Posted , 8 users are following.
Here we go again, my GP is forcing me to take Alondronic Acid!!
my Dexa scan last July was normal (I'm also taking Adcal D3) when I was on a much higher dose of pred than I am now, I'm due for another Dexa Scan shortly so I'll wait until I get the results from that before I take the Alondronic Acid!! Any advice from anyone taking it, or have taken it would be very appreciated! Thank you very much. Andrea xx
0 likes, 14 replies
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louisa85653 andrea93419
Posted
Hi Andrea
I have been on Alendronic Acid for the past 2.5 years and also Adcal am only now getting a bone scan. I think I should have had one a lot earlier but anyway, good to be getting it now... I don't know whether this is relevant at all but I have beenhaving a huge amount of dentalproblems - not sure whether this is a side effect of the pred and/or whether it would be worse if I did not take the Alendronic acid once a week.
To be honest, I find all these medications quite confusing in terms of working out what is causing side effects. I have also just started on methotrexate which I hope will result in reduced pred at the end of six weeks.
meantime, I will see what happens when I get the bone scan and whether I will then come off the alendronic acid - will be interested to share experiences. Sorry, that is probably not much help but it is helpful to discuss this.
olwen2 louisa85653
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olwen2
Posted
Sheilamac_Fife andrea93419
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Elijo andrea93419
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He can't force you to take anything. I used to take it long ago, but then stopped and will not take it, I've heard too much negativity about it. Yes, wait until your next dexa. If your last one was normal, why the alondronic acid? Doesn't make sense to overtreat just in case. Use your common sense! Elinor
louisa85653 Elijo
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Anhaga andrea93419
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No one can force you to take anything. If your t-scores are normal (and that includes allowing for normal reduction of bone density as we age, which is NOT a disease although drug companies want us and our doctors to think it is) then there is no reason whatsoever for the mention of OP drugs to pass your GP's lips. Just maintain a healthy diet making sure you also get magnesium, Vitamin K and K2, D3 and a few other things. Plus do appropriate weight-bearing exercise like walking, Nordic walking, tai chi, gadening, that kind of thing.
amkoffee Anhaga
Posted
Weight bearing exercising is not walking or yoga. It is weight lifting or resiting type exercises. Not to say that walking and yoga aren't good too.
Anhaga amkoffee
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I've seen walking described as weight bearing, unlike swimming. You are bearing your own weight. You can increase your weight by wearing a weighted vest, for example. Yoga is not weightbearing, but it can increase muscular strength which in turn can help with balance, or supporting the spine and internal organs. Similarly tai chi improves balance, and anything which reduces risk of falling also reduces fracture risk. Some studies show that tai chi does in fact have a beneficial effect on bone density.
As PMR sufferers we have to be very careful what kinds of exercise we do.
andrea93419
Posted
Thank you All for your thoughts and experiences! Doctors are sometimes too quick in handing out drugs 'just in case!!! So I will stick to my guns 'Sheilamac' and wait for my Dexa Scan! I'm a non smoker, not a drinker (because of steroids) plus for 23 years I've had a physical job so my bones should be ok for my age!!! Thanks again all!! Xx
olwen2 andrea93419
Posted
Hi there I was perscribed Alendronic Acid back in July when I was diagnosed with polymyalgia but made a decision not to take them my go is not happy about this and when I asked for a bone density scan she said by the time my appointment comes through the damage could have been done as the predisilone can thin the bones in 6 weeks but I don't like what I read about Alendronic Acid and without proof that I definitely need it I'm sticking to my guns.
Anhaga olwen2
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olwen2 Anhaga
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lodgerUK_NE andrea93419
Posted
No medic can force you to take anything - he can prescribe it all you like - just don't fill the prescription in.
If you do need something - visit the Nat Osteo site and read up on the alternatives, it is not the only bio-phosphonate - just the one to be avoided unless it is absolutely essential.