Fosomax, 10-26-06 postings 14a & 14b re Fosomax and Prednisone

October 26, 2006

The late R. Lee, MD wrote " What your doctor may not tell you about

Menopause " and " Natural Progesterone, the multiple roles of a remarkable

(?) I imagine they are available elsewhere too.

In the latter book, p. 18, he is writing about natural progesterone,

testosterone and estrogens...

" Interestingly, though all 3 of these hormones compete for the same

receptors within osteoblasts, the actions they induce are strikingly

different. Both progesterone and testosterone stimulate new bone

formation by osteoblasts; /corticosteroids*, however, turn off

osteoblast-mediated new bone formation./ Just as specific keys operate

specific locks, the function of any given hormone is dependent upon its

specific molecular configeration. Minute differences in molecular

structure convey vastly different biological effects... "

*example: Prednisone

on p. 81, he is writing about one of his patients:

" I recommended she avoid Fosamax because it can have serious side

effects. Another little-told fact is that the drug has a 10-15 year

half-life in the body. Because it is chemically bound to protein, it

becomes incorporated into the bone itself and blocks bone resorption,

which is the process by which old, weak bone is removed to make room for

new bone. Your goal is not to block bone resorption, it's to balance

bone resorption and bone-building. "

Dr. Lee recommended bio-identical Progesterone, which he believed helped

rebuild bone tissue (not Progestin, the synthetic hormone). He

contended that persons using Fosamax or equivalent, had MORE hip

fractures than those not using it.

I have my Rx Progesterone cream compounded by a pharmacist. It costs

about $17 a container for one month. A friend's Fosomax costs $70/mo.

My bone scans showed a slight increase in hip bone density, but that was

before I was put on 80 mg. da. Prednisone for my illness. I don't know

what a bone scan will show now. My insurance plan will not cover

compounded bio-identical Progesterone cream.

Dr. Lee lists over the counter Progesterone creams which have been

tested and contain amounts of progesterone advertised (p. 271 in " What

your Dr. May Not Tell You...) Two that I see often are FemGest by

Bio-Nutritional Formulas, Mineola, NY and ProGest by Emerita, Portland,

Or. Some over the counter progesterone creams do not contain sufficient

amounts of progesterone according to Dr. Lee.

Bev Hannon, IA

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