AA and side effects

[unluckyalf]

Hello i was diagnosed with osteoporosis a few months back the GP wants me to go on AA still cant make up my mind as there are so many side effects,i am in my early sixties the osteoporsis is in my spine just wondered if there is anyone out there around the same age who has been put on AA and can tell me how they got on

thanks.

[Met00]

Everybody is different, some get side effects, others don't. However, if the DEXA scan only shows osteoporosis in your spine, what's the basis for prescribing? It should be as a result of a poor FRAX fracture risk score, not just on the basis of one t-score in the osteoporosis range. Have you been told what your hip t-score is? If it's very different, there's a possibility that one or both scores are inaccurate, as errors happen very frequently with DEXA scans. FRAX takes into account a range of risk factors, such as previous low/no impact fractures, certain medications, smoking, family history. If your FRAX score does indicate that medication should be recommended, it's worth being aware that bisphosphonates such as AA don't guarantee to prevent fractures. The following decision aid from NICE is helpful reading: nice.org.uk/guidance/ta464/...

[unluckyalf in reply to Met00]

Thanks i will look into it,and your advice.

[BonyM42 in reply to Met00]

Excellent resource.

[Thanksnhs]

Hi I have osteoporosis in my hips and osteopoena in my spine, which has got a lot worse due to being on steroids for a year, I take risodronate and I don't have any side effects although I am on a truck load of heavy duty meds after a heart transplant so I probably wouldn't know what was causing what, to protect my stomach I take lansoprazole and famitidine. My consultant told me I really have to take it after I told her I had read quite a lot of things against it but she said the benefits out way anything else. I am 64 but have taken it on and off since I broke my ankle at 51 and i was diagnosed with it then

[unluckyalf in reply to Thanksnhs]

Thanks.

[Nottinghamryan2]

Hi, I’m 64 and was diagnosed about 5 years ago initially declined treatment trying improvements in my diet and Nordic walking. My repeat Dexa fracture risk scores were much worse and I had lost height so Nov 20 I commenced AA once a week , I’ve had no side effects at all and find it easy to take , I haven’t been recalled yet for any follow up but I have noticed a real improvement in my nails which have stopped splitting and breaking which could of course be a pleasant coincidence . I enjoy the Nordic walking and have continued doing that rain or shine weekly .

Take care.

[unluckyalf in reply to Nottinghamryan2]

Thanks i have been told the walking helps a lot.

[strongmouse]

I couldn't tolerate oral alendronic acid so was offered yearly infusions of zolendronic acid for three years. Apart for feeling slightly unwell for a couple of days after the infuion, I've had no side effects from it. My mother suffered from ostoporosis and lost two inches in height, back in the day when there was no treatment. She walked every day. I am glad to do what I can to help prevent as much damage as I can. I was advised to make sure my dental health was good before starting treatment, and I take Adcal daily - a supplement of calcium and vitamin D.

[unluckyalf in reply to strongmouse]

Thanks glad to hear you had no side effects,it does seem to be the luck of the draw as to how the AA affects different people.

[Liverpool2022]

Hi I have osteoporosis in my spine and osteopenia in hips . My mum had hip replacement and I have had foot fracture so I am at high risk . I have been taking AA for three months and up to now have only had a few aches , which I can cope with. Hope this helps. I am also in my early sixty’s.

[unluckyalf in reply to Liverpool2022]

Thanks for the reply,glad to hear your taking AA and seem to be ok with it,i think my worry is so many people on here have been put on it,and have had some awful side effects,when my GP put me on it he never bothered to go through anything with me just a case of take this bye bye,anyway good luck hope things go well for you.

[lgd333]

I was diagnosed with osteoporosis in 2018 and have been on Risedronate Sodium since. That works for me.

[Februarysnow]

I was diagnosed just before last Christmas, and was 60 in February. I took AA weekly for six months and steadily developed worse and worse leg pain until I could barely walk. I was then put on Risedronate Sodium and was OK for a month but then got so much pain in the opposite leg that I couldn't sleep or sit down. I took a week's break and am persisting, as I don't really like the idea of the infusions. I've always been very active, and have never had a car, so used to walk a great deal. I don't like the fact that the medication is making me feel like an old crock at times. But I'll continue walking as much as my work schedule allows and I try to eat a can of prunes a week. I also take Evacal twice daily. Hope you get on OK with it.

[unluckyalf in reply to Februarysnow]

Thanks for the reply,ive heard many people on here who have had similar problems that you have had to deal with which really puts me right off taking these drugs,the doctors say very few have these side effects but that doesn't seem to be the case from the comments on here hope things work out for you keep up the walking.

[Februarysnow]

Thanks - I think we all also have to think that people come on here generally because they've had issues with the medication, whereas there are thousands out there who are absolutely fine with it and thus aren't coming on the forums. My physio said that most of his patients have no problems. I'm trying to trust the science and hope that my next dexa scan will allow me to stop taking the pills, but I'm not holding my breath!

[unluckyalf in reply to Februarysnow]

Good luck