Anyone take a bisphosphonate for osteoporosis while on prednisolone?

Posted by macferse @macferse, May 26, 2022

Hi everyone,
has anyone had experience of Alendrenate or Bisphosenate medication to prevent osteoporosis while taking Prednisolone ? If so, what side effects have you had ?
My GP is asking me to consider adding them to my already large cocktail of meds.

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@sloped483

I'm not on any bone meds but I did have the discussion of bone meds and the possibility of ONJ with my dentist and she said if I ever did develop ONJ the treatment for it would be hyperbaric chamber treatments.

I'm sorry you developed ONJ with just one shot of Prolia which seems very unusual after just one shot.

Were you on any bisphosphonate prior to Prolia?

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My dentist also mentioned hyperbaric treatments, but fortunately my jaw eventually healed with conservative treatment. More than ten years prior to the Prolia treatment, I had used both Boniva and Fossamax, but discontinued them due to esophageal issues.

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I was diagnosed with osteopenia and was given Reclast infusion last August. This appears to be the precipitating event for my PMR. I am currently on 9mg Medrol, 8mg 1x/week Methotrexate and just started Bi weekly shots of Actemra. It’s a spiral. Pain is generally manageable though I have strange crunchiness and sensitivity around center of upper chest. Had chest X-ray that showed nodule in this area-could be related to Covid or meds or maybe something worse or just random. Getting ct scan. I work ft and travel a bunch and am kinda losing my mind trying to deal with it all.

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Yes I've taken it with the cocktail originally prescribed, although stopped it for about a year while undergoing a tooth implant. It's counter productive to a bone graph healing properly. I'm now back on it and follow the recommended instructions very carefully as not to irritate the GI system. I've found the most difficult combination is taking all these meds that irritate the stomach and esophagus while trying to diet to keep from gaining weight from the prednisone. Taking pills all day long that should be with food (a cracker doesn't cut it) is a real challenge for me. Otherwise I've not notice severe side affects from Alendronate.

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@heatrey

I was diagnosed with osteopenia and was given Reclast infusion last August. This appears to be the precipitating event for my PMR. I am currently on 9mg Medrol, 8mg 1x/week Methotrexate and just started Bi weekly shots of Actemra. It’s a spiral. Pain is generally manageable though I have strange crunchiness and sensitivity around center of upper chest. Had chest X-ray that showed nodule in this area-could be related to Covid or meds or maybe something worse or just random. Getting ct scan. I work ft and travel a bunch and am kinda losing my mind trying to deal with it all.

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Don’t get caught in taking one drug to counteract another drug etc. That’s a death spiral. Taking drugs like prednisone are NOT the answer. You must try to identify where the problem is-leaky gut, gluten sensitivity, and stop eating the foods that contribute to your problem .

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@nuss95816

Don’t get caught in taking one drug to counteract another drug etc. That’s a death spiral. Taking drugs like prednisone are NOT the answer. You must try to identify where the problem is-leaky gut, gluten sensitivity, and stop eating the foods that contribute to your problem .

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Appreciate that point of view. Unfortunately I’m a pickle now who can’t go back to being a cucumber. I have PMR and am focused on getting off the prednisone. I’m wondering if these additional drugs will accomplish that. The irony is the that the treatment for bone loss-maybe in concert with Covid vaccinations-resulted in the auto immune issues. Now I’m on this recipe that certainly compromises bone density and makes me vulnerable to other complications. But I’m not in pain. And as we all know, that pain can make life pretty miserable.

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I’ve been on Prednisone for 14 months now-started with 15 mg and now I take 1.5 mg. Ketogenic diet-no dairy, no gluten, low carbohydrates, exercise, intermittent fasting and 3 day water fast every 3 months.

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I haven't had any side effects and my bone density has improved since taking Alendronate. I would suggest however that you have a bone density test before taking yet another medication.

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@becsbuddy

@macferse If I were you and knowing what i know now about prednisone and osteoporosis, I would take the bisphosphamate meds and now have to worry about osteoporosis . You said that you may have to wait a year for the DEXA and you’ll be on the prednisone all that time. It’s all worth a good discussion with your GP.
Will you let me know what you decide?

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I do empathize with your concerns - both as a retired Registered Massage Therapist and at 78 yr young woman on my 3 rd occurence of PMR. I always advocate following medical protocol, so following a borderline result from the DEXA test, I discussed with my doctor the test for Calcium resorption which shows whether you are excreting calcium rather than absorbing it. the test results came back as well within range. It is always our choice, I take a minimum of 4000 units Vit D daily, as well as high calcium food intake. I am open to being more educated about this, so welcome any feedback.

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@nuss95816

I’ve been on Prednisone for 14 months now-started with 15 mg and now I take 1.5 mg. Ketogenic diet-no dairy, no gluten, low carbohydrates, exercise, intermittent fasting and 3 day water fast every 3 months.

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Why no dairy? I thought that would be good for our bones along with calcium and D3.

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@ajmencke

I have osteopenia and the rheumatologist was fairly insistent that I take medication for bone sparing. I refused Prolix - the side effects can last a long time and include joint pain. Just what I need! I opted for Boniva and so far so good. I also read an article from the NIH that using a vibrating table can not only stop bone loss but improve bone density so I bought one. It's easy and a slow process to get up to the therapeutic level but no more drugs in my system.

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I don't know what I am going to do I took reclast and will never take it again. I don't want any of these drugs.

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