Help… advised to go on alendronic acid

[Reddev]

Had a dexa scan. GP sent a message by mobile phone to say she had been told by rheumatologist to start me on alendronic acid. Advised to have dental check and that is it. No advice or help in deciding if I want to take it. I have had in the past very bad indigestion problems abs really don’t want to add more drugs that can cause it.

I have had two dexa scans and these are the results I know I have to make the decision to take it or not and I’m prepared to take the consequences but would like to hear other peoples opinion

My T scores are:-

2018. L1-L2. T1.2

2021. L1-L2. T1.8

2018 right femur neck T0.5

2021 right femur neck T1.1

2018 right femur. T0.0

2021 right femur. T0.6

[jinasc]

There are other bio-phosonates - visit the Royal National Osteoporosis Society and read up on them all.

If in the end you do have osteo and you do need medication and none of the others are suitable them it is a hard decision to make.

[Reddev in reply to jinasc]

Thank you. Have made my decision not to take it but will read up on it for future references if my T scores get worse.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Those t-scores are all with a minus in front of them I take it?

Even without your gastric problems they'd have to pay me big money to take AA with a dexascan result like that, even our local osteoporosis expert expressed amazement at my results which were slightly less good than yours and just said carry on as you are. Which is lots of vit D (4000 IU per day) and good dietary calcium as I had problems with the calcium supplements.

The femoral results are still around normal range (except the right NOF, -1.0 would be normal). Your spinal results are good, barely into the range that qualifies for recommendation for intervention (-1.6) but it would be calcium/vit D and exercise with a weighted vest.

[Reddev in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you. That certainly makes me feel justified in making my decision not to take it. I don’t want any more medication especially when it can cause side effects. I will make sure my vit D and calcium intake is ongoing and as I play golf two or three times a week I’m sure that is helping. Thank you once again

I now have to run this past my GP😳

[Reddev in reply to PMRpro]

Forgot to say yes. All had - in front of them.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Reddev]

I really do not know why they would want to force you on to AA with readings like that!

[Reddev in reply to PMRpro]

Me neither. I have been on pred for three years and yes they have changed over the three years but for a 73 year old not too bad. Menopause was quite early 44 so all in all not too bad.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Reddev]

I'd have said very good. Did you have HRT after it was so early? Menopause was relatively late but I had been on HRT for years and I'm sure that has helped me now.

[Reddev in reply to PMRpro]

Never had HRT. My menopause was easy. Only hot flushes but pretended I was in Hawaii. 🤣

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Reddev]

Hahahahaha! Bit cheaper too ...

[Hidden in reply to PMRpro]

Hi there, can you tell me if weighted vests help improve density in the spine? I'm not sure of the science behind them?!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Hidden]

HeronNS is the person to ask about that.

The science behind weighted vests is that the more you weigh, the more effect weight-bearing exercise will have on encouraging formation of new bone. Being of slight build is a risk factor for osteoporosis. Using a weighted vest when exercises means you don't have to put on weight by eating ...

This is what a Cochrane review found:

"In a review of 18 studies about exercise and osteoporosis in postmenopausal women, the Cochrane Collaboration found that aerobics, weight-bearing exercise, and resistance exercises all helped build bone density in the spine, while walking improved bone density in the spine and hip."

[Miserere in reply to PMRpro]

I have been on 15 mg prednisolone for 3 weeks and now 12.5 mg for one week. My doctor prescribed Alendronic Acid as a matter of course last week because she said I would be taking the steroid for more than 3 months. I've had no bone scans/tests or anything else. I am taking Vit D and K2 plus other supplements and am adding calcium-rich foods to the diet. I have decided not to take the AA for the time being - perhaps I shall ask her for a scan to find out about bone density before deciding to take the tablets but I know that will annoy her - our practice does not like to have their decisions questioned. Like Reddev, I don't want to take medication I don't need - more always seems to add to more and before you can look round they've got you on several different ones.

[piglette]

I must admit with T scores like that I would probably forego the bisphosphonates for the time being. My GP wants me on bisphosphonates and I have a normal positive score. I have a fight every time I talk to him. I wonder if they get QOF points if they get people onto bisphosphonates??

[Bcol]

Morning, my doc mentioned biphosphonates to me and I asked for a DEXA scan first and when that came back as good it's not been mentioned again, mind you I've not seen or spoken to her since November so I guess it could come up again at sometime.

[Mystik]

Hey hope r u feeling better m going for my dexa scan this morning m worried too as m in extreme pain with arthritis osteoporosis etc

[Bcol in reply to Mystik]

Good luck with this morning, and hopefully the docs can do something about the pain.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Mystik]

Osteoporosis itself is not painful - only if you develop compression fractures or fall and fracture something.

[Hidden]

Hi ReddevI don't understand DEXA scan results! Mine was - 2.1 in the spine. My GP had been recommended to start me on AA despite hip range being normal. I did my research and so glad I did. "Save Our Bones" is an excellent resource with so much info. No way will I take AA. I really panicked at first and invested in the Marodyne LIV device (vibration platform) then found Save Our Bones too. So am now vibrating every day and have altered my diet! I take Vit D with K2 and a small amount of calcium supplement from marine algae (the body can only process 500mg at one time). I have learned about the complexity of bone chemistry and how bone strength and quality is as important as density. I feel AA is a Big Pharma issue and glad I have avoided it. Good luck! Never easy to go against the medical profession but sometimes I feel the NHS has a lot to answer for and there is a massive gap in preventative medicine.

[Reddev in reply to Hidden]

Thank you for your reply. I will read through and make the changes necessary.

[Suffererc]

I have just spoken to Dr. Added to what I said earlier she wants me to take AA again and set the alarm to take it each week. Still waiting for 2nd Dexa scan appointment. My results were as good as or better than PNRpro after my last scan 2 years ago. Am not going to restart AA.

[Nightingales]

My rheumatologist spends half of my appointment every time telling me in great simple detail that I should be on biophosphates, in spite of having a severe skin reaction to AA and a normal DEXA scan. Honestly, I just want to hit him! I have so many other questions I want to ask him but he is obsessed with it saying having been on prednisolone for six years I will inevitably get osteoporosis.

[Reddev in reply to Nightingales]

It does become wearing when they continually try to give you drugs supposedly to improve your health but then have to take more drugs to overcome the side effects. My first dexa scan was good and yet they wanted me in bisphosphonates.