Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is one of the diseases treated with IV medications. Just as we monitor BP and cholesterol, it is important for people to monitor their bone mineral density. It is a quantitative measurement that will track whether your bones are thinning and putting you at risk for pain and fractures. Osteoporosis was first noticed when people were placed in iron lungs to treat polio. It was studied further, when astronauts, without gravity started losing bone mass.
We now know that Osteoporosis is a preventable and treatable disease. Certain people are predisposed to thinning and porous bones, but with diet, exercise, mineral supplementation, and if necessary drugs, people can escape this incapacitating disease.
Sydney Bonnick, author of The Osteoporosis Handbook, Every Woman’s Guide to Prevention and Treatment, shares her dream:
“As a woman and a physician, I have a dream in which a professor asks a group of young medical students what they know about Osteoporosis. They think for a moment and then one says, “Osteoporosis. Wasn’t that a disease that women in the twentieth century developed, in which the bones of the spine and hip broke more easily? We don’t see that much anymore, do we?” (Bonnick, 1994, pg xii).
It’s true. We are on the brink of being able to prevent or at least reduce the damage of this disease. It’s crucial that children and teenagers build those bones, just like muscles, with a good diet and adequate calcium, vitamin D, and exercise. Bones are living tissue, and “remodel” in a give and take way, removing old bone, and building new day after day. As we age, especially as women, we lose our estrogen and the cycle of bone destruction and bone building gets out of balance. Oral drugs, like Boniva, Fosomax, and Actonel are often times prescribed and are effective in keeping that bone remodeling process in balance.
Unfortunately, some people cannot tolerate the oral drugs. They cause a full feeling, or esophageal discomfort and many people are not allowed take them because of GERD or other stomach conditions. Therefore, the FDA has approved IV medications for this disease.
Careful pre-infusion screening needs to be done. For example good dental care and normal renal function needs to be established prior to infusion. In addition, it’s imperative that people who get these drugs are well- hydrated post infusion and take calcium and vitamin D supplements for 14 days.
Osteoporosis is a crippling disease. In 2005 it was responsible for 2 million fractures and cost our country 19 billion dollars. Experts predict by the year 2025, this will expand to 3 million fractures and 25 billion dollars a year. Fortunately, this is a condition that is not an emergency and allows one plenty of time to make the right decision for them. Diet, exercise, calcium supplements and monitoring bone mineral density are the most important things you can currently be doing.
If you meet the criteria for IV bisphosphonates, we are here to not only provide you with the drug intravenously, but to teach you about the diet, supplements, and exercise that are so important to go along with it. West Michigan Infusion Center encourages you to read and explore everything you can about this disease. We are here as a resource and look forward to working with you and your physician.