Anyone taking strontium for osteoporosis?

I'm not, but I remember members discussing it a year or two ago. You may be able to find the threads using the SEARCH feature.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strontium_ranelate

I've been taking strontium citrate for several years now, while also taking Femara. I started this journey with osteopenia from a completely unrelated problem a few years earlier, and my oncologist wanted me to start on a biphosphonate but she changed her mind when I was able to show her a chart that demonstrated I've been able to maintain my bone density for the last 6 years and even improve it slightly. 

In addition to the strontium, I also take 5000 IUs of Vitamin D daily. I drink skim milk with two meals a day. On those days when I don't have skim milk with dinner, I also take a calcium supplement. Calcium interferes with strontium absorption so you have to space it out by about 4 hours. 

Actually, if you research strontium in foods, you'll find that it's present naturally in many foods from grains to vegetables and seafood.

Hi again, yes I know.  Strontium ranelate which is the form that is available by RX in Europe has ranelate added to it. This makes it slightly more bio available, but more tough on the gut.  (Those are the major SEs, the stroke stuff, well if you took tamoxifen, that's worse for you for sure.)  Same with arimidex.

Strontium citrate is the natural form, available right on amazon or a health food store.  I'm no health food nut, nor see a naturopath.  But my doctor is not only European, but she's also highly educated on this supplement.  Strontium citrate is a deal safer to take and much easier on the tummy.

Thanks to Texas, that's really helpful!

So is femara also a bone drug?  I'm unclear what it does, exactly.  I don't think that they recommended concurrent use of a bone drug and strontium.  It was one or the other.

Going to find out just how bad things are tomorrow.   No one called me back on DEXA and seeing onc for 6 months.  Since I have shrunk in height,  have a bad feeling the bones are lousy.  Although I just received an email from a buddy mentioning that it is common for women to shrink up to 3" post menopause!  YIKES!!

Thank you for the info, Momine!  I was 5 years on arimidex, so same thing I guess.  I did v well, but it looks like my bones not so much.

A friend just sent me current info on strontium.  link below:  In short:  if you have existing heart conditions, are elderly or have uncontrolled HBP, it's not for you.  For the rest of us, it's fine.  I want to say that this is off the net, not substantiated by a dr. yet, and is only a publication but at least it is recent.

.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24322475

Ooops!  I forgot to qualilfy; this study is on strontium ranelate the stronger, dr. prescribed RX.  The study did not take into account strontium citrate, which is an OTC supplement and has not been studied.

For whippet lover: my blood pressure goes sky high when I'm under stress.  Out of the onc office, back to normal.  I tend to "white coat fever."  If your lower number stays  good (80 or lower) my drs. have told me it is not a concern.  If you take a blood pressure med., I would surely mention this to your doctor before attempting strontium.  The study I posted was also all elderly people.  I am 58 and my GP has green lighted it.

Despite my jumping blood pressure, all of my doctors so far have give strontium the thumbs up vs. bone drugs. 

I hope this is helpful for you.  We're all trying to figure this stuff out.

Hello everyone, I think we should try to update this thread and keep it going.

I have been taking strontium citrate for a few years to treat my osteoporosis. I buy it on line.

I would not touch bisphosphonates or strontium ranelate.

I would love to hear from others.

Best wishes,

Sylvia.

Femara is known to rob bone density. I've now been on it for 5 years, while also taking strontium citrate. My bone density has actually improved slightly. Strontium is not a miracle pill. You still need to exercise and follow a good diet.