Anyone taking Actonel for Calcium deficiency?

I am 2 1/2 years post op and have been prescribed Actonel as I am suffering from the beginnings of osteoporosis. I was just wondering if any gastric bypass folks are using this med and what your results have been.  Any issues with absorption? I thank you in advance for your response. Sharon 238/134/137

Wait a sec. Actonel is not calcium. It actually works with the osteclasts and osteblasts who are arguing for custody of our bones.

One hopes you are still taking a coupla thousand units of calcium citrate AND dry form Vit D3?? Anyone testing your vit
D 0,25 and PTH?

I take Actonel, shortly to be 5 yrs. I have seen some improvement in spine and hip measures, but not wrist. It is considered the most GI friendly of these types of drugs, but please follow the instructions exactly.

My primary prescribed once a month  Boniva and it recently showed up in my mailbox from my mail pharmacy but I have yet to start it. I tried to find at least a 5 yr study, only found a 3 yr and it was not impressive to me considering all the negative forum posts I had read from people already taking these  type drugs.   I did call my RNY surgeon and asked what he thought of the absoprtion and he said they "should" be alright but I am still not convinced since it recommends if you can not take asprin do not take these drugs. I know I can not tolerate asprin and I also know its on the list of what not to take after this surgery. I think I will wait until I am convinced these meds will help me.

Just factor in this stupidity on my part. I was given Actonel when I was dx with osteoporosis in 2000. I let the samples expire, then let my husband's samples expire. And got worse, fixed my calcium and D levels, but bones got worse and worse.

Then my new endo says, "Why the heck aren't you taking it?" And I pointed out that it could be a puch burner, to which I was already susceptible even pre-op. He then hands me the literature and points out that it was STOMACH issues that it might have, it's ESOPHAGUS, which then puts us on a level playing field with everyone else since our esophagus has (unless someone made a booboo or you had damage) NOT been touched with our WLS. Unlike aspirin or NSAIDS, which can "not hurt" but still cause gastric bleed, these types of meds wouldl burn/hurt RIGHT NOW, and it'd be the esophagus, not the stomach/pouch.

So, based on the "right now" and not sneaking up me quietly, I started taking them and do as it says. On Sundays, I take my Actonel and take a long, long shower. I use all those mystical potions in my shower thay drive my husband nuts. LOL But I am then kept standing for that half hour and have now been taking it almost 5 yrs.

The jaw necrosis thing was found in chemo patients, so not rampant in the general population.

I know we have to weigh all those things before starting these meds.

What I know is that I wasted 4 long years that might've made a difference for me, but I didn't have FULL info on what exactly might get hurt and how one might know. I might have made a different choice had I known more facts back in 2000.

Hi Michele, I was hoping you would see my post and respond. I did have a esophagus problem, prior  and after WLS and this is what kept me from taking the Boniva. I had 2 surgeries for hiatal hernia and the reflux was so bad, then I spent 6 months vomitting after WLS and I had to have the surgery on my esophagus again. It had been years of suffering with reflux and ulcers, finally my stomach and esophagus feel somewhat normal and I just can't do that to myself. I read  a study that these meds stay in your body for up to 10 years even if you do stop if due to reactions. I also read a study that says 20% bone density loss in woman over 50 is normal.  I seem to fall within that 20% and yes I do have severe back pain but only there. My hips seem to be fine.  I am probably foolish for not trying it but when my intuition says it won't be good for me I pay attention. My dr just said you need this, didn't show me my results, I called for them 2 weeks later to judge for myself...he just sit take this...., don't sit or eat for a hour when you take it. That got my curiosity and for 4 weeks I have been reading every study and forum I could find.  People who were in the study and people not both complained of all the same things. Headaches, stomach, reflux, nausea, severe "bone" pain...just screamed at me that I had enough pain already why would I want to take any chance to have reflux and stomach aches again.  I am not sure when the next scan can be done but if I see a decline then I will need to do something. In the meantime I am taking calcium and Vit D and hoping this makes a difference. Another issue was when I was 17 I remember coming home after being at the orthopedic and crying to my parents telling them it was there fault I had spinal issues....blamed it on their smoking but of course they didn't stop...so here I am 41 yrs later and I exercise every day, am very limber but I do have back pain which is the same today as it was when I was 17.  My spine showed -3.0 and my hips -2.1, how does that compare to yours? I don't know anyone who has had the scan to compare.

I reeeeeeeeeeally hate to sound like a broken record here, but what's your vit D and PTH levels? 3.0 is actually pretty bad. My wrist is -3.6 , so ery bad. My hip and spine are like -2.5 and -2.6

I think -2.5 is consdiered osteoporosis, between -1.0 and -2.4 is osteopenia, but don't quote me. THE line might be at 2.0.

I *thought* -3.0 was consdiered osteomalacia (rickets), but can't be sure. At one time, one of my readings (hip or spine) was at -2.9. I go to the same place at the same time every year, so the scans are done on the same equipment.

I'd heard 2 yrs on the meds remaining, but that may be Actonel. So, you didn't get a sample first, just had to buy it? Can you try ONE? Can you get a sample of Actonel?

GET COPIES. Labs, scans, all of it. We have lost 3 docs to retirement, 2 to insurance changes, so someone has to have continuity and that will have to be YOU. When we swtiched the last time, we just handed him our spread sheets of scans and labs and he was so happy, he was practically jumping up and down. So much easier than pawing thru 10 yrs of PAPER. LOL

I need a score sheet IN MY HANDS so I feel more as if those numbers are in my control.

I do have all my labs...I am going to did out my last Vit D and PTH level to see what I was last visit to bariatric surgeon back in Feb. I don't remember anything being abnormal but I am very curious now.  Re; the Boniva, he ordered me 3 months supply (3 pills) which cost me 27, he never gave me the option of trying Actonel. I was unsure how it would affect my pouch being an extended med, such a high dose at once and that is why I emailed my bariatric surgeon and didn't get a real answer. When I asked if this strong dose would affect my pouch since I was told not to use extended meds, the answer I got was the jury is still out on this one. Hmmm not the answer I was expecting but then we are back to what you said in the Vit D post about they know how to fix the problem, not how to stop it from happening.  I do have my Dx Scan right here  and it reads Osteoporotic only... my left hip was -3.0  and spine (L2-L4) was -2.6,  Rickets, I don't know about so off I go to read up on that and then I am going to get my blood work out tomorrow and go back to check the levels of D and PTH. I know I have not had those run since my last bariatric appt last Feb. I will ask my primary to run them or my hemotolgist in 2 weeks just to be safe. I know if I don't stay on top of this, I can't expect them to. I go in with a list and they do run evrything I ask and have said we wish everyone was as prepared. I  also bring all my current labs with me. One thing I have not done is put my personal labs on a spread sheet however my primary and hematologist  does have them all like this...then we just look at the past  months and see whats happening. My docs have been consumed with my iron issues that came way before WLS but these past few months after several infusions have seemed to level off and even gained a few points, we all just shake our heads just trying to figure it all out, only thing we did different was add a another B12  shot (1000mcg) every week, it raised my iron and now my calcium was elevated a little. It's very trying without a clinical person who knows where we should be. Honestly you make much more sense then all my doctors offices...they look at me like I am from another planet when I ask about absportion issues. Thank you so much for keeping us informed. I just went to hospital to bring hubby home. Heart  stents then both carotid arteries...its been brutal on him and he eats organic and takes all his supplements daily, doesn't have a weight issue. In fact he is loosing weight. You just can't fight genetics. He came home with a staph infection so I have been busy trying to keep up with him and reading the posts and I do rely on experiences we all have.

I'm sorry to hear about your husband. Happy he's home for you, but sorry he didn't come home fixed.

WEll, when I had my surgery, I also followed blindly. Good thing I had someone who was ahead of the times mostly, huh?

It wasn't til my mentor quit the job that I had to learn for myself! The concept of taking care of this all myself was totally new to me!

Now, my surgeons actually respect what I do, believe it or not. Sometimes they roll their eyes, but it's not THEIR body parts on the line here. It's mine. And I've already sacrificed my bones to the learning curve, so I'm not willing to give any more! Selfish, huh?

I also would be afraid of Boniva, just because if weekly Actonel is safe, and Boniva is 4x that much............? I guess it works in a different way, but my doc would have to do some pretty fancy talking to shake me into trying it. LOL

BTW, just me periodic reminder that I am not medical, don't pretend to be, not having any kind of degree in anything.

My specialty is malabsorption. And as far as I know, that's not something I can go study somewhere.

What you get is my opinion, sometimes links and so on.

Thank you for taking this time, I do appreciate it. I know you are not medical but hell we are learning more than our primary medical dr's  on this issue and we have learned by first hand experience. My dr's office has called me  on some WLS issues for patients so I guess we are appearing to be educated and they do like that we take responsibility for our health. I am going to read about the Actonel and see if I think this one may be for me. I am so happy I read this thread.