Need advice on taking alendronate
Posted , 14 users are following.
I know this is a PMR group and not an osteoporosis group but I've heard a lot of people talk about this medicine in this group. As some of you may recall I had a pretty bad fall last February where I broke my left ankle in 3 places and sprained my right ankle. I have had lower back problems for 13 years but in the last couple of months I have had some severe spasms in my upper back. I have done everything under the sun to deal with them and nothing has helped. So I went to my chiropractor the other day and he wanted to get an x-ray of my upper back before he did anything. I'm really glad he suggested that because as it turns out I have a fracture in my T8 vertebrae. I'm assuming it came from my fall but I do know that it can happen if when someone has osteoporosis. I have osteopenia and that's according to a bone density test I had done in April. So my rheumatologist wants me to start alendronate right away. I want to know what everybody's feelings are about taking this medication. If I remember right I think people had some bad reactions to it. And when I read the side effects it's pretty scary. BTW I am currently on only 6 mg of Prednisone and it is controlling my PMR symtoms quite well. (Although my last blood work showed an elevated CRP) I think given the circumstances I'm probably going to have to start working on tapering off of the pie prednisone. I've been holding off because of all the pain I've been having (with the blessings of my rheumatologist surprisingly.) So please everybody tell me your experience on taking this medication.
0 likes, 16 replies
jeannecatlover amkoffee
Posted
kate50809 amkoffee
Posted
Some people have taken it with no problems at all, others say the side effects wear off as your body gets used to it.
Sorry not to be more help but you are bound to get more informative replies from others.
jean39702 amkoffee
Posted
I'm in a very similar position with a fractured vertebrae at T-12 "of unclear age". Pretty sure the fracture occurred when I had a severe trauma to my back a year ago. Also have osteopenia, however a bone density scan in May of this year actually showed some improvement over the last one taken 4 years ago when I started prednisone. For the last 4 years I've taken 1200 mg of calcium and 2000 mg of vitamin D. I added K2 to the mix about 18 months ago.
I have two doctors and a rheumatologist pushing bone sparing medication at me and will not concede doing so at this stage based on the side effects of this type of medication.
jeannecatlover jean39702
Posted
EileenH amkoffee
Posted
I'd want a close look at the dexascan result to see if it is likely it was osteopenia that led to it. AA is not the only option and if you have any gastric problems or difficulty swallowing then care is required with any bisphosphonate.
Many people take bisphosphonates with no problems at all - but you shouldn't take them for more than a couple of years, longer use without a holiday increases the risk of cracks forming in the bone being built and increasing the risk of spontaneous fractures. Prolia or denosumab has now been found to have problems too - although it builds bone density well, when it is discontinued there is something called rebound loss of bone density as the bone density falls drastically at first, increasing the spinal fracture risk so patients who have been in it must start bisphosphonates if they stop Prolia..
If it is needed - then you should try but not accept side effects, there are other options.
amkoffee EileenH
Posted
I spoke with my rheumatologist this afternoon and she told me that since I've had a fracture it is now considered osteoporosis even though the bone density test only showed osteopenia. She said they only check 3 places in the body so it could exist in a place they don't look at like my spine apparently.However she has decided to hold off on the medication until it can be determined that it has healed already. Apparently this med can keep fractures from healing which is what I think you were saying. It really is of no surprise that I have osteoporosis. Both my grandmother on my maternal side and my mother had severe cases. So I have a genetic link and I did not take care of my body when I was young.
Quit honestly my biggest concern about this drug is the stomach thing. I have gastritis and it's bad. I currently take omniprozole and ondansetron just to keep my nausea at bay. And I can't eat anything fried, or anything with milk, nothing with much seasoning at all (not even pepper) and sometimes my nausea makes no sense at all. I also get really bloated. I will feel like I swallowed a bowling ball. Frankly I think I have gastropareses but no one will run the test unless I am willing to stop my pain meds for 3 days.
EileenH amkoffee
Posted
However - while a single infusion might be expensive - it would possibly be even more expensive if you ended up with worse gastric problems due to the tablets...
amkoffee EileenH
Posted
What is steoporotic? I Googled it and it came up with osteoporosis. Are these two terms the same thing?
About 3 years ago I had my first bone density test done and the results showed osteopenia. My doctor at the time used some kind of score chart and said that I did not have to take anything yet. So after my fall in February my rheumatologist wanted me to get another bone density test done since I broke my ankle. It was done approximately 2.5 years after my first one and it showed no progression from the first one I had so we thought all was good. But when my upper back started hurting and spasming so badly my pain management doctor felt that it was all stemming from my SI joints. My lower back pain has increased as well. So she gave me several trigger point injections in my lower back and nothing improved. So then I had a few injections done into my SI joints. I got a lot of improvement in my lower back but it didn't last more then a few days and it did nothing for my upper back spasms. I have also increased my gabapentin and changed from Wellbutrin to Cymbalta. Both are antidepressants but also work for pain. I've used my TENS unit, ice and heat too. So as you can see I've exhausted all that western medicine has to offer. So I went to see a chiropractor that I used a long time ago. He is the one that suggested I might have a fracture and wanted an X-ray done. I am so glad he didn't do any adjustments that day. He is really on the ball. I wish I could say the same for all my other doctors.
As for the infusions I think you are right. I should at least check with my insurance company to get a price. There may even be a savings program to help me pay for it.
EileenH amkoffee
Posted
osteoporitic - typo which I didn't notice to post a correction - the adjective meaning "of, relating to, or caused by osteoporosis"
jan_37704 amkoffee
Posted
amkoffee jan_37704
Posted
My doctor did mention the IV because I already have big stomach problems and it would then bypass my stomach but she said it's very expensive. She told me that I would take one tablet a week if I were to start on it. But she has decided to wait until I get an MRI of my upper back.
Juno-Irl-Dub amkoffee
Posted
I've been taking Risedronate which is the same medication as Aledronate (a bisphosphonate) for over 2 years now and had a problem only once when I didn't keep strictly to the advice given and then suffered an episode of dizziness and vomiting for a few hours. However it's fair to say that some people find taking this med. difficult and find they have to stop. The aim of taking these meds. is to prevent fractures in those (like myself) with significant OP - or to prevent further fractures in those with low bone mass who have already fractured.
Initially these meds. were seen as the 'game changers' in the treatment of OP. They were not expensive, and were liberally prescribed by doctors and many patients took them, sometimes for decades. Then research studies began to appear showing long- term use could cause significant problems for some patients with the conclusion that their use should more targeted to specific patients and treatment should be for shorter periods of time. The current advice is that their use should be for 3 - 5 years maximum.
All meds. can cause side-effects, from Aspirin upwards. The Prednisone you take for your PMR has a significant list of possible side-effects but it is the best and only med. for your PMR - and without it you'd be much worse off than with it. I took Prednisone for PMR for just over 4 years, thankfully with only mild side-effects. If you decide to take Alendronate, think of it as a med. that you'll use for the minimum period of time - as you'll also aim to do with your use of Prednisone. Do also remember that healthy diet and exercise can only be good for your OP. On this forum
there are many experts with really helpful advice in these areas so check them out also.
Good luck, J.
amkoffee Juno-Irl-Dub
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EileenH amkoffee
Posted
Elijo amkoffee
Posted
Hi Amkoffee, I do hope your terrible fall in Feb. is so much improved. I recall your supportive answer to my comment on the fall I took on June 30 and fractured my pelvis in 3 places (now feeling a lot better, using a walker and W/C) I too have mild osteopenia, which tests show that it hasn't advanced. I did used to take aldendodrate for a while, but decided to stop it after reading so many negative reports. Good luck & health to you!
amkoffee Elijo
Posted
I am pleased that you are back to "normal" again. Or at least what's normal for you. LOL I'm am surprised that you are doing so well after only 2 months. My ankle hurt so badly when I started walking again that it took a long time for me to be able to walk without pain in my ankle. The nurse told me it takes 2 days for every day I was laid up in bed for my ankle to stop hurting. But it would seem that your pelvis is healing much quicker. I too used a walker for a short time. And instead of a wheelchair I used a scooter. But that's because I already had a scooter.