 Posted 21/11/2011 22:35:37
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| I understood from my consultant that it is pointless having dexa scans when taking sodium ranelate. The SR coats the outside of the bones and gives false readings. Is it really the case that the only way you can tell the SR is working is that bones are not breaking? The consultant also mentioned that it is now thought that three years is long enough to be on medication for Osteoporosis. Has anyone any information on this please?
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Posted 22/11/2011 09:38:54
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Hi Hannah,
Strontium Ranelate doesn't coat the outside of the bones, no, the bones absorb it, and because strontium is radiologically a heavier element than calcium the bones appear denser on x-ray (DEXA) - that means that an adjustment has to be made to the density to work out what is an 'artifactual' effect and what is a real effect of the Strontium. There's been lots of discussion about this on the forum and even the Nurse on the Helpline has answered this if you have a search. You can even ask your question again there today as it's open for 24 hours.
It's the bisphosphonates such as Alendronic acid that a person stays on for only three years - that's not the case with Strontium Ranelate. Of course it's up to your consultant how long you stay on it. I've been on Strontium Ranelate for nearly five years now and will be carrying on with it until advised otherwise. Currently the manufacturers of Strontium Ranelate are following study subjects who've been on it for eight years. Why don't you telephone the Strontium Ranelate helpline - they can explain all this much better - you get to speak to a nurse who specialises in Strontium Ranelate - 0800 678 5608
Osteoporosis - Strontium Ranelate, Dekristol vitamin D3 20,000 IU/week, weight lifting, walking and vibration platform exercise, alkaline loaded diet, vitamin K2 MK-7 100mcg/d, K2 MK-4 5mg/d. Diabetes - Repaglinide, low carb diet and exercise. Congenital heart defect - Omacor and CoQ10
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Posted 23/11/2011 22:58:42
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| Thank you. I appreciate your help and advice.
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Posted 30/11/2011 13:34:48
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| Hi AnneB I noticed from the notes with SR that half the dose disappears from the body in about 60 hours, so presumably after a week of not taking it, it should have more or less cleared from the body. The calcium content of the bones depletes a lot more slowly, so week without medication shouldn't pose a serious risk. Putting those facts together, it would seem to make sense for anyone due a DEXA scan to come of SR for a week or two beforehand in order to get an accurate reading. But I've never seen it suggested. Have you come across any discussions about this?
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Posted 30/11/2011 13:54:09
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Hi Kelly Ton,
I don't think they mean that the Strontium Ranelate disappears from the bones in about 60 hours, I think they mean the serum level of Strontium disappears in about 60 hours. If it were that simple that all you needed to do to get an accurate reading on DEXA was to wait 60 hours I'm sure that Servier would have said so. If you look at other medications on medicines.org.uk you'll see the half life of other medicines mentioned, for example, on Repaglinide, something I take for diabetes, it says "The plasma elimination half-life is approximately one hour.".
You could check with Servier though.
PS - Addendum to above: I remembered that I know that the strontium remains in bones for longer than 60 hours because I just remembered that scientists have been able to work out that prehistric people moved from one location to another by the different isotopes of strontium in their teeth and bones: www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment Strontium in prehistoric teeth and bones
"They took teeth from eight A.africanus and 11 P.robustus individuals from the cave sites, and removed tiny enamel fragments by laser, to minimise damage. These fragments were then analysed to test for particular isotopes, or forms, of the metallic element strontium, which can reveal the geological region where individuals were raised. This is because particular isotopes of strontium dominant within a geological region are digested by individuals living there and incorporated into their tooth enamel."
So it must be the serum or plasma strontium that has a half life of 60 hours.
Osteoporosis - Strontium Ranelate, Dekristol vitamin D3 20,000 IU/week, weight lifting, walking and vibration platform exercise, alkaline loaded diet, vitamin K2 MK-7 100mcg/d, K2 MK-4 5mg/d. Diabetes - Repaglinide, low carb diet and exercise. Congenital heart defect - Omacor and CoQ10
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Posted 30/11/2011 17:00:05
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Thanks AnneB, that makes sense now! 
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