phylwill1152
04-30-2008, 12:18 PM
This is from an article that gives an easy to understand explanation of how strontium works and the supplements that are need when taking it. These are supplements we already take, but its nice to know the correct amount for the stronium to balance with. take care..phyllis
Strontium works in two ways. It may stimulate the replication of pre-osteoblasts, leading to an increase in osteoblasts (cells that build bone). Strontium also directly inhibits the activity of osteoclasts (cells that break down bone). The result is stronger bones.
When taking strontium, be sure to take 1200 mg calcium, 1000 IU vitamin D3, and 500 mg magnesium daily. It is best to take strontium late at night on an empty stomach. Calcium and strontium may compete with each other for absorption if taken together.
Strontium works in two ways. It may stimulate the replication of pre-osteoblasts, leading to an increase in osteoblasts (cells that build bone). Strontium also directly inhibits the activity of osteoclasts (cells that break down bone). The result is stronger bones.
When taking strontium, be sure to take 1200 mg calcium, 1000 IU vitamin D3, and 500 mg magnesium daily. It is best to take strontium late at night on an empty stomach. Calcium and strontium may compete with each other for absorption if taken together.
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osteoblast
05-01-2008, 01:16 PM
Phyl-thanks. I wish this were available in a script. so we could be sure what we are getting. With everything looking pretty bad about the bisphos. , I wish this would get licensed in the US. I know you can get it at the supplement stores though. Also just a reminder that when taking calcium be sure to count your intake from food as well. From what I have heard from a bone specialist, more calcium is not better.
ps - Could you tell me your weight and dose of synthroid? I am wondering how close to total replacement I am getting with current weight around 115 and dose of 88mcg. From what I have heard the dose is weight dependent. Next week endo appt. ,so will get news on thyroidectomy. Of course, I do not want to get into worse issues esp. with the osteoporosis, but I would like my levels to be evened out!
ps - Could you tell me your weight and dose of synthroid? I am wondering how close to total replacement I am getting with current weight around 115 and dose of 88mcg. From what I have heard the dose is weight dependent. Next week endo appt. ,so will get news on thyroidectomy. Of course, I do not want to get into worse issues esp. with the osteoporosis, but I would like my levels to be evened out!
peppurr
05-01-2008, 01:50 PM
Hi phylwil! How much strontium do they say to take?
phylwill1152
05-01-2008, 03:58 PM
Good afternoon...Hi OB, the active ingredient in SR is strontium citrate, so we are getting the same thing as the script without the renalte salts they add to make it patenable. If it becomes a script here it will leave out alot of people who don't have insurance to cover the cost or who have drs. who are reluctant to try something new. Once it is made available with a drs. order, it will be taken off the shelves as an OTC supplement. I know that its helping so i'm in no hurry for the FDA to put its stamp of approval on something that has already been tested and proven to effective. I think i do ok on calcium..i know some days i don't eat much and other days i do so it balances out. Also on days i may get to much its peeded out and not used by the body.
Right now i am taking 137 mcg. of synthroid. I weight 150lbs. I'm due for 6 month labs and have a feeling that the dose will be lowered slightly. I've started noticing suttle things that could be telling me its time to lower the dose slightly. I don't want to change how good i feel, but i don't want to take too much. Let me know what the endo has to say..are you going to request a thyroidectomy or leave yourself open to other options he has some good ones. Something to think about is that once its gone, its gone..it won't grow back and you'll be on daily meds for life.
Hi peppurr, i take a total of 680 mg. a day in one dose at bedtime. That amount has been deemed the dose for the best results if you have osteo...if you have osteopenia one cap a day is reccommended to help maintain the bone mass you have while making lifesytle changes to improve the overall density.
Its going to rain later today...glad i took the dogs for a walk early this morning. have a good day..take care...phyllis
Right now i am taking 137 mcg. of synthroid. I weight 150lbs. I'm due for 6 month labs and have a feeling that the dose will be lowered slightly. I've started noticing suttle things that could be telling me its time to lower the dose slightly. I don't want to change how good i feel, but i don't want to take too much. Let me know what the endo has to say..are you going to request a thyroidectomy or leave yourself open to other options he has some good ones. Something to think about is that once its gone, its gone..it won't grow back and you'll be on daily meds for life.
Hi peppurr, i take a total of 680 mg. a day in one dose at bedtime. That amount has been deemed the dose for the best results if you have osteo...if you have osteopenia one cap a day is reccommended to help maintain the bone mass you have while making lifesytle changes to improve the overall density.
Its going to rain later today...glad i took the dogs for a walk early this morning. have a good day..take care...phyllis
osteoblast
05-01-2008, 06:21 PM
Phyll-the only reason I would like scripted is that you would then be somewhat certain you are getting what it is said you are getting without contaminants/variation in dose. About scripted-- I don't see why they couldn't have the scripted stron. ranelate and leave the existing stron.citrate on the shelves.
I am on daily thyroid meds now and will be till I die whether or not my thyroid is taken out. I would just get to full replacement sooner if it is removed . I will see what the endo and ENT have to say , the 7 nodules , high tpo antibodies and the reactive lymph node are a concern.If the thyroid is gone, the tpo antibodies don't have any destruction to do, the nodules are gone and hopefully the reactive lymph gland stays in and quiet.And, maybe my levels wouldn't fluctuate as much.
Your dose weight adjusted is about 1/3 higher than mine. Are you feeling a little hyper now? I have read that as your estrogen level changes , your thyroid dose will need to adjust.
Well, I need to get my body moving. Later.
I am on daily thyroid meds now and will be till I die whether or not my thyroid is taken out. I would just get to full replacement sooner if it is removed . I will see what the endo and ENT have to say , the 7 nodules , high tpo antibodies and the reactive lymph node are a concern.If the thyroid is gone, the tpo antibodies don't have any destruction to do, the nodules are gone and hopefully the reactive lymph gland stays in and quiet.And, maybe my levels wouldn't fluctuate as much.
Your dose weight adjusted is about 1/3 higher than mine. Are you feeling a little hyper now? I have read that as your estrogen level changes , your thyroid dose will need to adjust.
Well, I need to get my body moving. Later.
phylwill1152
05-01-2008, 09:19 PM
Hi OB...i think they would take the strontium citrate off the shelves because it is the active ingredient in SR. The FDA wouldnt want a conflict between the pharma companies and OTC brands. With all the problems the FDA is having with drugs already on the market i really don't want them messing with a supplement that can be bought openly. I have read about the dfferent brands of stronium and feel confident that when they say 340 mg. stronium citrate, that is what's in the capsules. With that said can we be sure that the calcium, magnesuim and other supplements we take are pure and are what they say they are? Its a matter of trusting the barnd you choose. Some of the women from Canada have said they can't get strontium anymore..i wonder if SR has become available there.
I can't really say i feel hyper, but i have noticed that vibrating under the skin feeling a few times and can feel my heart beating once in a while, but its nothing like how i felt before being dx and treated. I'll see what the labs and dr. say and go from there. I've maintained a pretty consistent reading for almost 5 years now and would like to keep it that way. Your hashi's is a lot more complicated then the Graves, i can understand why you want to ge the problem resolved and stabilized.
I too thought it went by weight, but i know people that are heavier than me who take lower doses or smaller and take more. I think its more a matter of finding the dose that keeps you feeling at your best. The goal is to get to the level you would have if you didn't have a thyroid problem. It's too bad we don't have a baseline so we'd know what that was before the problem came up. Have a good day...take care...phyllis
I can't really say i feel hyper, but i have noticed that vibrating under the skin feeling a few times and can feel my heart beating once in a while, but its nothing like how i felt before being dx and treated. I'll see what the labs and dr. say and go from there. I've maintained a pretty consistent reading for almost 5 years now and would like to keep it that way. Your hashi's is a lot more complicated then the Graves, i can understand why you want to ge the problem resolved and stabilized.
I too thought it went by weight, but i know people that are heavier than me who take lower doses or smaller and take more. I think its more a matter of finding the dose that keeps you feeling at your best. The goal is to get to the level you would have if you didn't have a thyroid problem. It's too bad we don't have a baseline so we'd know what that was before the problem came up. Have a good day...take care...phyllis
phylwill1152
05-07-2008, 01:30 PM
Hi OB... I got my thyroid labs back and i was right, the dose does need lowered. TSH .01, that's even low for me, and FT4 1.69. He's lowering it from the 137 to 112 and will be retested 8 weeks from when i get the pills. Our insurance has mail order drugs..its so much cheaper than going to the drug store and it will only take a few days to get here. I want to keep feeling as good as i do now, but not at the expense of my bones. I'd hate to lose the gains i've made. I've had light blue and dark blue..wonder what color this dose will be.
Have you been to the endo yet? Is it this week you go? Pease let me know what you learn from the visit. To be honest i don't give my thryoid situation much thought, but when the sneaky little signs kept in i started paying attention a bit more. I'll keep my fingers crossed that the endo will bea ble to get you on the road to steady levels and feeling good. take care..phyllis
Have you been to the endo yet? Is it this week you go? Pease let me know what you learn from the visit. To be honest i don't give my thryoid situation much thought, but when the sneaky little signs kept in i started paying attention a bit more. I'll keep my fingers crossed that the endo will bea ble to get you on the road to steady levels and feeling good. take care..phyllis
Canna
05-07-2008, 02:42 PM
Phyllis.... hi how r u? Strontium citrate is still available in Canada as I bought it only a week ago but maybe what you heard was that one brand was not available for some reason??? The brand I am using is made here.
phylwill1152
05-07-2008, 06:20 PM
HI Canna...all is well here in IL. You and starfish were having a discussion about not being able to fine strontium ( a certain brand i guess) which lead me to think that maybe SR was now available there so they took the OTC off the shelves. Here's a question for you..if SR did become available there would you switch to that or or stay with the OTC strontium you now take? have a good evening..take care..phyllis
osteoblast
05-08-2008, 09:09 PM
PW-with the new dose of 88 I had a tsh of 0.48 so--now I am to alternate 75 and then 88. She said thyroid could come out if I wanted to , but she wasn't ready to say she recommended it . But, I will have another u/s in June and that may tip the scale. Interesting that your dose is to go down now. I have read that estrogen blocks synthroid. So if I were to put forward a theory it may be that declining estrogen levels may account for your situation.But, I suppose it could be any number of things-other drugs you are on or have stopped etc.
phylwill1152
05-09-2008, 07:47 AM
Hi OB...your right about your theory. A few years before i was dx with graves i had a few months where i lost wieght, didn't sleep, ect... then i went on BCP for perimenopause and it went away???. When i stopped the BCP it came back full balst. The endo told me then it was the hormones in the pills that stopped/blocked it while taking them. Now that i am almost 3 years post menopause i guess the drop in estrogen isn't affecting the absorbtion as much. It's all a mystery to me as to how everything works together, but separately. I should have the new dose today or tomrorrow...Medco is usually pretty quick in getting things out.
It sounds like you have a good endo, if she were to agree to removal before exploring all options i'd be concerned. Have a good day..take care..phyllis
It sounds like you have a good endo, if she were to agree to removal before exploring all options i'd be concerned. Have a good day..take care..phyllis
Canna
05-09-2008, 05:28 PM
Phyllis... no just the strontium citrate is available not the SR.. Regarding your question if SR became available would I be interested in switching? First of all I would be covered if it was a drug under hubby's health plan but having said that if I saw a good increase in bone density with the present strontium citrate I would consider staying on it ... but it could be hard to get if that happens.... I have my dexa in August and I can't wait to see if i have improved from my -3.2. Along with strontium is my calcium magnesium vit d vit K and cofactors like zinc copper etc so I tell myself that surely to God I am getting stuff in my bones that I never had before so therefore it can't decrease futher but who knows eh??? I will be soooo disappointed if it decreases as right now I firmly believe that the supplments are working. Having said all that I fully understand that everyone is in the same boat as me... I do not mean to sound selfish and just thinking of me!! Have a great weekend Phyl.
phylwill1152
05-09-2008, 09:24 PM
HI Canna...you are doing all the things most of us are doing to help our bones, its not selfish to want to do all you can and hope for best. Its funny, i was at Walgreens today and stood in the vitamin aisle for the longest time trying to decide which multivitamin to buy. If one had a good amount of one thing is was lacking in another..i tell ya..its a no win situation. I finally bought the one (Nature Made for women over 50) with the most K since that was the one the others seem to have less of.
I too am happy with the OTC (NSI) strontium citrate i get online. The only good thing that would come of it becoming FDA approved would be that they would have to release the adjustment figures so we could get accurate scores. Have a good weekend and if your a Mom..HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!...do you celebrate that in Canada? take care...phyllis
I too am happy with the OTC (NSI) strontium citrate i get online. The only good thing that would come of it becoming FDA approved would be that they would have to release the adjustment figures so we could get accurate scores. Have a good weekend and if your a Mom..HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!...do you celebrate that in Canada? take care...phyllis
DesertBloom
05-10-2008, 05:28 PM
Hi Phyllis: Here's another adjustment article I read recently. I can't figure the math on it, but a dxa tech or radiologist should be able to. I got it from "Science Direct." I thought you already read it, so that's why I didn't post it sooner. This is from a different source than the other 3, I posted some time ago (Clinical Densitometry) from PubMed.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"The Correction of BMD Measurements for Bone Strontium Content"
Glen M. Blake and Ignac Fogelmana, Authors
King's College London School of Medicine, London, UK
Journal of Clinical Densitometry
Volume 10, Issue 3, July-September 2007, Pages 259-265
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If the DXA facility won't take this article, which is also provided through Strontium Ranelate's maunfacturer (Servier), then why couldn't you just add 10% to your t-score, and that should give you a close approximation of what the score actually is. All the articles claim that it comes up to *about* a 10% overestimation (making your bones look denser/better than they are), so wouldn't adding 10% give you a rough idea? Also, they are getting these numbers by comparing a iliac crest bone biopsy to a DXA. I would hate to have a biopsy to figure this one out. I've had one, which was how they first dx'd my osteo, but I was asleep (during surgery) when it was done so I didn't feel a thing. My husband had one, with me in the room-long story-and I've never heard screaming like that before; they only gave him a small local before boring into the bone.
I hope all the walking, vest, poles etc that *all* you guys are doing is really helping. I talked to Sara Meeks a couple of weeks ago, and she said she likes the poles for added upper body isolation while walking. Whatever you can do to add upper body weight bearing while walking is a good thing to do.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"The Correction of BMD Measurements for Bone Strontium Content"
Glen M. Blake and Ignac Fogelmana, Authors
King's College London School of Medicine, London, UK
Journal of Clinical Densitometry
Volume 10, Issue 3, July-September 2007, Pages 259-265
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If the DXA facility won't take this article, which is also provided through Strontium Ranelate's maunfacturer (Servier), then why couldn't you just add 10% to your t-score, and that should give you a close approximation of what the score actually is. All the articles claim that it comes up to *about* a 10% overestimation (making your bones look denser/better than they are), so wouldn't adding 10% give you a rough idea? Also, they are getting these numbers by comparing a iliac crest bone biopsy to a DXA. I would hate to have a biopsy to figure this one out. I've had one, which was how they first dx'd my osteo, but I was asleep (during surgery) when it was done so I didn't feel a thing. My husband had one, with me in the room-long story-and I've never heard screaming like that before; they only gave him a small local before boring into the bone.
I hope all the walking, vest, poles etc that *all* you guys are doing is really helping. I talked to Sara Meeks a couple of weeks ago, and she said she likes the poles for added upper body isolation while walking. Whatever you can do to add upper body weight bearing while walking is a good thing to do.
Canna
05-12-2008, 11:14 AM
HI Canna...you are doing all the things most of us are doing to help our bones, its not selfish to want to do all you can and hope for best. Its funny, i was at Walgreens today and stood in the vitamin aisle for the longest time trying to decide which multivitamin to buy. If one had a good amount of one thing is was lacking in another..i tell ya..its a no win situation. I finally bought the one (Nature Made for women over 50) with the most K since that was the one the others seem to have less of.
I too am happy with the OTC (NSI) strontium citrate i get online. The only good thing that would come of it becoming FDA approved would be that they would have to release the adjustment figures so we could get accurate scores. Have a good weekend and if your a Mom..HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!...do you celebrate that in Canada? take care...phyllis
I too am happy with the OTC (NSI) strontium citrate i get online. The only good thing that would come of it becoming FDA approved would be that they would have to release the adjustment figures so we could get accurate scores. Have a good weekend and if your a Mom..HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!...do you celebrate that in Canada? take care...phyllis
Canna
05-12-2008, 11:56 AM
Hey Phillis Yes I am a mother of two and a grandmother of two. I am 55 One of my gifts was a pedicure certificate and am i ever going to enjoy that!! ha
My cousin is on strontium citrate and is awaiting her dexa scan results in 2 days time so I will let u know... she is the one who enlightened me to try it along with all the board posters who were already after taking the plunge ha ha!! Have a great day freezing here only 4 degrees... b-rrrrrr!!
My cousin is on strontium citrate and is awaiting her dexa scan results in 2 days time so I will let u know... she is the one who enlightened me to try it along with all the board posters who were already after taking the plunge ha ha!! Have a great day freezing here only 4 degrees... b-rrrrrr!!
Aleta145
05-13-2008, 07:28 PM
There was an article in today's MusculoSkeletal report about a company with a new dual-action strontium preparation that has applied for FDA approval:
Osteologix, Inc (SAN FRANCISCO, California), announced that the US FDA has accepted its investigational new drug (IND) application for its lead development candidate NB S101 (strontium malonate) to treat and prevent osteoporosis. NB S101, a dual-acting bone agent, has a demonstrated ability to decrease resorption of bone while maintaining formation of new bone. The drug has been formulated as a convenient once-daily tablet.
It goes on to say that the company reported data from a phase I study demonstrating that the agent has superior bioavailability compared with Protelos® (strontium ranelate), which is not available in the US.
I hope this will come out of the pipeline soon. I'm not happy with being on Boniva...it feels like a time bomb waiting to go off.
Osteologix, Inc (SAN FRANCISCO, California), announced that the US FDA has accepted its investigational new drug (IND) application for its lead development candidate NB S101 (strontium malonate) to treat and prevent osteoporosis. NB S101, a dual-acting bone agent, has a demonstrated ability to decrease resorption of bone while maintaining formation of new bone. The drug has been formulated as a convenient once-daily tablet.
It goes on to say that the company reported data from a phase I study demonstrating that the agent has superior bioavailability compared with Protelos® (strontium ranelate), which is not available in the US.
I hope this will come out of the pipeline soon. I'm not happy with being on Boniva...it feels like a time bomb waiting to go off.
phylwill1152
05-14-2008, 08:44 AM
HI Aleta, thanks for sharing the info...I wonder how long it will take the FDA to investigate and approve this. Did it say what the dual part will be since strontium citrate alone already does both of those things? I also wonder if the pharma companies that make the osteo drugs will try to slow the process. If a new safe and effective drug comes out it will cut big time into their profits. I'm happy with the OTC strontium i've been taking for almost 2 years, but if it becomes FDA aprroved and is cheaper thru our insurance i'd switch. I guess its a wait and see thing, since the FDA can take its sweet time in doing the studies needed to get it to the public. take care...phyllis
Aleta145
05-14-2008, 01:51 PM
Hi Phyllis,
I went on the company's website to read the entire press release and didn't get much more info than what I posted above. According to their site, what sets the drug apart from others is that it's both an anti-resorptive and a bone builder. Now, we all know that Protelos does the same thing; however, it [strontium ranelate] isn't available in the US. And your OTC strontium does that too, but maybe since it isn't a prescription drug, they don't count it? I don't know.
This may be a topic for its own thread, but since you brought it up, Phyllis, here's something interesting about the FDA: Deadlines imposed on their drug-approval process were first enacted as part of the Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) of 1992, which mandated that the FDA must act on 90 percent of all drug candidates within 12 months of submission or face funding cuts. This was changed to 10 months as part of the 1997 FDA Modernization Act and renewed by Congress in 2002 and again in 2007. So, file this under The Law of Unintended Consequences: According to a study reported in the New England Journal of Medicine (March 27, 2008), drugs that are approved "just under the wire" since those Congressional mandates were imposed were three times more likely to be be pulled off the shelves due to concerns about their safety. Maybe waiting until the last minute isn't a good thing after all? :(
I went on the company's website to read the entire press release and didn't get much more info than what I posted above. According to their site, what sets the drug apart from others is that it's both an anti-resorptive and a bone builder. Now, we all know that Protelos does the same thing; however, it [strontium ranelate] isn't available in the US. And your OTC strontium does that too, but maybe since it isn't a prescription drug, they don't count it? I don't know.
This may be a topic for its own thread, but since you brought it up, Phyllis, here's something interesting about the FDA: Deadlines imposed on their drug-approval process were first enacted as part of the Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) of 1992, which mandated that the FDA must act on 90 percent of all drug candidates within 12 months of submission or face funding cuts. This was changed to 10 months as part of the 1997 FDA Modernization Act and renewed by Congress in 2002 and again in 2007. So, file this under The Law of Unintended Consequences: According to a study reported in the New England Journal of Medicine (March 27, 2008), drugs that are approved "just under the wire" since those Congressional mandates were imposed were three times more likely to be be pulled off the shelves due to concerns about their safety. Maybe waiting until the last minute isn't a good thing after all? :(
Canna
05-14-2008, 04:37 PM
I just thought I would share this and get your opinions.... my cousin is a strontium user but only for seven months and just had her dexa scan done .. no decrease she is -3 I encouraged her that this is good as before strontium she was decreasing plus she has had no fractures since starting strontium.(three previous fractures before strontium) The oseo specialist that she saw did not seem to think strontium was working and was not positive about using strontium citrate but supported the ranalate that is not available to us!!!! Am I correct in believing that it has to be working or she would have had another decrease just like every other time but I guess the next dexa will tell the tale so to speak for sure!
phylwill1152
05-14-2008, 06:17 PM
Hi Canna, the renalate in SR has nothing to do with the effectiveness. The main and working ingredient is strontium citrate, they add the renalate salts so it can be pantended and made into a prescription. The strontium citrate we buy OTC is the same as what's in the SR. If she hasn't seen a decrease or had addtional fx, i'd ahve to say that even tho she isn't gaining denstiy, she isn't losing anymore either, so its doiong something to help her. I don't think her dr. understands what it is, how it works or what it does. Maybe if she took some good solid info to her she'd have a better understanding of it instead of just saying it doesn't work. We have to be our own advocates and educate our dr. if we want to try the nonconventional methods.
Hi Athea...thanks for the FDA info..i wasn't really sure how all that worked. My husband does fish diseases for our state and has dealth with them on occassions...its never pleasant...hahaha. I found the whole article..its sounds like a good thing if it can make it thru the maze and be affordable.
have a good evening..take care...phyllis
Hi Athea...thanks for the FDA info..i wasn't really sure how all that worked. My husband does fish diseases for our state and has dealth with them on occassions...its never pleasant...hahaha. I found the whole article..its sounds like a good thing if it can make it thru the maze and be affordable.
have a good evening..take care...phyllis