've seen no negative effects of the medication and am thrilled that there is a natural way to deal with the problem. I tried Evista and had increased hot flashes and developed leg cramps. I am so afraid of the bisphosonates, that I have not tried them and hope that I won't have to. I would encourage anyone who can take Fosteum to try it; I've been delighted so far.
Jackie
Hi Jackie: I'm so glad you haven't had any side effects with Fosteum, and also that your vitamin D levels are now being addressed. Vitamin D regulates calcium and phosphorus, in our bodies as you know, so having a low D score can affect your bone density scores. Hopefully now your D will go up and that will help to increase your bmd.
I'm glad you could find a treatment that suits you and that hasn't caused any complaints or problems. BTW has it helped to decrease hot flashes or night sweats? Just curious, since I still do battle with that.
You mentioned that you haven't had another dxa yet, since starting Fosteum, so I was wondering if your Dr has order a bone marker test yet. This test can be done in between dxa's and will tell the Dr if the Fosteum is working, which is invaluable information. This test won't give you a t-score nor is it a substitute for a dxa, but it can tell you if you are gaining or losing bone while you're on Fosteum or any other drug. This test is done as a blood or urine test, so it's very simple to do.
Below are two articles that explain this test, and how you go about getting one done. If your Dr hasn't ordered one of these, I would ask about it since it can give you some information while waiting for the next dxa.
I have this test several times a year, and I probably would go nuts if I had to wait for a dxa to tell me whether or not my bone meds are working. If you have any questions about this test just post again. Sorry it took so long for me to notice your post
Continued good luck with your Fosteum treatment, and I hope you see good results like Mary Ann did.
Bone Marker Test names, types, and preparation info:
http://www.healthcentral.com/osteoporosis/c/76444/43897/bone-turnover
Our Expert Dr. Gonter's Article on Bone Markers:
http://www.healthcentral.com/osteoporosis/c/73/49305/bone-markers
Hi Jackie, I'm so sorry to hear that Fosteum didn't help. Have you been checked for secondary causes for osteoporosis? If not maybe you have some other disorder that is causing bone loss. There are also meds that can contribute to this as well.
I don't know if this will help, but I have an interview I just posted on Fosteum if you want to read it. Here's the link http://www.healthcentral.com/osteoporosis/c/76444/98404/armbruster
Let us know what you decide, and I hope you find a solution to this!! Good luck...
For those still reading this article, you need to know that the link to the clinical trial from the British Journal of Pharmacology has been moved and the NEW link is:
http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=2515927
The title of the trial is: Effects of genistein aglycone in osteoporotic, ovariectomized rats: a comparison with alendronate, raloxifene and oestradiol (British Journal of Pharmacology, August 2008).
I hope this helps since the trial is very important and informative.
Pam Flores
Pam,
I think one thing that should be clarified about Fosteum and Limbrel is that they are not over-the-counter nutritional supplements. They are in a category of products that are monitored by the FDA and designated as GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) and must be given under the direction of a physician. Every product, including over the counter supplements may interract or may not be appropriate for different patients for different reasons, but for many patients who are worried about the long term safety of HRT, Fosteum presents a safe alternative for the nutritional management of menopause.
The same goes for Limbrel. My brother, who is a MD, recently had a heart attack, and also has a dislocated disc in his back. He needs anti-inflammatories for his back, but can't take any ibuprofens so takes Tylenol with Codeine which makes him loopy. Limbrel actually has a study for people like him, who can't take ibuprofens, and Limbrel is a good choice for him.
Hi Nina, welcome... Yes Fosteum is only available via a Dr.'s prescription, as we explained in the article. See the paragraph on is "Fosteum available over-the-counter?" Thanks for reminded us that we need a Dr. to prescribe this medicinal food; it's always good to reiterate this, so everyone knows.
Are you taking this, and is it helping? Sure hope so... You can also see the other article on Fosteum here where I interviewed one of the Drs in the clinical trial on Fosteum.
Good luck to your brother and yourself, thanks for joining us.
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There's a very good discussion of Fosteum and Fosteum side effects on the discussion board of the National Osteoporosis Foundation (click to see the full discussion).
Here are some excerpts:
FOSTEUM and NAUSEA
"I took fosteun for 8 days..it made me nauseas..sick to my stomach..i had such hope that this drug would work for me. at first, the nausea cames in waves and it wasnt too bad, but the last day i was really sick."
FOSTEUM and AUTOIMMUNE DISEASES
"Beware of Fosteum if you have any type of auto immune disease, fibromyalgia, thyroid disease, IBS or arthritis like I do. It is very high in Omega 6 which can trigger imflammation, boy did two weeks of this supplement cause me problems. Extreme flare up, hot flashes, there should be a warning about this. I am going to send this info to the company and FDA. Too bad I could not take this, I would hate for others with these problems to take this Drug/Supplement, it has been a nightmare."
Click to read the full discussion on Fosteum and Strontium.
Hi Sarah: You make a very excellent point that is universal with all medical treatments, and that is we all react differently to these meds, so we have to be careful when we try something new because you just don't know how your body will react to it. Time and again we talk to those who are concerned with negative side effects--and rightfully so--but let's not forget about the many these drugs have and continue to help; you only need to check the stats on these meds which are prescribed worldwide to get a clear picture of the silent group of patients with great results, that generally far outweigh the negative. If this wasn't the case we wouldn't be seeing repeat rx fills on these meds time and again, year after year at enourmous rates worldwide.
I'm not trying to diminishing the risks, that would be lunacy, but this love of the negative needs to be tempered with some common sense, critical thinking, research--as much as you can--and then apply your conclusions with the help of your Dr *if* you agree with s(he).
Unfortunately the success stories don't get the same amount of coverage that the negatives do, but just the same there are many out there that do well with these drugs. We as humans gravitate to the negative, and sometimes you need to rethink why that is. Is it because you'll actually experience these problems or is it a situation where the negative scares so much that no one feels comfortable enough to give it a try, so they really don't know what will happen for them. Remember that when side effects are listed, they have to include all *possible* adverse reactions, even though the odds of acquiring some, or none, is possible, but each instance is based on our unique reactions to different treatments.
Before you consider any treatment option, thoroughly check any contraindications that may apply to you with the assistance of your Dr.
Thanks for your insightful input and those included from the NOF.
Hello to all fortunate Fosteum users who can tolerate this drug. I was given a trial of Fosteum yesterday. Took my dosage at about 12 noon. This was included with Limbrel 500. All went well until 3:00 am when I awoke with hyper breathing, cough, shaking chills and chattering teeth with extreme weakness. I walked my dog at 9:30 am and had to hold on to my neighbors gate to walk. I have hypothyroidism, arthritis, AS and ofcourse, that is autoimmune disorder. It is now 7:00 am the next morning and my symptoms of the beginning of the flu have almost completed dissipated. I have never heard of a 24 hour flu. Obiously, there is a component of this drug I cannot tolerate. I am most dissapointed as I thought this was the magic bullet. Not for me. I have a host of drug allergies and possibly I can add this one to it. I am not happy at all do to the potential benefits. Now, I am at a total loss and my doctor is going to be completely disgusted with me due to this problem. Only drug I can tolerate is prednisone which I have not talked to anyone who can stand this drug. Possibly my problem is not related to building bone but metabolising D-3. All of my life I was a huge milk drinker and was told about 12 years ago that my D-3 level was low and could not believe it. Good luck to everyone out there.