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Bone protection medication...Risedronate

Posted , 12 users are following.

lynda28490
lynda28490

GP has prescribed Risedronate once PW which I have reservations about taking. What are your thoughts...For and against. It's been prescribed by GP as a preventative measure. Background - DX PMR December, started pred 20mg, now on 12.5 which is totally managing symptoms. I'm walking daily, up to 5 miles and have always been fit. Im 54, currently off work and back in 2 weeks. I've a history of heartburn/acid reflux and have been taking pantoprazole for 3 or 4 years. Ive taken 2 doses so far with no problems, was supposed to take a dose this morning...I asked GP about a dexascan but that conversation didn't progress. Do most people on here on pred also take bone protection meds?

0 likes, 28 replies

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  • lynda28490
    lynda28490

    Posted

    Thanks everyone. Appreciate your replies. I've a GP appointment in 2 weeks and I will ask for a dexascan.

  • judy93591
    judy93591 lynda28490

    Posted

    Yes, I take it, I have had considerable weakening of the bones.  I had back problems prior to the dratted PMR/GCA
  • amkoffee
    amkoffee lynda28490

    Posted

    I hate to hyjack the conversation when it's someone else's question but mine pertains to what was asked. Before I was ever dx with PMR I had a bone density test done and it showed that I had osteopenia but my doctor did not feel it was bad enough to start any kind of medication. I have also spent a lot of years taking stomach medicine for the gurds. So now that I have PMR and on my prednisone is only should I be concerned about my bones. I know it's a concern but should I be on some kind of medication other then calcium and vitamin D?

    • EileenH
      EileenH amkoffee

      Posted

      Same applies as always - get a dexascan and see if you really need it. PPIs themselves can lead to low bone density - but you can only tell what you need or can avoid by knowing what your bone density is. I am in the osteopenia range, almost everyone our age will be, but it isn't bad enough to need anything more than calcium and vit D and my bone density while on pred has hardly changed.

    • Anhaga
      Anhaga amkoffee

      Posted

      Take Vitamin K2 and make sure you are also getting all the other things your bones need for good remodelling, like magnesium.  Appropriate exercise is also key.  No, you should never need to take any of the osteoporosis drugs!
    • amkoffee
      amkoffee Anhaga

      Posted

      I think if I'm not mistaken that K2 thins your blood or does it thicken your blood I can't remember. Either way I can't do that. I'm on Plavix so I can't mess with my blood because I've had two strokes and one DVT. So I tend to clot easily. And I'm already on an antidepressant that tends to thin my blood. I also take magnesium already and calcium and vitamin D of course. So it sounds like from what you said I'm doing what I can. Is that right am I missing anything?

    • EileenH
      EileenH amkoffee

      Posted

      K2 has no effect on blood coagulation - it is K1 that is involved there. 
    • Anhaga
      Anhaga amkoffee

      Posted

      Yes, I'm sure Eileen is right.  I think Vitamin K2 has a slight effect on the blood but it is indeed K1 which is needed for blood coagulation - that's why they give it to babies, I think, and why people on bloodthinners need to avoid it.  I am sure a standard dose of K2 would do you no harm.  Someone sent me a really interesting article about Vitamin K recently.  If I can find it I'll private message the link.

    • amkoffee
      amkoffee Anhaga

      Posted

      That would be great because everything I find online says that even K2 does thicken the blood some not as much as K1 but K2 does thicken the blood. Since I have such a problem with clotting I don't really want to take the risk.

    • Anhaga
      Anhaga amkoffee

      Posted

      I sent link right away..  Hope you got it.
    • Anhaga
      Anhaga amkoffee

      Posted

      Of course if you already have problems, not just the potential, I wouldn't take anything without checking with someone trained, who knows your medical history.

    • EileenH
      EileenH amkoffee

      Posted

      It all depends what anticoagulant you are on. If you are using warfarin/coumadin you get your INR measured - you just adjust your dose to keep it in the range it is meant to be which is easy enough when you take the same dose every day. The new generation ones work in a totally different way and what you eat has no influence (so you can eat as much kale and spinach as you like!).
    • amkoffee
      amkoffee EileenH

      Posted

      I'm not on anticoagulant per se. I'm on Plavix which actually only thins you're platelets.

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