supplements and zoledronic acid

[Radars]

I have been talking to a nurse at the royal osteoporosis society regarding supplements before I have my zoledronic acid infusion, and she said don't take anything with retinol or zinc in it,anyone heard of that.

[sunnyweek]

I had my first infusion last Wednesday, I didn't take any supplements.

[Kaarina]

I am sure the nurses on the helpline know what they are talking about regarding supplements before taking zoledronic acid.

[Radars in reply to Kaarina]

the ros nurse also to have 1,200 mg of calcium a day how do I do that, I can't have dairy because I have prostate cancer, I use alpro milk and alpro yoghurt, I can't take the adcal that the gp prescribed because I have a hiatus hernia for which I take a ppi, so it's hard.

[Kaarina in reply to Radars]

Common alternatives to milk are almond milk and soy milk, particularly the kind that is calcium-fortified. You mention you use alpro milk and alpro yogurt. Can you drink more of the alpro milk and eat more alpro yogurt?

Certain vegetables are higher in calcium, including rhubarb, spinach, black-eyed peas, okra and broccoli. Other options include tofu, hummus, sunflower seeds, calcium-fortified orange juice, shrimp, and canned sardines and salmon.

[Radars in reply to Kaarina]

thanks, I will have to increase my alpro milk and yogurt and broccoli, it's hard to measure out the yogurt in my scales.

[Radars in reply to Radars]

spinach stops you from absorbing calcium.

[Radars in reply to Kaarina]

I don't think I will have enough calcium for infusion because my 30mgs of lansoprazole will stop me from absorbing it.

[Kaarina in reply to Radars]

Don't you? Tuck in to almonds and seeds (carry them around with you to snack on) and take more yogurt than you would normally and more non dairy milk. You said in previous postings you would like to put on weight. if you like sardines and tinned salmon and eat the bones that is another way to get more calcium.

[Radars in reply to Kaarina]

thanks, but it's the ppi so won't absorb calcium.

[Kaarina in reply to Radars]

So does that mean that you will not be attending your appointment for the infusion and cancelling it ?

[Radars in reply to Kaarina]

Probably, I knew someone who had bad side effects due to low calcium.

[Kaarina in reply to Radars]

Back to the drawing board then if you do cancel. If you give them decent notice time they may be able to use your appointment for someone else.

[Nightingales in reply to Radars]

I take. PPI for GERD and Adcal spaced apart. I wasn’t aware that you cant take both.

[Radars in reply to Nightingales]

what do you mean,

[Nightingales in reply to Radars]

sorry if I misunderstood. I thought you said you couldn’t take GP prescribed Ad cal because you were on. PPI. For Hiatus Hernia.

[Radars in reply to Nightingales]

oh yeah that's right adcal is a bit hard on your stomach.

[dedeottie in reply to Nightingales]

same here. I had a blood test before my infusion to check for adequate calcium levels and they were fine even though I take 30 mg lanzaprole. I don’t get much calcium from my diet as I have to be careful with dairy. X

[Radars in reply to dedeottie]

thanks, I have a blood test on Tuesday prior to if I have it ,but the blood test doesn't show how much calcium in your body,I just get my calcium from alpro dairy free and alpro yoghurt dairy free as I have got locally advanced prostate cancer, so the infusion went ok did it,you take 30mgs lansoprazole same as me do you take it before or after the infusion and also ppis and zoledronic acid infusion increases fractures, that's why I can't make my mind up to have the infusion because you don't know if you are absorbing the infusion, do you take any supplements, I do for my prostate cancer.

[dedeottie in reply to Radars]

I have an infusion of denosomab which is slightly different and I don’t think it can be given to those who have had cancer treatment. It does however need plenty of calcium circulating in the body as it can cause big problems if there is not enough. The blood test I have is specifically to check my calcium levels and if they are not high enough I can’t have the infusion till there is enough.

I have taken 30 mg lanzaprole for 10 years but recently I have successfully cut down to 15 mg daily for the reasons that you mention.

I take vit b12, multivitamins and probiotics also.

I do share all your concerns but in my case , I know my osteoporosis is quite severe and I have had a few fractures ( one in my spine) over the last year so I know that something has to be done.

Good luck making your decision. Our situations are all unique and the best we can do for ourselves is to gather all relevant information, weigh up our individual risks then take a leap of faith one way or the other!

Best wishes

Jane

[Radars in reply to dedeottie]

thanks but the ɓlood test doesn't show how much calcium in the body.

[LM100 in reply to Radars]

Take calcium citrate instead as it does mot require stomach acid to convert into an absorbable form. No way you can get 1200mg calcium from diet alone (unless you munch bones!)

[LM100 in reply to LM100]

I use Lamberts

[Radars in reply to LM100]

thanks, how much calcium citrate because it's not good to have to much calcium.

[LM100 in reply to Radars]

I assume the same 1200mg but someone else on here might know better. I take 500-800 but also have dairy in diet. I think you would see symptoms if you were taking too much but our bodies are pretty good at keeping it stable by getting rid of excess. I am surprised your consultant has not suggested calcium citrate based on your other medications.

[LM100 in reply to LM100]

You should have your calcium levels checked before every infusion.

[Radars in reply to LM100]

yeah I'm having a blood test on Tuesday, but the blood test doesn't show how much calcium in the body.

[LM100 in reply to Radars]

I think ROS nurses on here would know more but I thought it was standard practice to check calcium levels were OK before ZA infusions. Are you under a rheumatologist for the osteoporosis?

[Radars in reply to LM100]

I have a blood test on Tuesday prior to having the infusion on the 25th

[LM100 in reply to Radars]

Maybe the hospital has added calcium levels to the list of things to assess in this test.

[Radars in reply to LM100]

why,alpro yoghurt 500mg a pot,and alpro milk100mgs=125 calcium

[LM100 in reply to Radars]

Are you confusing the per 100g values withe your serving size? A small pot of Alpro yogurt (125g) contains about 120mg calcium, as does 100ml Alpro milk (which is about half a mug of milk). Maybe you love this stuff but 5 pots of yog/day and a pint of milk to get you to your 1200mg per day every single day would not be my idea of an enjoyable diet. It depends how much time you want to devote to it but you need to hit that target every day and have a carefully calcium counted strategy if you don't want to take any supplements. For me, this is not achievable. I reckon I get about 500mg a day from dairy, the rest in the form of supplements.

[Radars in reply to LM100]

500g of alpro yoghurt, every 100mgs =120mg of calcium so that's 600mg a day .=3 100mgs of alpro milk=360mgs of calcium, so together that's 960mg of calcium.

[LM100 in reply to Radars]

A 500g tub every day is not a reasonable sized portion to me but up to you what you want to eat. You're still 240mg short though...Do you have shares in Alpro😆

[Radars in reply to LM100]

good one,what dosage of calcium citrate do you reckon to take before my infusion, on my blood form the calcium box is ticked so they are checking I have my blood test on Tuesday. Before my infusion.

[LM100 in reply to Radars]

I really don't know as I am not a health professional. You should have been told to aim for 1200mg per day when your osteoporosis was diagnosed (and also to take vitamin D) and to start straight away. I don't think you can just boost it for a few days before and after the infusion, it's a long term requirement. I would guess they won't infuse if your calcium levels are too low but your body (if working correctly) is pretty good at keeping levels within range (you pee out any excess or break down your bones if you are not getting enough from your diet, hence the need to have a high intake). Probably best to aim generally to increase your calcium intake between now and your infusion, and afterwards. But find a way to speak to whoever diagnosed your osteoporosis (sometimes nurse practitioners can help if you have access to them) about what you should be taking bearing in mind your other health conditions and medications.

[Radars in reply to LM100]

I have always been taking 1000iu d3 and mk-7

[Kaarina]

Regarding the yogurt, why not get a rough idea of how much you require say to have at breakfast with one weigh in. Then use the same cup/bowl size each time you have some. It seems such a shame to weigh it out every time as you will waste yogurt! It is better to be over generous in your calculation than under!

[Radars in reply to Kaarina]

it's OK I poured it into cling film on my scales,and with my alpro milk it was 720mg and with the wholegrain bread I eat I should be ok.

[Kaarina in reply to Radars]

As I mentioned it is ok to be a little over each day just to make sure you are getting enough! I love yogurt!

[Radars in reply to Kaarina]

Yeah thanks I don't generally have yoghurt on a morning but I will do with my porridge.

[MaggieSylvie in reply to Radars]

Put the dish on the scales. Reduce the weight to zero and then add your breakfast to the dish!

[Radars in reply to MaggieSylvie]

don't know what you mean I will just eat one 500mg of alpro yoghurt a day and have my porridge for breakfast with alpro milk 360mgs that's 960mgs of calcium.

[MaggieSylvie in reply to MaggieSylvie]

Someone said something about the hassle of weighing it out. Soz.

[MyStar86]

No but I thought you had checked your supplements with your endocrinologist and your doctor and they had said it was fine for you to have the infusion along with whatever you were taking? If not they are the best people to ask as they wouldn’t prescribe it if they didn’t think it was safe.

[Dorsetlass2300]

Hi What about eating whole almonds? 23 almonds gives you 26% of your daily intake of calcium. I eat them like sweets!

[Radars in reply to Dorsetlass2300]

thanks I will get some I have organic almond butter, what I want to know is do supplements effect zoledronic acid infusion which I am having on the 25th.

[Nessie87 in reply to Dorsetlass2300]

😂 There’s a brand called Forest Fruits, I think, they do plain almonds covered in dark chocolate! Those are tasty as an indulgent snack now and again!

[Dorsetlass2300 in reply to Nessie87]

The ‘now and again’ might be a problem! 🤣🤣

[Nessie87 in reply to Dorsetlass2300]

I know what you mean!! 😂😂🤣