I was diagnosed with GCA in January 2013 and put on steroids, Lansoprazole and Alendronic Acid. I am also on Thyroxine and Calcichew. I find walking difficult with aching calf muscles, in particular. How long should I be off it to give it a fair trial? My Dr has told me that I can't have another DEXA scan unil next April (three years from last). I *do* have osteopenia (=2, I think).
Has anyone had a any problems when they stopped taking it?
PMRGCAuk's latest Newsletter, which can be read online has a very informative article on AA. It is well worth the read an will assist you in making your own decision.
I can't say thAt we have the same experience, but I have taken myself off the AA to see if the pains I was getting were a side effect and, after less than 3 weeks I am in much less pain, feeling almost normal! My pains were in one hip and knee but felt different to PMR pain and couldn't be as a result of decreasing the Pred or a flare up. I am lucky in that I have not so far had any signs of osteoporosis, so my decision to come off the AA was less risky. I hope you get some answers for yourself, and feel better!
Finishing prednisolone 
Temporal artery Biopsy 
Struggling to get a Diagnosis 
Polymyalgia - diagnosed about 18 months ago, taking pednisone for one year.
