Osteopenia symptoms and conditions

I never thought about the side effects of mirena. I had mine in over 4 yrs. and now I've realized the maybe everything that I've been going through could be because of it. I've been depress, moody, in pain all over and I feel like no doctor knows what is going on with me. I have gain a lot of weight, I'm heavier now than I was at 9 months pregnant. I'm a 36 year old married mother of four, my youngest is five now. My main concern is that lately, I've been feeling this terrible pain on my upper back and neck. I feel my bones crack with every movement, they crack even when I breath. A few weeks ago I went to the doctor and she order an x-ray of my neck and it showed some deterioration of the bones. I've been so worried, even thinking that it could be cancer or something. Now after finding this website I am wondering if it could be the Mirena.

53 year old female who has taken "F" for almost 2 years - the past two months was the generic version. Have noticed a gradual onset of joint pain and heart palpitations, but am not one to see a doc unless I feel like I'm dying... So I wrote it off to aging. (-:
A friend recently mentioned that she had heard that Fosamax causes bones to be brittle, which caused me to wake up, look around and see what people are saying and what new articles or research are out there. Yeah, sure - there are lawsuits. Not a surprise in our litigious society. More importantly, however, are the comments from real people. Thanks to you who've posted your experiences!
I stopped the drug several weeks ago and seem to have an increase in joint paint. But I'm not going back to Fosamax! Also interesting to me is that around the same time I stopped the drug, I experienced an uncharacteristic downward shift in my mood/mental state. Not sure if there's a correlation to the drug or not...
It is reassuring to see some comments from people who indicate they feel better after weeks/months of being Fosamax free. I am a "gym rat" and very fit/weight appropriate. Weight training and nutrition will be my treatment of choose for osteopenia for now. With time, I am confident that the symptoms I'm experiencing will subside. And any future ailments for which I am prescribed a drug will be very carefully researched by me beforehand.
Be careful out there and stay informed!

I am 40 years old with Osteopenia and was prescribed Fosamax with Vitamin D and have been taking for 15 months. I would say after after a year I noticed my voice not as strong when I would so sing. My voice lately got very hoarse and I developed some acid reflux symptoms. I made an appointment to a throat specialist and right away told him I was on this medicine and felt that it was a side effect and he said it definitely was. Needless to say I am not taking it any longer. I will take over the counter Calcium and Vitamin D pills and go from there. If this helps anyone it was worth posting.

I am a 56 y/o female who started on Fosamax last Sunday. I have a dx of osteopenia. I followed the directions of taking pill with full glass of water and remained upright for 30 minutes before having anything to eat. I was fine on Sunday but on Monday I woke with SEVERE bone pain! My whole rib cage, back, knees and heels were hurting so bad. It felt like I had pain in every bone in my body. I could not take in a full deap breath as my rib cage was hurting so bad. I could not bend or turn without terrible pain. My energy level was zero. I immediately called my doctor who told me to hold the Fosamax (ya think?) and ordered Vit D lab levels. Apparently when you Vit D levels are off (don't know if too high or too low) you can suffer this bone pain. I am awaiting the results. The pain is better today and I was told it takes 5 days to get out of your system. I only wish I had done my homework and found this site before taking this poison. I have to say I'm a registered nurse and know that ALL medications have side effects and everyone responds to meds differently. Some side effects subside as your body gets use to it and some can experience severe allergic reactions. But it's important to weigh the risk vs the benefit. I would rather deal with osteopenia in another way. So my search begins for alternatives to Fosamax for good bone health. Has anyone had good results with other supplements/meds?

Anyone know of a class action suit? I was on Advair for 4 years for mild asthma (very occasional problems with exercise), at the advice of my allergist. While I was still on it, I was diagnosed with osteopenia, and episcleritis (occasional flare up, now gone since I quit). However, after 1 yr off Advair, I have just been diagnosed with a cataract at 54. I questioned my doctor about the osteoporosis, she poo pooed it. My cataract is advancing very rapidly. I would like to know if I can get some compensation to help with cataract surgery!!!!

I was diagnosed at age 46 with osteopenia and being post-menopausal (altho I never had any symptoms). I was put on Fosamax 1X/week. After a couple of months I developed a painful locked left shoulder. X-rays revealed nothing, and the doctors could not give me any cause except "getting older." I was unable to hook my bra, raise my arm above my head, take an item down from a cabinet shelf, pull a shirt over my head, or put my hair up. I was referred to a physical therapist, and after four months of daily exercises with tension bands and light hand weights, most of the pain subsided and mobility resumed.

Now, a year later, I have developed terrible pain in my right shoulder along with pain in the upper arm, difficulty sleeping due to the pain, and recurring pain in the left shoulder. The right shoulder is not locked as was the left, but it is more painful.

I started doing the shoulder exercises on my own and found that the pain would be better for a few days, then resume with a vengeance--usually on the weekends. After reading this website and many others--voila! I have been taking Fosamax on Fridays. I've been off it now for two weeks and the pain is definitely better.

A few other things that have helped are a good massage to loosen the muscles around the shoulder joints, nighttime application of a heating rub (BenGay), and sleeping with a small pillow tucked under the armpit on the painful side (like holding a baby) to take the weight of the arm off the shoulder joint.

I have also been losing clumps of hair every day; I don't see any thinning or bald patches, but I am amazed at the two handfuls that come out every time I wash my hair. I feel so much weaker, especially in my arms, than I ever have in my life. I have always been quite strong for my small size, able to life heavy things, run long distances (three marathons), and have great physical endurance. Now I feel like a weakling; I have trouble getting up or down if I am seated on the floor or laying down, trouble lifting anything over my head, and trouble relying on the strength in my arms for ordinary tasks such as lifting or throwing.

I will check back on this site often and post an update if I see any significant changes after being off the Fosamax for a while longer. I want my shoulders, my hair, and my strength back!

I am a 51 year old female who has been taking Advair 500/50 for a number of years now. About a year ago I got a severe sinus infection and have been battling recurring bouts ever since like clockwork. I've lost my sense of smell and my voice sounds like I am sick 24/7. The ENT I went to was absolutely clueless on asthma and allergy medications and their side effects. She told me my sinus problems were caused by my allergies. They may have caused the problem but I should be healthy enough to recover in a week or two not a year or two!!! I have NEVER have a sinus infection before taking Advair. I also now have been diagnoses with Osteopenia and a recent blood test showed elevated blood sugar and cholesterol. My GP says it is a side effect of Advair. I have also recently went thru a barage of tests because of an irregular heart beat and palpitations. I am a triathlete and marathon runner, eat a healthy balanced diet and work hard at trying to keep my weight in check. There is no doubt in my mind that Advair is the cause of these health problems.
I decided to come off Adbvair cold turkey. For about a week I felt exhausted (an understatement). I did experience a few episodes of tightness in my chest but using a puff or two of albuterol was all I needed. I take peak flow readings ever morning and actually had some of my highest readings in months, after stopping. Best part of all, I am starting to get my sense of smell back and have been without symptoms of sinusitus for the first time in over a year!!! My energy is coming back. But the big test will be when I start back training at full throttle.
When I was prescribed Advair the only thing I was told was to make sure that I rinse my mouth out after taking it. No reason and no education on the short and long term effects. This forum is AWESOME!!! This is the first site that I have encountered that gave me honest hard facts and information I can work with. THANKS TO ALL who have posted!!!

Been on Prednisone for 3 years now for ulcerative colitis. At first tolerated the drug quite well. But after a few months started to gain weight, acne. After 3 years of yo-yoing between large and low doses, each increase in dose made me feel worse. I am now at a state of osteopenia and of extreme tiredness and brain fog. I see 80yo with more energy than I. I cant walk up 10 sets of stairs without feeling tired out. I need to sleep 3-5 hours a day just in order to function. As mentioned before brain fog is amazingly bad. I'm a scientific researcher which can no longer work.

Prednisone has introduced to me what panic attacks are, mood swings, joint pain and swelling, extreme muscle fatigue and wasting, blurry vision, in habitual eating habits, depression.

This drug has ruined my life. I would have preferred having surgery to remove the colon and going to the toilet 10 times a day rather than not living as brain fog and tiredness that makes my life a dream-state nightmare.

48 year old male. been on Advair for MANY years. recently diagnosed with Osteopenia, which describes the condition of loss of bone density. I have significant loss of bone density in spine, femurs and hips. I have three compression fractures in T6, T7, T8 vertebra

I had no idea until recently that Bone density problems were a side effect of Advair. Sad.

My mom was recently prescribed Fosamax. She took one pill in the morning and by that evening she as in excruciating pain in her shoulders and chest. She describes it as a burning, tearing feeling that is made worse by bending down or moving quickly. She only took one pill and it was almost 4 weeks ago now and yet the pain has not subsided at all. She had a chest xray last week with normal results and is going for a bone scan tomorrow. Anyone else experiencing these symptoms and what has your diagnosis been in regard to the symptoms.

I have been on NuvaRing for 4 months. I was previously on DepoProvera for 10 years, but due to bone loss, osteopenia, had to get off it. I had no side effects with Depo, no periods, no PMS, no problems.
I gained 12 pounds the first 2 months on NR. My weight continues to climb, even though I exercise and eat well. My breasts are swollen and sore constantly. I have excessive discharge, itchiness, and burning. I have also noticed I have gas more often.
I do not take the ring out for a week for a period, I just insert a new ring after 3 weeks and have experienced no bleeding. I have NOT experienced any of the other symptoms, such as depression, anxiety, mood swings, headaches, which is surprising since I have been estrogen-deficient for 10years and am suddenly on it.
Overall, my symptoms seem minimal compared to others' experiences, so maybe everyone is different. But it does scare me that these symptoms are possible in the future.

PROS:
easy to use, convenient
only have to take it once/3 weeks
big boobs!
no period

CONS:
weight gain
breast soreness
yeast infections, itchiness
excessive discharge
gas
cost $35 every 3 weeks (my Depo was free)

I have taken some sort of medication for hypothyroidism for many years, perhaps as many as 22 (I am 51).

Over the last few years, I feel like my health has deteriorated. Frequent, severe headaches, irritability, moodiness. My face had a sunken look.

I asked an expert in alternatives about the headaches and she immediately said that Levothyroxine has headaches as a side effect. I had not really considered the side effects of this medicine at all--I thought of it as completely safe. (The side effects didn't pertain to me--silly thinking, I know.)

Well, except for the thinning bones! Just a few months before, I read in *Strong Women Stay Young* that levothyroxine causes thinning bones. My doctor had diagnoses osteopenia, which is the beginning of osteoporosis. I don't want that, but it may be too late. (I am started a strength training program to strengthen my bones.)

I decided to stop the med. and try alternatives. The headaches lessened, but did not cease. Ran out of the alternative. Now I have what one site called "moon face." Puffy. Eyes look smaller. Very interesting -- makes me think I was taking too much before, because I looked haggard.

But even more interesting to me was the level of my general anxiety (and thus, my irritability) is down. Yes, I am tired, but I am also calmer!

Long story short (I know, too late for that!), side effects: headaches, anxiety, irritability, haggard expression, depression, thinning bones.

Here's to hoping that the alternatives work! I want to clear this med. out of my body (especially my brain) and try to feel better with healthy alternatives.

I am only 36. I had a Laparoscopy and Hysteroscopy of my uterus. I was in surgery for over 2hours. My uterus was attached to my stomach, my ovary attached to my uterus. I had my right fallopian tube all twisted like a telephone cord. My left fallopian tube had a huge endometrioma in it. The doctor put everything back where it belonged, and cauterized some of the severe endometriosis. After surgery, I took Lupron for the recommended 6 months. Yes, it helped my Endometriosis, while I was on it. But, it is now ONE year later, and I am in just as much pain as I was BEFORE I took this medication. AND NOW on top of the endo pain, I HAVE SIDE EFFECTS FROM THIS MEDICINE THAT WON'T GO AWAY. I have had Foot pain since the first shot. I had leg pains, deep in the bones. I have had tendonitis in every limb, it just keeps moving around my body. (Lupron supposedly dries out your tendons) I had memory loss (though that was mostly temporary, mostly words) I had the night sweats and insomnia, though those both went away for the most part. I too was extremely emotional, both angry and upset. I also began to feel helpless and almost suicidal. The pain from the side effects made me feel this way. I gained about 20lbs. I have Osteopenia now, which is bone density loss, everyone should have a bone density test after Lupron. My feet are still killing me though. I wish they weren't, I would give anything to turn back to before Lupron so that I could say no thank you. Good luck to anyone who takes this, but hopefully all these posts will help you decide not to take it. It really isn't worth messing your life up at such an early age. I will never be the person I was before.

This may be a little long.. but I thot it was amusing (or terrifying).

No one website provided this entire list, I merged and edited a few.

My favorite is "... this is not a complete list."

You will not get all, or even most, of these side effects, but they are possible. This is not a complete list.

an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of your throat; swelling of your lips, tongue, or face; or hives);
a weakened immune system in general, leaving you open to infection
sensitivity to sunlight - avoid too much sun
heat intolerance
"moon face" - a swollen, rounded facal shape
sodium retention, fluid retention, edema (swelling)
congestive heart failure, from "steroid myopathy"
potassium loss, alkalosis (increased alkalinity such as sodium, in the blood)
hypertension - high blood pressure (severe headache or blurred vision)
muscle weakness, loss of muscle mass
osteopenia - loss of bone density, osteoporosis - extreme loss of bone density ;bone and joint changes osteoporosis
tendon rupture, especially of the Achilles tendon
spinal compression fractures
aseptic necrosis of femoral and humeral heads - severe knee and hip joint problem, possibly requiring replacement joints
chronic fractures of your long bones
peptic ulcer with possible perforation and hemorrhage
nausea, vomiting
anorexia, weight loss
increased appetite, weight gain, sudden weight gain (more than 5 pounds in a day or two)
diarrhea or constipation
pancreatitis - inflamed pancreas
abdominal distention - swelling of the stomach
ulcerative esophagitis - inflammation of the esophagus (tube that leads to your stomach), with sores
slow wound healing
thin, fragile skin
petechiae - blood spots on the skin
ecchymoses - black and blue pools of blood under the skin from ruptured blood vessels
facial erythema - abnormal redness of the facial skin
hirsutism - abnormal hair growth
acne
urticaria - hives
heavy sweating
headache
convulsions
vertigo
neuritis - impaired or lost reflexes
paresthesias - sensation of numbness, tingling or burning
menstrual irregularities
Cushingoid state
failure of adrenal gland to produce enough hormones in times of stress
stunted growth in children
hypercholesterolemia - high cholesterol
low carbohydrate tolerance
adult onset diabetes
increased need for insulin in diabetics
hypoglycemia - low blood sugar
cataracts
increased pressures in the eye
glaucoma, with possible damage to the optic nerves
secondary eye infections due to fungi or viruses
exophthalmos - abnormal bulging out of the eyeballs
hallucinations
psychosis
euphoria, mood changes
accelerated atherosclerosis - coronary artery disease
heart arrhythmias due to potassium deficiency
syncope - fainting
necrotizing angiitis - serious inflammation of blood vesssels or lymph ducts
night sweats, nightmares, insomnia

I posted previously on April 14, 2004. I should have mentioned that I experienced most of the side effects listed in other postings, but only mentioned the side effects I did not see in the forum. Two more I haven't seen mentioned: the Prednisone "hump" at the top of my back...it is a pad of fat that builds up the longer you are on Prednisone. The other side effect did not show up right away: Osteopenia, which is the stage between normal bone mass and Osteoporosis. I am now taking Fosomax to help prevent further bone loss.

I have been on Advair for severe COPD for 2 yrs now. In the beginning I was feeling great. I am off prednisone and hardly using my inhaler. After about 2 months I started having severe pain in my bones and muscles. Went to several rhuematologists for diagnosis. Rhuematoid arthiritis,
fibromylgia, Osteopenia and whatever else!I now have depression, memory problems, and a horrible cough, and having a lot of difficulty functioniong.At that time I contacted Glaxo and was told that they had no side effects. Now I am hearing all these side effects that people are having I think this does have to be reported.