Stopping Risedronate sodium

[rcnjr]

I have been told by Dr that stopping osteo treatments (Risedronate sodium) will be bad because any good that it has done will be reversed and make things worse. I really need some answers because the side effects are horrible!! I have lung cancer also and th pain being caused by the Risedronate is making my life very difficult. I was on prolea for a few months, however, those side effects were even worse. Can I stop taking it ????

[Fruitandnutcase]

If you have been taking Prolia for a few months and then stopped you will have to take a relay drug to prevent rebound fractures.

Have you had an infusion for your Risedronate? That would be a once a year infusion and it by passed your gut.

I wouldn’t just stop everything if you have been taking Prolia. I’m not sure how long you need to take a bisphosphonate for to counteract the effect of Prolia but I’m sure someone will come along and tell you.

[Arcadia10 in reply to Fruitandnutcase]

The infusion is zoledronate (Reclast, Aclasta). Risedronate is an oral medication taken daily, weekly or monthly. The enteric-coated (EC) version of risedronate bypasses the digestive tract.

Relay bisphosphonates (IV zoledronate or oral alendronate) after stopping Prolia after more than one injection have to be taken for at least 2 years.

[Fruitandnutcase in reply to Arcadia10]

I meant Zolendronate - my main point is to be very careful if you stop Prolia as you say after the you’ve had more than one injection then you need to take a relay drug which is a bisphosphonate.

[rcnjr in reply to Fruitandnutcase]

Thank You

[Met00]

It's the prolia you took that makes it essential for you to have a relay drug. I'm puzzled though, because you say you were on prolia for a few months, but it's usually given by 6-monthly injection. Were you having the monthly injection because of your cancer? Prolia has to be followed by another medication, usually a bisphosphonate like Risedronate, to reduce the risk of rebound fractures. If you've had 6-monthly prolia injections, you usually need to take a bisphosphonate for a couple of years, but I don't know if this is also true for more frequent prolia injections.

[rcnjr in reply to Met00]

Only had had 2 6mo injections then switched to Risodronate. Thanks All sorted now.

[Arcadia10 in reply to rcnjr]

If you had 2 Prolia injections, then no - you cannot stop the relay drug. You have been put onto a relay drug - in your case, risedronate - to prevent multiple vertebral rebound fractures which are a known side effect of Prolia, but apparently only occur after more than one injection.

Please note, risedronate is NOT an an appropriate drug to take post-Prolia. I know from experience. After being on it for 15 months after 4 Prolia injections, I broke both sides of my sacrum and my pelvis. I have it on written authority of the professor who wrote one of the first guides to stopping Prolia, Prof. Olivier Lamy, that risedronate is not efficacious enough to prevent rebound fractures. You should be on either weekly alendronate (Fosamax) or IV zoledronate for two years at least to prevent this happening. You should discuss this with your doctor urgently, or even another doctor as yours apparently does not know the correct course of action.

[rcnjr in reply to Arcadia10]

thanks - All sorted

[Arcadia10]

If you say you were only on Prolia for "a few months", I'd guess you mean 6 months, i.e. one injection. In that case, you don't need a relay bisphosphonate such as risedronate as mentioned in replies by other posters. Rebound fractures occur after more than one injection, so that's not why you're on the risedronate (unless your doctor simply doesn't know better).

You don't give your DEXA scores, but presumably your doctor put you on to risedronate to slow the progression of your osteoporosis. If the risedronate is making you feel ill, then you can stop, but should discuss this decision with your doctor first. Ultimately, as the risedronate wears off and is removed from your system, your bone density will probably get worse, but a lot depends on other factors like whether you are taking supplements (boron, magnesium, vitamin K2, D3), are getting enough calcium, getting enough exercise, sun exposure, don't have parathyroid issues, etc. Presumably your doctor will have checked these out before starting you on medication.

If your bone density isn't too bad or has been stable for a number of years, then you might not need to be on medication. However, if you are being treated for lung cancer, then the drugs might be causing your bone density to worsen. You would have to check these complicating factors out with your doctor.

[rcnjr in reply to Arcadia10]

Thank You !!

[Merryroundabout]

just an extra suggestion- if you do decide you need to continue with an oral bisphosphonate then there is one that’s taken monthly instead of weekly which might be more bearable for you, that’s Ibandronic Acid (my GP gave me a trial after I couldn’t tolerate side effects of Alendronic acid or Risedronate). Good luck.

[rcnjr in reply to Merryroundabout]

Thanks

[Sunseaandsand]

Hi , I have just replied to your second message and seen this.

I do understand how difficult a time it must be for you and when we have one serious health issue to deal with. we do not want to be plagued with side effects from other meds or even a common cold.

I would like to say one thing though.

Spinal compression fractures can cause horrific pain.

I have 12 in the spine and it truly is very hard to live with.

I am sure you would not want any more pain in your life as it is right now

Take care and I wish you a speedy recovery xx