Taking bone tablets

[granelliheywood]

Now that I am down to 5mg a day  do I still have to take that 1 a week. Acid tablet

[Celtic PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Granelliheywood, you only need to continue with the Alendronic Acid if you have been diagnosed with osteoporosis.  If you haven't had a DEXA bone density scan then do request one - that is the only way you will know the condition of your bones.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

I would say, probably yes. Two things really, how long have you been on it? and at that level the Pred can still cause problems if you are susceptible to osteoporosis. 

I have just got down to 1mg, having been on it for just over 4 years (recommended no longer than 5 years max), and my GP reluctantly agreed at last appointment to let me stop. He assumed I would probably be off Pred within a couple of months anyway. 

If you are having problems with it, then discuss with your GP or Rheumy. 

[Lyn_seaside]

I have been on alendronic acid off and on for fifteen years and this time have done five years (PMR kicked in just as I should have taken a break from it) which is generally considered too long. When I went for my Dexa scan the radiographer, who I would trust implicitely, said that under 7.5 mg of steroid doesn't affect the bones at all so she suggested I tell my doctor I want to come off so I did and I have! My scan, however, proves the effectiveness of AA. I had the bones of a 60 year old when I was 45, now I'm 60 and I still have the bones of a 60 year old. Hope this helps!

[HeronNS in reply to Lyn_seaside]

Lyn_seaside, I certainly don't want to discourage you from dropping bisphosphonate therapy (the reverse in fact).  However I think your radiographer is wrong about to the dose at which pred stops affecting the bones.

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/157...

I will continue to work assiduously to maintain and hopefully improve my bone health, probably for the rest of my life, with or without pred as a complicating factor. 

[Lyn_seaside in reply to HeronNS]

Thanks.  Interesting article.  I should have said,  I'm down to 1mg prefer. 

[Lyn_seaside in reply to Lyn_seaside]

Damn predictive text!  Pred not prefer! 

[HeronNS in reply to Lyn_seaside]

That's excellent!   I am now down to 4 mg. 

[whitleybayfc]

I take risonadrate pill once  a week  ,to stop bone damage from pred

[Caro12line]

Check with your doctor or Rhuemy.  I am down to 6mg (been on Pred 15 months) and my recent DEXA scan was practically identical to the one 2 years ago.  Rheumy said to carry on with the Alendronic Acid.