Risedronate and parathyroid serum levels

[Looby60]

Good morning . Hoping someone may have some knowledge of parathyroid serum levels whilst on risedronate.

My latest blood results showed high parathyroid serum levels . I only started on risedronate 10 weeks ago and my levels were fine prior to this .

Is this common when on risedronate and if so does anyone know what happens .

I do have phone appointment with dr re this on Thursday .

Meanwhile I am worrying as to what it means .

Any input would be really appreciated.

Thank you .

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Were you told to take calcium supplements because you are on risendonate? My husband was told he MUST take calcium.

yourhormones.info/hormones/...

Logic tells me that risendronate should increase the deposition of calcium in the bones - which it gets from the calcium in the blood. As a result, the blood calcium level falls - and that triggers an increase in parathyroid hormone.

This

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/111...

is a bit complicated to read but they found that giving risendronate to patients for a time resulted in raised PTH levels

"In groups R-P, R-CP-P, and R-CP-R-CP, mean serum PTH levels were elevated above baseline values for the entire 56 day treatment period and remained elevated, although to a lesser extent, at the day 84 follow-up visit. " (All the groups got 20 days risendronate tablets)

So it is a perfectly normal response to the drug - stop worrying!

[Looby60 in reply to PMRpro]

Hi and thank you for your response .I have been on iCal D3 for over a year now .

Risedronate only 10 weeks .

I did wonder re PTH levels as in November I was on Forsteo ( sadly it didn’t agree with me )

So stopped then in December started risedronate .

My levels were elevated when on Forsteo .

Prior to starting risedronate they were normal , blood test last week showed elevated PTH but not all calcium .

Was concerned as when I looked at blood results it mentioned secondary hyperthyroidism with regard to elevated PTH .

I do appreciate your input though has put my mind at ease a little 😊

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Looby60]

I imagine that would be the normal interpretation - but the context seems to me at least to account for the raised PTH. The requesting doctor is always supposed to list all relevant information and they often don't - so you look at the lab results and take them at face value. Then there is an "Ah - SO!!" moment.

[Looby60 in reply to PMRpro]

It’s just that I received a message from my gp saying he will phone me Thursday to discuss and see if need referring to biochemistry consultant ( didn’t know they exsisted) 😁Thank you again for your reply .

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Looby60]

Yes - every lab has its clinical scientist doctor. Sometimes they are scientists, sometimes doctors who then did the specialist stuff. A good choice for medics who struggle a bit with f2f with patients.

And at a guess, your GP doesn't know that bone meds increase the PTH so is taking it as a problem. Even though it was raised while you were on Forteo too and then normalised.

[Looby60 in reply to PMRpro]

Thank goodness for your advice and input . I knew I could rely on this forum .

I had already suspected this myself to be honest but had one of those Drs know best moments . Silly me S it was me that emailed him re my PTH levels after accessing my blood tests online 😁😁

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Looby60]

I could be wrong - but I don't think it is a problem.

[Barbaracole]

Hello there iwas very nervous of Alendronic acid. So kept way for a year. But I was eventually persuaded by a consultant for bones to have a 2year infusion of it. I am now into my second year . With no seemingly bad side effects but who knows not thrilled to have done it . !