So this month's prescription for Alendronic Acid hadn't been done very -unusual for our very efficient pharmacy. Pharmacist explained to me that there is a national shortage and there just isn't any to be had -he has emailed the surgery to request the alternative ibandronate, but they haven't got back to him. He says there may be a problem because it is expensive and surgery may be unwilling to prescribe it! Can they do that?rang the surgery, but of course all the doctors had finished for the night and I will have to wait till Monday. Meanwhile I have no medication - thank goodness it wasn't the pred!
Anyone else having this problem?
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artisam
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Hi. Yes I had the same problem. Was asking doctor for an alternative and then my pharmacy accessed some. I think you need to get your prescription and ring round different pharmacies. If unavailable ask GP for an alternative. Good luck 😳
I've had no issues with taking it at all - been lucky I guess. I initially refused to take it when I was diagnosed with PMR because of all the nasty side effect I'd read about...then the inevitable happened and I got osteoporosis! There's no winning is there?🙄
I’ve been prescribed Risedronate sodium 35mg as an alternative - and am wondering if this is the cause of the headache I’ve had the day after taking it.
Every time something changes it starts a cycle of ' what's that new niggle all about?' doesn't it? Hope you find the source, headaches are debilitating, especially in this heat.
Risedronate 35mg is an alternative. I’ll repeat briefly what I said earlier to someone else: Problems with AA causing hand pain shortly (about a month) after starting the medication. My doc switched me to Risedronate and hand pain vanished.
PS What dose of Prednisolone are you currently taking? I’m on 2.5mg, starting a taper to 2mg next week, and even though I’ve been told by a Rheumatologist via my GP to stay on it until I’m off Pred, I’m wondering if I could reduce the frequency to once a fortnight. I know a lot on here are really anti Bisphosphonates but I’ve had a few accidental falls but no broken bones.
Not to mention the fact that taking AA indefinitely is a bad idea. No more than three years is probably safe, before there becomes an increasing risk of bones becoming brittle because normal "bone remodelling" has been curtailed. No one should take a bone med without definite proof it is needed, never as a preventative - there are other ways of preventing bone thinning (appropriate exercise, a few judicious supplements, nutrition. In some cases testing for "secondary causes of osteoporosis" is a good idea, because pred is not only risk factor).
When I was diagnosed the nurse was sure it would be reversible with correct diet and exercise as well as the medication. Hopefully at my next dexa scan I will have good news. Long term anything reaps problems I think. Does all osteoporosis medication have the same effect?
I think so - or similar problems. Some are brilliant at building bone but when stopped there is rebound loss of bone density so another drug is required ongoing.
I feel your frustration. Even the pharmacist can't get a response from ours. I have at least gathered names of some alternatives now, so hopefully something will be available. Good luck. 🤞
I have Osteoporosis and cannot take Alendronic Acid, or anything similar, so was put on 6 monthly injections of Demosumab, 3 years ago. No problems, even within the last year since having diagnosis of PMR and being on Prednisone. Now down to 3.5 mg and thanks to this chat forum, I am very slowly reducing with no problems!
I think that's on my list - GP won't know what's hit her! It bothers me that I have to find something else as I've had no problems with AA and I could be beset with a whole new set of side effects to tackle. Nothing to be done though, let's see what happens. Hope you get on all right with your - onward we go!🙄
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