Osteoporosis drugs may do more harm than good…
According to a recent article published on USAToday.com, the long-term use of osteoporosis drugs (bisphosphonates) such as Boniva, Fosamax and Reclast, can increase the risk hip fractures and breaks. Although the drugs affect men more or less the same, women are more likely to suffer from conditions stemming from low bone mass, making them prime candidates for the drugs. It’s estimated that 10 million Americans have been diagnosed with osteoporosis – a condition where the bones becomes brittle and porous – and 34 million Americans suffer from poor bone density and risk spine and hip fractures.
IMS Health ranks bisphosphonates among the top-selling prescriptions in the country, raking in over $3.5 billion each year. On the short term, these drugs can be helpful in restoring bone density; however, if used for more than five years, studies have proven that women can experience rapid deterioration of bone tissue, oftentimes resulting in hip breaks and fractures.
Here’s what BodyLogicMD physician Robert Rubin, M.D. had to say:
“Dr Joseph Lane is quoted by USA Today, saying, “…they are initially effective in slowing bone loss…” However, the question was: What about long-term? Hormone therapy has proven to be an effective solution to help preserve bone health and prevent future bone loss, without harmful drugs. There are also many supplements, vitamins and minerals which are also helpful in restoring bone health.”
BodyLogicMD’s bioidentical hormone doctors help women and men improve their health, inside and out, using a structured regimen consisting of bioidentical hormone therapy and customized nutrition and fitness programs. Through individualized supplementation, BodyLogicMD’s bioidentical hormones experts have helped tens of thousands of patients meet their wellness goals and attain optimal overall health.
I read the recent USA Today article about bone density-enhancing drugs having a deleterious effect on bone health after 5 years, then saw a friend (late 70′s) who was putting a frozen 20 lb. turkey into her fridge to thaw, when she heard something in her lower back snap. She is now bent over parallel to the ground and cannot straighten up. I asked if she had ever been on any of the drugs such as Boniva, Fosamax, etc. & she replied that she had been on Fosamax for at least 5 years, something else before that, and recently for the past 5 or so years an infusion every three months of Boniva!!!~~a total, she thought of AT LEAST 15 yrs. on bone density drugs. This is absolutely frightening, as the industry is making $ 3.5 billion/year on these medications. Please get to the bottom of this, and tell Sally Field she’d better re-think her commercial. I quit Fosamax many years ago (without my Dr’s approval) when I read about bone loss in the jaw resulting from that drug use.
Why can’t people simply do weight exercises, and eat right? The pharmaceutical companies are pulling the wool over our eyes……at a huge cost to our health!!! If you can’t grow it, don’t eat it!