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Osteoporosis from high dose prednisone
Osteoporosis & Bone Health | Last Active: May 23 11:18pm | Replies (8)Comment receiving replies
Hi @isabelle7 ,
I understand the reluctance in going to the dentist! It is always wise to "clear the decks" before embarking on a new treatment regime. Many folks hate going to the dentist... there are new methods to help folks feel better about being there.
Connect will give you a lot of info from several folk who have navigated this road of treating osteoporosis.
We are so fortunate to be living on this side of these advances to build back bone that has been lost.
As well as having a medication that is best suited for folks like us!
If your doc is not 'up' on these meds., then you could ask to see an endocrinologist. .. these are well suited to knowing these drugs and prednisone impacts. (I think in some states in the U.S., you can self-refer.)
One last thing... Fosamax has been around for some time; there may be other issues at play as to why your doc chose this drug: such as insurance, and other medical factors.
You are on the right track Isabelle7.
Sending you all the best for the decisions ahead!
Replies to "Hi @isabelle7 , I understand the reluctance in going to the dentist! It is always wise..."
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@thisoldewe
Thanks Christine! I appreciate your feedback.
We have excellent insurance so that should not be an issue. We pay $5 for a month's worth of Actemra which costs about $5,000 per month. So I don't think the insurance would have any issue with the other drugs. It's a matter of the doctor prescribing it for us.
You're right that we're lucky to be living on this side of advances to build back bone. I am writing to our GP today to ask about either referring us to an Endocrinologist or asking if he'll prescribe another drug. From what I've read, and advice given to me here, it seems that when dealing with steroid-induced osteoporosis the best drugs of choice are bone builders like Evenity, Tymlos and Forteo. Someone posted a response to me earlier today saying that what my husband was prescribed, Fosamax, is first-line in the context of taking it within the first three months. He's been on high-dose prednisone for a year so like she said, that ship has sailed. Too bad our doctor didn't know about this and didn't prescribe it as a preventative, or order a bone density scan earlier on. Instead, it was me who had to ask for the scan after seeing results of CT scans and xrays that were concerning, including a compression fracture that showed up in Feb 2024 that wasn't there in May 2023. Ugh!
I totally understand my husband's reluctance and fear of going to the dentist. But I feel not going can have some pretty serious repercussions. He needed thousands of dollars worth of work in 2007 so I know there are issues. What they are I don't remember.
Thanks for your support!! I'm wishing you the best in health!