Help needed

[Tedsgran]

Hi I’ve recently been diagnosed with Osteoporosis. Started on Alendronic Acid 70mg and Calcium tablets. In a lot of pain and not coping very well with medication. I need some help and advice from people with this condition. My new dr is not great. Regular gp has retired and temporary doctor at the moment. 😇

[Fruitandnutcase]

It could be the calcium tablets - they usually start you on calcium carbonate - basically rock! I started taking that first and discovered it really upset my gut. I tried a couple of versions then worked out that I get enough dietary calcium and with the blessing of my fracture liaison nurse stopped taking it although now I take a top up with an algae based calcium and that’s fine.

I started alendronic acid too but gave up after four months - definitely without the blessing of my fracture liaison nurse or my rheumatologist or any of the other medical people I come across but I had so many horrible side effects I stopped taking it.

So it could be the calcium you are taking or it could be the alendronic acid or it could be both.

You can always call the Royal Osteoporosis Society for advice - look on the right hand side of this page. They also have a very good website too packed with good information.

[Calamintha in reply to Fruitandnutcase]

I totally agree with this. With me it was definately the AA (to the point of feeling suicidal, so don't let it get that far) Do also bare in mind that the next step is they offer you denosumab, which has rebound effect when you stop taking it. As far as I am aware the only way to come off it safely is by taking a bisphosphonate. If you react badly to all bisphosphonates you will therefore potentially have the same issue. I'm better with Resondrate, but not sufficiently to take it as an alternative. Discuss it wit RoS They're brilliant

[Y3she]

I was given calcium tablets too once diagnosed. I took them for three weeks. My bones ached so much ... i had to give them up!. I think I get enough by diet so that's what I'm doing .... and hoping for the best. Minefield isn't it!

[walk21]

It depends what your scores were from the DEXA scan or if you have had vertebrae fracture how important medication is.

[Bellemoe]

You haven't indicated how long you've been taking these?I started on AA and Calcium May 2022. By August I'd been switched to Risendronate (still taking Calcium) as my GP and I believed I was experiencing swollen joints as a side effect. Further tests revealed that I had developed Rheumatoid Arthritis which obviously was responsible for the joint issue. Have not experienced any issues since.

I'd suggest that you need to let your body acclimatise to the regime. If you have been taking them in excess of 4 months then perhaps a change of Bisphosphonates could be the answer.

Sometimes we are to eager to point the finger of blame at something we'd rather not do ie take meds, for a condition we'd rather not have!

[josephinius1]

Just a random comment...observational. I have all sorts of pain in my back, muscles, tendons, ligaments, fracture recovery pain. But I feel very fortunate, after reading comments, that that's pretty much "it". Things could definitely be worse. My heart goes out to you all.