No not at all and nor would I if my Dexa Scan was fine my two in a row ( 2 yrs apart) were fine.

I was told I would need AA, but after seeing my scan, and some good advice from this forum I refused..

My doctor actually agreed with me.

My last two dexa scan hardly changed, and that was enough for me to decline it.

My Consultant arranged a Dexa Scan one after six months, then every two years. I had GCA and it took me the first year to get to 20mg after a couple of hiccups.

5 years down the line, remission, bones still fine and no change from 1st scan 97%.

Talk about over prescribing...............and it always is AA grrrrr

If my dexa was fine I wouldn't take AA, it was and I haven't. It was recommended I have another in 18 to 24mths. I have had the second one and no change re osteoporosis/penia...all within " normal" range. They recommended I came off calcium supplements. I am entering 4th year and at 6mg of pred. I will actually still take adcal as I don't eat much dairy at the moment. You need to ask for your t scores so you can make decision based on information. But if no osteoporosis no AA for me.

Don't take AA if you don't need to - if your bone density is ok, you don't need it.

My dexa scan showed low bone density so I was told to take AA; but my next scan isn't for 5 years - there's no way I'd take AA for 5 consecutive years!

There is a HUGE difference between taking things like supplements to " top up" your nutrient base as a preventative measure to various conditions and taking a drug like AA .

AA , PPIs and Statins are not drugs to take " just in case " in my book , especially when your body is already having to cope with the job of processing drugs like Steroids and repairing itself.

If you have a normal Dexascan , or don't have pre existing issues for other side effects like stomach trouble or Cholesterol that you have not been able to reduce by natural means , I think you should be given the right help and information to try and maintain your bone , heart and digestive health by natural means first.

You only need to look at the history of members like the Mighty Heron on this forum to see that if given the chance,, and the right tips , you can improve your bone health , osteoarthritis issues and scan results by the right changes in lifestyle , diet and appropriate types of exercise.

Prevention is better than cure , but it doesn't have to come on a prescription.

My GP keeps saying I should take Alendronic Acid as I have been on steroids for a while. We then have a row about it which I always think I have won, until the next time he brings it up. My Dexascan is extremely good I keep telling him, but he seems obsessed with steroids causing problems.

After reading the advice here I requested a bone scan...though it was on the 12th June...and result haven't come in yet...is this a normal time to wait?

I was prescribed AA along with my first prescription of pred! After advice on here and reading about it I didnt take it. When I asked if I could have a dexa scan a few weeks ago I was refused on the basis "pred doesnt damage bones" the doctor followed with I need to take AA to protect my bones from pred! When a gp can come out with such garbage in two sentences I dont feel confident about taking their advice. I still dont take it!!

Hi, have you had a vitamin D test? It is always a good idea to know if you are deficient and easy to remedy.

Also, check out the Bone Health forum on Healthunlocked, it has some good info too.

Had AA for a year. Stopped taking it and now wouldn’t touch it with a barge pole.

Google it and read for yourself what it is and what the short and long term side effects are

Read about it and refused it

No we aren't all taking AA, or, for that matter, any other bone pharmaceutical. 😎

Hi Breconblue, i've had PMR since Oct 2017. In June this year via A&E visit diagnosed with GCA, so pred increased starting at 50mg, and was also prescribed AA. After 2 weeks I had seriously upset stomach with severe pain, I phoned my GP who said to stop AA, rheumie also agreed at subsequent appointment, I had a tooth extraction beginning of July, dentist was happy to go ahead because I'd only taken for 2 weeks. I felt so much better after I'd stopped taking it, I think the advice on this forum is wise, that unless you really need to, it's best avoided. Hth.

Because I had dexa early on we know I already had osteoporosis before going on prednisone. Drs want me to go on boniva i.v. but I 'm waiting to get a little stronger, ? lower dose pred, & need to see dentist. As a moderator said, there doesn't need to be rush to add another toxic rx. I want to be compliant with DRs & don't claim to know more than DRs, but ultimately I'm the one to live with oxic effects of meds. Hard to know if one is doing the right thing.

I have always understood that yourHRT will also be giving you some bone protection too. After 7/8 years on pred my bone scan was good & stopped AA after a couple of months years ago.

I took one dose and was paralysed (quite literally) with pain,I couldn't walk or sit down for five hours. The results of a subsequent Dexa Scan were excellent.

No AA for me.

I take it and don’t actually know if it has side effects. It’s weekly

I take it and I am ok with it

I also take AA (with Omeprazole). Both my sister and my mother had/have quite severe osteoporosis. So far, my bones seem pretty good -I have had three DEXA scans, showing only small deterioration over 11 years since menopause. I also take Calcium/Vit D, and also Vit K2 and Magnesium, and am on low-dose HRT. I haven't had any problems or side-effects from the AA.

No. My choice not to take. Did take for 9 months

Makes you wonder whether GPS actually care about patients just like dishing out prescriptions. Shame they don’t give us the steroids quicker instead of making us wait too see Rhuematologist. Perhaps we would be helped a lot faster

No, I'm not taking it. Wouldn't touch it with a barge pole - it's not all the medics and big pharma crack it up to be. Read the book "Your bones" for the best advice. Good luck.

Thank you everyone for your responses. I don’t know what the values were on my Dexa scan of a year ago ,just that it was ‘ normal for my age’. Anyway I have decided not to take the AA, and take my chances. I don’t have a FH of Osteoporosis, walk the dog about 5 k a day ( in two walks) and try and eat healthy diet. As for the HRT , that was a bigger decision. I had my ovaries out at 32 so was taking HRT a long time, ( 20 odd years) stopped but after 5 years got the ‘ bits’ of an 80 year old, apparently and reg UTIs. A sister with BC, never gave birth myself or beast fed, a bit overweight, so high risk. But, at the end of the day we all have to decide what risks we accept for a reasonably health life.. good luck to all, it’s great we have each other for support and advice 😆

No we’re not, although some do. I was given it when diagnosed with GCA/PMR (hadn’t found this forum then) and only took one dose!!!! I felt so ill and my BP went through the roof so refused to take the second week. I take calcium/vitD and my second dexa scan shows within normal limits again - have the scan bi-annually. I’m over 5 years since diagnosis. Do you still see a Rheumie? If so share what you’re GP has said but don’t take it if you don’t want to, I wouldn’t.

She's wrong. Studies showed that calcium plus vit D was protective in patients on pred. After over 7 years on pred at above 10mg/day for most of the time my bone density had barely changed according to dexascan. I took 4 AA tablets before the discussion with a different GP!

No dexascan showing a need - no AA.

I am not taking AA although I have osteoporosis. You have used the word ‘toxic’ and that is what it is.

Read as much as you can about what it does to your bones and the rest of your body.

I take it weekly and the truth is I know nothing about it. I need to learn more

GP has acceded to my request for Dexa scan before taking any AA. Gosh, we really need to be fully ‘with it’ and informed with our lovely NHS

Hi

I am taking Fosamax (Alendronate Sodium) and have been for approximately 2.5 years. My first rheumatologist said that since I had a very recent bone density scan that was normal, I didn’t need to worry about bone loss from prednisone. She said taking calcium tablets would be enough. Two months later, I changed to a different rheumatologist. He recommended it on my first visit. He scheduled a bone density scan before I began taking Fosamax. I already had osteopenia. My previous bone density test- which was taken just a few months before I was diagnosed with GCA and PMR was normal.

I haven’t had any difficulties with it at all. My most recent bone density scan shows that my bones have returned to normal- no more osteopenia. I worry about a lot of things with this illness; I do not worry about Fosamax. This is of course, my point of view. Everyone must consider the risks and benefits based on their own situation.

Do you mind saying how old you are, Lauren?

Hello, I used to take Alendronic Acid (AA) but started having serious problems with my teeth. My dentist screeched when I told him about my intake of AA, and was not at all pleased. Since then I've learned that GPs (mine anyway) have been told to stop prescribing AA. Over to you.

Greenheath