Actonel

[trainlady]

My doctor has prescribed Actonel to take with my calcium pills. They supposedly help with the absorbtion of the calcium. My insurance will not pay for these pills and they are very expensive. Will the calcium pills be absorbed without the actonel? I just recently started on the calcium after having my first bone desity scan and finding bone loss on my hips.

thanks, train

[cau]

Hi, I have osteoporsis and have had it for years. I don't retrain calicum on my own. You must take the calicum with vitamen D. Oscal 500 come with D already in it. That is what I take. The Actional is to help stop the bone loss and actually rebuild some of the loss. I know it is expensive but you should try to take them if at all possible. Have you asked your Dr. for samples? Also check with the drug company itself, sometime they have programs to reduce the cost. Fossomax( I may have the name wrong) is also on the market. It has been around longer and may have a generic. I became very nausated on it. It is taken daily instead of just once a week but it is VERY important with either to follow the directions of being up and drinking with full glasses of water. Any way I can help just let meknow. cau

[MNNorsk]

Because of osteoporosis I take Fosamax, which is by prescription only and does not have a generic. Along with this I take OTC calcium with vitamin D because 'D' helps to absorb the calcium. There are some calcium tablets that have the vitamin D included and none are very expensive. Ask your pharmacist which would be the best equivalent to the Actonol.