Do I still need to take Alendronic Acid and Omeprazole?

[twinbulls]

I have been taking prednisone for 3 years starting at 15mg per day and am now on 5mg per day. I take Alendronic Acid once a week and Omeprazole 20mg once a day. Now that I am down to 5mg pred per day, do I really need to take the Alendronic Acid and the Omeprazole?

[HeronNS]

Did you have a DXA scan to show that you ever needed to take AA? Did you take omeprazole because you had symptoms which required treatment?

Those questions aside, three years on AA is probably quite enough anyway. They seem to be reducing the recommended maximum time to stay on these meds. AA stays in your bones indefinitely so a "holiday" is probably a good idea and will give you an opportunity to take stock and determine whether you need to be doing something else for your bones. Certainly pred's effect on your bones is much reduced now that your dose is lower.

How are you feeling?

Happy New Year! 🥂

[twinbulls in reply to HeronNS]

No, I have never had a DXA scan abut I guess I had, historically, had some symptoms to indicate that Omeprazole may be a good idea. I didn't know that AA stayed in your system indefinitely so that sounds good. I had put on weight when I went on the Prednisolone but have recently managed to lose 2 stone of it as I have been following the 8 week Blood Sugar Diet along with my husband who has Diabetes Tyoe II. He too has lost over a stone in weight and significantly reduced his Blood Glucose readings. I feel much better because of the loss of weight but also, I think, because of the reduction in 'empty' carbs. The pain and stiffness levels are good and am going to reduce gradually by half a mg at a time over the next few months obviously hoping to come off the Prednisolone altogether. Thanks for your advice on the AA, what do think about the Omeprazole? Is it OK to take 20mg every other day rather than going to the trouble of switching to 10mg?

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to twinbulls]

If you have gastric problems it may make sense to continue with the omeprazole while on pred, it too can irritate the stomach.

Whether it is a "good thing" AA stays in the body forever is a moot point and only time will tell. I took AA 4 times, got my dexascan result and stopped. My bone density was fine albeit in the "osteopenia" range but that is not of itself concerning, and has barely changed over 7 years of pred, much of it at above 10mg/day.

Well done on the weight loss - another positive I can quote when telling people it is possible, even on pred!

[lizz33 in reply to twinbulls]

I have been on Prednisolone for over a year I started with 30 mg and then Cut down to 20mg slowly within 3months but them got pneumonia in March this year was rushed to A& E and they put me on a steroid drip to get rid of the inflammation and it worked so you have to be really careful not to cut the prednisolone down to quick I am now on 5mg and its seem to be ok I have lost weight I don't have any thing with starch at all as I am also gluten free even some of the gluten bread has potatoes starch in it the 4 things I don't eat is bread Pasta potatoes or rice and lost weight . I also have a kiwi fruit every day

[HeronNS in reply to twinbulls]

So glad you're doing well with the food and weight loss! I listened to a radio program last night where they were discussing problems with sugar and at the end said that all the major diets which are being promoted lately work - Mediterranean, paleo, Atkins, etc. The one thing they all had in common was that they were low sugar high fibre! So that's the secret.

Happy New Year! 🎉🍷🍾🎈

[kezzybabes in reply to twinbulls]

Interesting to hear that you have lost so much weight on the blood sugar diet. I am starting this too and this gives me hope!

[twinbulls in reply to kezzybabes]

The food is very varied and tasty and the recipes are easy to follow. I think the key is to snack as little as possible but if we need to snack we eat things like boiled eggs, whole beetroot, gherkins, pickled onions. I do hope that you are able to lose the weight with this diet as I am so pleased I have done it. I am still on it although I have been a bit lax over Christmas. I would like to lose another stone. Good luck

[kezzybabes in reply to twinbulls]

It's staying off The white wine that will be hardest but I'm determined!

[lizz33]

I m also down to 5mg pred a day and still take Alendronic once a week its to protect your bones as your still on pred . I went to the specialist and he told me to stay one pred 5mg a day as my blood test showed still some inflammation there I get checked every 3 months and I am much better just my legs are weak