Infusion of Aledronic Acid

Good morning all, I had an infusion of Aledronic Acid in September as I was having problems with tablet taking due to oesophagus problems. This was on GP's recommendation, next GP I saw at same surgery insisted I continue with calcium and Vitamin D tablets due to osteoporosis in the hip. However, bad re-action nauseous and indigestion so stopped taking them. Advice please if infusion is to replace tablets why do I need tablets as well, I am a little confused.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I'm assuming that you had one of the other bisphosphonates as an infusion since AA is an oral form.

When you are given bisphosphonate drugs they change some aspects of the way bone is produced - it is a permanently active process with old bone being broken down and new bone made. If breakdown exceeds production the bone density falls. In order to make bone your body requires enough calcium to be available and also vitamin D which is part of the process. Taking pred means your body loses more calcium through the kidneys and the idea of taking the supplements is to increase the chance of enough calcium being available to the bones.

The infusions don't replace the calcium and vit D, they are to increase the use of them. Without calcium and vit D the infusions possibly won't work. So you need to keep taking the supplements or at the very least increase your dietary calcium as much as possible and take vit D supplements.

[Hidden in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you for your advice, I take your point but as I have side effects on calcium tablets even the chewable ones it makes it difficult to take. I was also prescribed Vitamin D but the ones I originally had were too expensive for the surgery to continue prescribing. The replacement Vitamin D have sunflower oil in which I am allergic to. So not quite sure where to go from here. Your advices are appreciated.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Hidden]

Your GP surgery has to take into account your allergies, their budget is secondary and I would contact the local commissioning group (or whatever they are called these days!).

There are quite few different sorts of calcium - talk to a pharmacist

[Spanky2019]

I have osteoporosis and started boniva i.v. every 3 months. My rheumatologist wants me to get calcium through diet. He said that is best way to get calcium and reduces risks associated with calcium tablets. I also take 50,000 units vit D3 once weekly and 2000 units vit D 2 daily. Not sure if this is helpful. Great to have good doctors that you believe know what they're doing.

[Hidden in reply to Spanky2019]

Thank you that is very informative.