Alcohol and general bone health teriparatide: is it something we should be thinking about?
I am new to this site I’m 57 and have spina bifida occulta, diastematomyelia type 1 (a split spinal cord), a tethered spinal cord and a spinal fusion.i also now have osteoporosis after receiving a3D QCT scan in April
My spine has been through a fair bit over the years, so protecting my bones is something I take very seriously. I’m currently taking teriparatide and want to give it the best possible chance of working.
I’ve noticed that alcohol doesn’t seem to get discussed very often alongside bone-building treatments, and it got me wondering whether it’s the elephant in the room.
Regular heavy drinking is known to be associated with poorer bone health and can affect things such as calcium and vitamin D.
What really caught my attention, though, was research suggesting that regular or heavy alcohol consumption may reduce the number and activity of osteoblasts, the cells responsible for building new bone.
That made me think about teriparatide. The whole purpose of the treatment is to stimulate bone formation and increase the activity of bone-building cells.
I haven’t found any studies looking directly at alcohol use and treatment outcomes in people taking teriparatide, and much of the research comes from laboratory and animal studies. So I’m not suggesting that an occasional drink cancels out the treatment.
However, if someone is investing time, effort and hope in a bone-building drug, could reducing alcohol help maximise the benefit?
Personally, I’ve decided not to drink during my two years on teriparatide. It’s a limited treatment window and it feels like a small sacrifice if there’s a possibility it could help me get the most from the treatment.
I’d be interested to hear what others think.
Has anyone else’s consultant or GP discussed alcohol during treatment?
Has anyone cut back or stopped drinking while taking teriparatide?
And for those who have continued to drink, how have you approached it?
