Gerd and Osteoporosis meds --burning chest

[pivicky]

I was diagnosed with Acid Reflux, Gastritis and Hiatal hernia --and may have irritable bowel the GI told me --anything else to brighten my day ----anyway I was given a bone density and found to osteoporosis and put on fosomax -six months ago --taking one every week ----I was perscribed nexium which I took for a while but when I start to feel better I stop the meRAB ---now with the fosomax --the last few times --about a day later --there is severe burning in my chest. I went to my regular doc and he wants to check out my heart even though a cardiogram showed normal, no problem there. I am going to heart doc on Wednesday But, what the heck do I do about the osteo ---when it is causing me a problem --I know docs want to help but I do believe the osteo med is a problem ---of course, I am not the perfect patient especially during the holidays --eating and drinking at social functions and I just gave up smoking ---but I still think it is the fosomax ---any ideas as I sit here today at home all darn day ---with this burning sensation in my right chest. thanks for any help. Vicky:dizzy:

 

[taape]

I had burning immediately upon taking Fosamax for osteoporosis. I have to stop taking it. You might ask your doctor about being prescribed Forteo, it's an injectable medication that doesn't affect your stomach. I use it and it works to grow bone without causing stomach problems.

 

[rosebloom]

The osteo drugs like Fosomax, Actonel, etc. all can cause severe heartburn in people prone to reflux and others. This is why I don't want to go on them.
If you go on them, then you'll likely have to take an acid blocker like a PPI (Nexium, etc) which will rob your bones of calcium and force you to take the Actonel. It is a crazy vicious cycle.

I recently found out that I have osteopenia after having taken Aciphex (a PPI) for two years for heartburn and reflux symptoms. I firmly believe that the PPI kept my bones from absorbing calcium. I happened to have a Dexa scan in 2007, the same year I went on Aciphex and it was totally normal.

Besides heartburn, the biphosphonates (Actonel, Fosamax, etc) can lead to bone death in the jaw and other bone problems. My internist recently told me that it causes the body to hold on to old bone and prevents cell turnover. Therefore, some people experience fractures for other reasons.

I am very sorry I did not do my homework on all this two years ago when I started the Aciphex. I am not sure why the doctor did not start me on a milder drug like an H2 blocker.

It's a frustrating situation because one drug causes a serious side effect (osteoporosis) and the drug you then have to take to help with that side effect (Actonel or Fosamax) then causes more of the original symptom (hearburn), requiring a higher dose of the original drug that caused the osteoporosis in the first place.