Fosamax - Dave

[Guest guest]

Frank <califpacific

Sat Apr 17, 2004 5:21 am

Fwd: This week in the HSI e-Ale

 

Fri, 16 Apr 2004 08:07:39 -0500

HSI - Jenny Thompson

This week in the HSI e-Alert

 

This week in the HSI e-Alert

 

************************************************************

 

THIS WEEK IN THE HSI FORUM

 

Fosamax is the most-prescribed medicine worldwide for the

treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis, according to a

study in the New England Journal of Medicine. But that

doesn't mean that it's good for you.

 

In an HSI Forum thread titled " Fosamax... should I take

this? " a member named TXHomemaker says that her mother is at

high risk for fractures. TXH's mom doesn't like to take

medication for fear of side effects. But she does take a

number of supplements, including calcium, magnesium and

vitamin D. Nevertheless, her doctor is insisting

that, " nothing else will build bone except the Fosamax. Any

comments? "

 

There certainly are some comments, starting off with a

member named Gerry who states, " It seems the drug acts by

inhibiting osteoclasts. That could be quite dangerous. "

 

And a member named Jerry agrees, posting this

comment: " Bones are constantly being broken down and built

up again. Osteoclasts break down the bone and osteoblasts

build it up. Osteoblasts keep building up the bone and it

does indeed become denser. However the denser it gets the

more brittle it becomes. Think of a piece of chalk, it is

dense but brittle. So even though your mom would have denser

bones, in a few years I think they would break easier. "

 

In the e-Alert " Bad to the Bone " (4/29/03), I told you how

the inhibition of osteoclast cells increases bone density,

but as Jerry indicates, it's a short-sighted solution that

interferes with a complex natural balance.

 

To make matters

worse, Fosamax kills osteoclast cells with poisons that are

the same class of abrasive chemicals you use to scrub soap

and mildew off of tile. So no wonder that Fosamax comes with

a long list of side effects, which brings us to this posting

from a member named Clara:

 

" My sister-in-law is taking Fosamax and she let me read

the 'warnings' enclosed with her supply. Yikes!!

 

There are

tons of nasty-nasties listed: ulceration of esophagus,

vision problems, ulcers, joint pain, brittle bones, nausea,

headaches, damage to gastric lining, liver damage, etc.

 

Also, one should not take it if one has any kind of kidney

issues. "

 

But the side effects apparently don't stop there. A member

named Mari writes, " I was on Foxomax for only one week. My

blood pressure went up 40 points.

 

It took three days off of

Fosomax for it to return to normal. My Dr. insisted that it

could not be the Fosamax as that was not one of the listed

side effects. But I won't try again. "

 

So, if TXHomemaker's mother doesn't take Fosamax, what

should she do? To begin with, she's on the right track with

her supplement choices because magnesium and vitamin D aid

the absorption of calcium.

 

In addition, she could help her

supplement efforts by increasing her intake of these foods

that are high in calcium: cabbage; kale; yellow, green, or

waxed beans; and salmon.

 

Magnesium-rich foods include: leafy

green vegetables, whole grains, bananas, apricots, meat,

beans, and nuts.

 

And a member named Rick has this suggestion for increasing

vitamin D intake: " Getting seniors to exercise or get out in

the sunlight is the real problem.

 

Do a web search on

Sunlight and Bone Disease and you will come up with hundreds

of hits like: How Sunlight Can Save Your Life. Old saying:

Where Sunshine is - Doctors Ain't. "

 

 

As the comments in this thread illustrate, there are plenty

of natural and safe methods for addressing the risk of

osteoporosis. And all of them are preferable to bathroom

scrubbing chemicals.

 

Other topics on the HSI Forum this week include:

 

* Organic gardening

* Sun's vitamin D

* How to do low-carb on a very tight budget

* Watch the FDA

* Food humor

* Anyone recommend a good quality B17 for Cancer?

 

You can easily reach the Forum on our web site at

www.hsibaltimore.com. Just click on " Forum, " and join in

with any of the dozens of discussions about nutrition and

natural health care.