I Have A Question About Medications

[cahill]

Hi, I am new to these forums and I have a question about medications.

I take synthroid for my hypothyroidism and I recently was diagnosed with osteoporosis in my spine and the doc wants me on medication for that.

The pharmacist assures me that the synthriond is gluten free,,Does anyone take synthriond ?? Other than my pharmacist saying it is gluten free ,how did i know that? how can i research the ingredients in drugs??

Any suggestions for the medication for the osteoporosis ?? the doc mentioned once a week Boniva,,

Thanks for your help,

Cheryl

[ravenwoodglass]

The best way to find out for sure is to call the company that makes the drug. Your pharmacy should be giving you a monograph with the name of the company on it or the company name may be in small letters on the script bottle. If the drug is a generic it should be checked at each refill.

I don't know about the Boniva, I have osteoporosis but chose to pass on the drugs. Instead I upped my calcium and vit D3 and increase the amount of weight bearing excercise I do. We shall see if that helped at my next scan.

[cahill]

The best way to find out for sure is to call the company that makes the drug. Your pharmacy should be giving you a monograph with the name of the company on it or the company name may be in small letters on the script bottle. If the drug is a generic it should be checked at each refill.

I don't know about the Boniva, I have osteoporosis but chose to pass on the drugs. Instead I upped my calcium and vit D3 and increase the amount of weight bearing excercise I do. We shall see if that helped at my next scan.

I am concerned about taking the meds for the osteoporosis,and at this point and still considering it ,,I also do weight bearing exercise but am at a lost of what else to do((exercise wise)) because of it being in the spine ..The rest of the scan showed my hips ect... still in osteopenia ,,but to be honest i am concerned because of it being my spine

[ravenwoodglass]

I am concerned about taking the meds for the osteoporosis,and at this point and still considering it ,,I also do weight bearing exercise but am at a lost of what else to do((exercise wise)) because of it being in the spine ..The rest of the scan showed my hips ect... still in osteopenia ,,but to be honest i am concerned because of it being my spine

If you haven't been diagnosed celiac for long you could consider waiting and making sure you are getting enough vit D, have your doctor check your levels in case you need heavy supplementation for a bit, increase your calcium and keep up with the excerciseing and see if once your gut heals and you start absorbing better your osteo either stays the same or improves a bit. You might also see if your doctor would give you a script for a few Physical Therapy sessions to have the therapist show you the best excercises to do.

The decision on whether to take the drugs is a tough one. I thought long and hard about it but with all the dental issues I have I didn't think it worth the risk. I am hoping that my bone density levels are either the same or a bit better on the next scan.

You might want to consider posting a question about osteoporosis in the related disease section and see if you can get input from some of the other folks here on that specific issue.

[cahill]

If you haven't been diagnosed celiac for long you could consider waiting and making sure you are getting enough vit D, have your doctor check your levels in case you need heavy supplementation for a bit, increase your calcium and keep up with the excerciseing and see if once your gut heals and you start absorbing better your osteo either stays the same or improves a bit. You might also see if your doctor would give you a script for a few Physical Therapy sessions to have the therapist show you the best excercises to do.

The decision on whether to take the drugs is a tough one. I thought long and hard about it but with all the dental issues I have I didn't think it worth the risk. I am hoping that my bone density levels are either the same or a bit better on the next scan.

You might want to consider posting a question about osteoporosis in the related disease section and see if you can get input from some of the other folks here on that specific issue.

I am 53 and was just diagnosed with celiac's NOV. of 09 after both of my daughters were diagnosed ,,we are watching my vitamin D levels closely and i am currently taking heavy supplements

Thank you for your input and suggestions,,,sometimes i feel more then a little lost,,and after years of misdiagnoses ,I dont have much trust or faith in doctors

Thank you

[tarnalberry]

It's been noted in celiacs that magnesium deficiency (and supplementation) may be *more* important than calcium supplementation for regaining bone density.

[jackay]

It's been noted in celiacs that magnesium deficiency (and supplementation) may be *more* important than calcium supplementation for regaining bone density.

tarnalberry,

I'm so glad you brought this up. I have ostepenia due to hyperparathyroidism. My endo NEVER said anything about taking magnesium. He wants me taking 2100 mg. calcium daily along with 2000 IU Vitamin D.

I supplement with a bit less calcium and a bit more Vitamin D. I do take 100 mg. magnesium bis-glycinate each morning. It is suppose to be highly absorbable.

Back in December, I had a micronutrient panel run by another doctor. Everything was in the normal range except my Vitamin B12 was just a bit low. My magnesium result was 50% with the reference range being >37%.

I don't want to take too much magnesium (have no idea how much I need) and really hope I can cut down on the calcium. I'll be seeing a DO this week. I may never go back to the endo. If my blood work comes back showing hyperparthyroid issues again, I will try to find a new endo. Osteopenia is suppose to reverse once the parathyroid gland returns to normal. My endo hasn't said anything about another scan to see if it has. I'll see if the DO orders will order it.

[cahill]

tarnalberry,

I'm so glad you brought this up. I have ostepenia due to hyperparathyroidism. My endo NEVER said anything about taking magnesium. He wants me taking 2100 mg. calcium daily along with 2000 IU Vitamin D.

I supplement with a bit less calcium and a bit more Vitamin D. I do take 100 mg. magnesium bis-glycinate each morning. It is suppose to be highly absorbable.

Back in December, I had a micronutrient panel run by another doctor. Everything was in the normal range except my Vitamin B12 was just a bit low. My magnesium result was 50% with the reference range being >37%.

I don't want to take too much magnesium (have no idea how much I need) and really hope I can cut down on the calcium. I'll be seeing a DO this week. I may never go back to the endo. If my blood work comes back showing hyperparthyroid issues again, I will try to find a new endo. Osteopenia is suppose to reverse once the parathyroid gland returns to normal. My endo hasn't said anything about another scan to see if it has. I'll see if the DO orders will order it.

I feel like such a newbie,,I knew about my B12 and Vit D levels but i never would have though to ask about magnesium .. Doesnt help that my doc has never seen a case of celiac's (diagnosed) before ,The only reason she ordered the biopsy was because i insisted after my daughters were diagnosed ..

I am already learning so much in these forums.

Thanks guys

[SaraKat]

I take 25 mcg Synthroid and my endocrinologist confirmed it is gluten-free.

[Gemini]

I am concerned about taking the meds for the osteoporosis,and at this point and still considering it ,,I also do weight bearing exercise but am at a lost of what else to do((exercise wise)) because of it being in the spine ..The rest of the scan showed my hips ect... still in osteopenia ,,but to be honest i am concerned because of it being my spine

Cahill...we have the exact same problem regarding hips and spine. I am 51 years old. There is no way in hell I am taking that bone med because they do not work as advertised. They deposit bone on the outside of the bone and do little to re-build the matrix....which is the real issue. I also, like many here, have dental issues with on going "road-work" being done and will not take the risk of jaw necrosis.

Tarnalberry stated wise words about magnesium....it is the catalyst for getting the calcium into your bones and is more important than taking just calcium. Vit. D very important also. I take all three but have upped my magnesium amounts and now work out in a weight training class...a hard one! Twice a week for an hour and the trainers there assure me that this will re-build my spine. It may take a while but I am determined to do it the natural way. The benefits over meds? My body is getting very toned and that's a huge plus!

Please don't fear this...you can rebuild your spine like I am doing. I haven't had any repeat bone density tests yet as I only started the regimen 4 months ago but I am positive it will help. If you are doing hard, upper body weight training, it should work but be patient....for people in our age group, it isn't going to happen overnight. Good luck!

[jackay]

Cahill...we have the exact same problem regarding hips and spine. I am 51 years old. There is no way in hell I am taking that bone med because they do not work as advertised. They deposit bone on the outside of the bone and do little to re-build the matrix....which is the real issue. I also, like many here, have dental issues with on going "road-work" being done and will not take the risk of jaw necrosis.

Tarnalberry stated wise words about magnesium....it is the catalyst for getting the calcium into your bones and is more important than taking just calcium. Vit. D very important also. I take all three but have upped my magnesium amounts and now work out in a weight training class...a hard one! Twice a week for an hour and the trainers there assure me that this will re-build my spine. It may take a while but I am determined to do it the natural way. The benefits over meds? My body is getting very toned and that's a huge plus!

Please don't fear this...you can rebuild your spine like I am doing. I haven't had any repeat bone density tests yet as I only started the regimen 4 months ago but I am positive it will help. If you are doing hard, upper body weight training, it should work but be patient....for people in our age group, it isn't going to happen overnight. Good luck!

I was told today by a nurse that you should also take a multivitamin along with your calcium, magnesium and vitamin D. She said vitamin A is needed to utilize the vitamin D. I'm sure the rest of the vitamins and minerals are necessary to work together.

[cahill]

Thanks everyone for all your input

I am going have my doc do another round of blood work , I want to know want my magnesium,B 12 and vit D levels are now ,,I also am going to ask her to prescribe physical therapy for my back/spine so i can be sure i am doing the correct exercise for my spine

I am leaning toward putting off meds for the osteoporosis until I have a chance to see what i can do with exercise and supplements

Thanks guys

[Loey]

Hi chahill,

I'm new to this forum and was just diagnosed in June. I found a website that lists medications that are gluten free (you should read the labels anyway):

Open Original Shared Link

I've been spending a lot of time in the forum about food lists. In general I'm just so happy to have found this web site ad meet people with the same problems that I have. I moved out of state right after the diagnosis, was doing all right for a while then had a flare 3 weeks ago that has not improved. I was lucky that someone on another thread told me that some people are intolerant to foods that are labeled gluten free (I know canola oil is a no-no for me now). I'm trying to be my own detective.

I don't know anyone in my new location yet and some days the Celiac keeps me housebound. I can't wait until I feel well enough to look for a job (I'm a teacher). I guess what I'm saying is thanks to everyone here - you're a Godsend!!!

Loey

P.S. I hope this list helps

[bincongo]

Thanks everyone for all your input

I am going have my doc do another round of blood work , I want to know want my magnesium,B 12 and vit D levels are now ,,I also am going to ask her to prescribe physical therapy for my back/spine so i can be sure i am doing the correct exercise for my spine

I am leaning toward putting off meds for the osteoporosis until I have a chance to see what i can do with exercise and supplements

Thanks guys

I have taken Boniva for several years. I don't think I have done any harm by doing it but I did not know I was Celiac until this July. My DEXA scan was not improving with Boniva and calcium but not getting worse either. Now I believe it was maybe do to problems with absorbtion that Celiac's have. If it were me I wouldn't be afraid to take Boniva but I would wait until my gut has a chance to heal. It is true that exercise is very good for the bones.

[captaincrab55]

Hi chahill,

I'm new to this forum and was just diagnosed in June. I found a website that lists medications that are gluten free (you should read the labels anyway):

Open Original Shared Link

Hi all, I just checked that list for "Veramyst" (Nasal Spray) ... It's not on the list as being Gluten Free, but it doesn't list Gluten in it's contents either... Any Input???