Alendronic Acid

[Daffodilia]

I was told in my recent medication review not to take Adcal on the day I take Alendronic acid as they bind together and are lost- any thoughts? Been doing it wrong for five years!

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

I took mine on same day - but took the first Adcal at lunchtime rather than in the morning [as I did on other days]. Never told anything different.

see this -

ouh.nhs.uk/patient-guide/le...

[Daffodilia in reply to DorsetLady]

Usually take mine at lunch and dinner now none on Sunday when I take Alendronic Acid

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Daffodilia]

Not sure it’s necessary to not take it on AA days -unless that’s new news (if you see what I mean!) - didn’t do nd any damage.

But if that’s what you’ve been advised, so be it… but I might ask why .

[Daffodilia in reply to DorsetLady]

They said bind together and excreted - new advice

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Daffodilia]

If the AA has been taken early as it should be it is absorbed and well down the gut before the AdCal or whatever is taken. Seems something of a stretch to me.

So I looked it up - it ISN'T "new information", it was around in the late 1990s/early 2000s. It is the work that emphasised how important it was to take AA correctly, in the morning, on an empty stomach using normal tap water and nothing else to wash it down. Then there should be a wait to ensure it has time to be absorbed before taking ANYTHING but especially foods containing calcium. If you stick to the mantra we quote - calcium for lunch and dinner it won't affect it.

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/907....

[Daffodilia in reply to PMRpro]

Ok - seemed to be new to pharmicist who did review - was definitely new to me - I said I had been taking Adcal on Alendronic day for 5 years and he said I would get some benefit but to discontinue

[LucilleG in reply to Daffodilia]

I’ve been on Risedronate (Delayed Response) since July 2022. Just a few weeks ago, my pharmacist told me not to take my calcium supplements the same day just to be on the safe side to ensure the medication can do its job as effectively as possible. They felt that one day without the calcium supplements would be alright, so I have started doing that.

[Daffodilia in reply to LucilleG]

Glad one person had same advice - thnx

[Sharitone in reply to PMRpro]

I've been meaning to ask for ages: Is there any effect of calcium on e/c pred, being as it's absorbed later?

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Sharitone]

Probably not ideal to take at the same time - will still stick to the outside of the tablets in the same way. Whether it then resists the change in pH is another matter.

[Sharitone in reply to PMRpro]

TY.. (That was quick!)

[Boss302Fan in reply to PMRpro]

I always set aside a +/- 2 hr bracket around the time I took any Calcium supplement. Read somewhere it could inhibit absorption of some meds. Have no clue whether it really had any impact. Took Ca @ 9 pm.

[piglette in reply to Sharitone]

My pharmacist writes on the box to leave two hours in between taking the two.

[Sharitone in reply to piglette]

Thanks, i wonder why they don't all do that? I wouldn't have known anythng about it if it had not been for this forum.

[autumnlass in reply to PMRpro]

I take Risendronate on empty tum when I first get up on Monday… wait 1/2 hour .. then have berries, Greek soya yogurt and seeds… should I wait a bit longer - it’s usually longer than 1/2 hour as lots of calcium in the yogurt?

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to autumnlass]

Might be better. A lot of the problems associated with bisphosphonates were decided to be due to it not being taken optimally. It is probably a good idea to have good margins!!!

[PMRpro Ambassador]

No - that sounds like they have pred and calcium in mind and confused with AA.

You should be taking the AA on its day first thing in the morning, an hour before ANYTHING else and remaining upright for 30-45 mins - have a shower, read the forum sitting up properly. That is to allow it to be absorbed optimally. Then comes pred after breakfast. And THEN there should be at least 2 hours before calcium supplements, preferably longer.

[Daffodilia in reply to PMRpro]

Yes - doing all that but now no Adcal on Alendronic Acid day

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Daffodilia]

Yes - fair enough, But the info is incorrect ...

[Broseley in reply to PMRpro]

A practical question please - re the shower - how does one dry one's feet and legs without bending?

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Broseley]

Get someone else to dry them -whatever happened to personal maids?? 🤣😂

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Broseley]

By the time you have finished you must be getting close to half an hour. But I never bend down to dry my feet - wrapped in a large towel, sit down and bring my feet up to me since I still can, But my feet dry quickly standing on a towel.

Hairdryers work well too - often think I'd like a big dryer on the ceiling ...

[Daffodilia]

They said it is new advice

[seamaid]

I was also told this by my GP when I was first diagnosed with PMR 2 and 1/2 years ago and so. have always followed this .

[Daffodilia in reply to seamaid]

Diagnosed 2018 so I guess I was being updated on later advice