I’m taking letrazole, calcium/vitamin D tablets and weekly alendronic acid tablets. My bone density has slowly improved from borderline opsteoporosis to osteopenia over the last 2.5 years as a result.
Initially I was told that I couldn’t take alendronic acid for more than 3 years as it starts to affect bone structure (as opposed to bone strength) adversely if you take it for too long.
Is anyone aware of the latest science on this ? My doctor mentioned that it might be worth staying on it for more than 3 years but I’m not sure if I want to risk it - it’s a dilemma between maintaining bone strength/ losing structure or vice versa.
I am on a bishphosphonate infusion every six months for three years and also take Anastrazole so not exactly the same as you but sort of similar.
I thought the advice was still to take for 3 - 5 years and only to continue after that if a person is classed as high risk of fractures and the benefits outweigh the risks.
Apparantly there is also some evidence that they may carry on working for a time after stopping treatment.
As you say below, taking bishphosphonates over the long term can apparantly cause problems such as maintaining bone density yet sacrificing bone quality and causing greater risk of fractures.
If your doctor has said that it may be worth staying on them fo rmore than 3 years, then I would be asking why is s/he recommending that. I would want my individual risks and benefits in detail. Although some of the more scary side effects are rare, they can be very troublesome.
I’ve been on Anastrozole for 3½ years and this has increased my risk of osteoporosis from moderate to high so have just been given alendronic acid (my vit D and calcium OK so no need for any additional pills, thank goodness). My GP said I would take AA for the remaining 18 months of Anastrozole plus an additional year. He didn’t say anything to me about longer term use.