..... that's it! I took my first Alendronic Acid pill 70mg an hour ago...
I am worried that things will go wrong but let's see.
I have been getting a lot of aches and pains of late and it really is bothering me so - hey ho here we go!
Hope you are all well
David
No reason why it should go wrong if you’ve followed advice… 🤞
Thank you. I'm reading so many horror stories :/
Well I and many others have taken them/ or are taking them with no problem… As with many things in life, you have to try them and decide for yourself ..
but do you really need them? I’d want another DEXA scan to check…
Remember, all the non-horror stories don't get told!!!
Thank you PMRpro I am usually always a very, very positive person. It's just sometimes there is too much negative information.
I made the mistake of finding a website in the States that was very negative! I should know better.
Thanks, David
pst! It's been over 4 hours since I popped the first one, as per rules, and I feel OK. I have to say my aches and pains aren't with me right now......
Hello. It would be handy if you put in your bio when you were diagnosed, starting dose and any ups and downs. Are you still on Methotrexate? When did your aches and pains start and have you tried reducing in 0.5mg drops.
Good luck with the AA though it won’t help with any aches and pains. Bone thinning only hurts when there is a fracture which is why osteoporosis is so tricky. Did you have a DEXA scan to see if you really need it?
thank you 
I've never been on Methotrexate. I have had aches and pains for about 3 months now. I had a Dexa scan 3 years ago and it was fine.
Will do on profile
David
I had a Dexa scan last week and the lovely lady who did the scan said I would receive the report shortly. She did smile and say it looks good though...
Given you are 72 and on long term pred guidelines would say that a dexa isnt needed. But from a practical point of view a scan pre AA would be very helpful for planning purposes. Wot if you cant tolerate the AA, how critical is it to try another one ?How do you assess whether you are achieving something with the stuff down the line? A 3 years ago result ain't worth nottin'.
Day One .... Despite everything I was thinking all was fine on my first day. Slept for 10 hours too David
hello there. I had pre existing osteoporosis before being diagnosed with PMR and now on Pred. I take Risedronate . There are lots of horror stories out there but as has previously been said no one ever mentions the folk who have no trouble. If and I say if , you cannot take AA there are alternatives. …..if you need them . Good luck. It’s not all gloom 😁
Hi Rubha, Risedronate is the same as Alendronic Acid I do believe Thank you for the wish!
In what sense? They are different substances and risendronate is usually said to have fewer adverse effects.
I don't know OH was on it in the USA
if you get uptight & concerned…THAT could upset your gut…but you’d blame it on the AA!! Why read another web site? Plenty on here re AA. Nobody writes good things! I did have some minor stomach issues that could have been AA…MINOR. Dr changed me to risenodrate. No problems whatsoever.
This is my go to site for issues. No other BUT sometimes I do have a look around trusted USA medical sites to see their views. That's where I got all the negatives about AA...
I'm fine and this is my go to favourite place for help and support xxx
No need to be frightened of AA. I took it religiously every Sunday morning for over 10 years, without a break, before deciding to stop. But that was only after I'd read on a website that you're not supposed to take it for more than 5 years before taking a break.
During that time I don't know if I ever had any side effects. I don't think I did, but if I did then I didn't notice them. It's only since being on this forum that I've read about possible dental issues from taking AA for too long.
well I hope for your sake that you need it, like the results from a DEXA scan. I took it for 3 years and not happy it was pushed on to me by the rheumatologist. It compromises dental surgery for a long time to come!
oh dear I’ve just been prescribed Alendronic Acid for the first time by over the phone clinician. Advice given about being upright after taking on an empty stomach once a week and have regular dental checkups! That bit concerned me as I always have tooth issues (child if the 50’s)! so I’ve called my regular dentist to see if detrimental to teeth.
I’m new to PMR and finding out as much as I can as at the moment only had one phone call appointment with GP and referral to a Rheumatologist in August 2024. I’m happy to take whatever helps and reducing on Prednisolone but a lot to take on board at times. This website is extremely helpful.
It isn't detrimental to teeth per se but should you require any invasive dental work - extractions for example - dentists in the UK may make a real song and dance and implants are likely to be a no-no. The risks with tablets are pretty minimal - but unfortunately many dentists seem to be totally risk averse.
Don't take any until you have had a full examination by your dentist and any potential such work completed. Better to know now than after being on it for some time and meeting the problem.
Thank you for the input re AA. I could need a further tooth implant etc in the future and am waiting for my dentist to hopefully respond as he knows I do not have the best quality teeth so it would help to have his opinion. I’m having a bit of quite bad hip pain and had a really good online consultation and exercise plan with physio today. She said my GP had been asked to refer me for an X-ray but he had written to say let Rheumatology sort it when I see them. (August 2024 appointment)! She said it’s probably due to funding! One phone consultation with him and one locum since December is why I’m finding out as much as I can. He didn’t even prescribe calcium tablets. I found out about CalciD and bought my own. Over 70 so should have been prescribed. The private rheumatologist I saw for advice as I was concerned suggested AA. She also wrote to him to organise an X-ray. I think I will get a Dexa scan privately to see if AA totally necessary at the moment. Online chats much appreciated.
The dental warnings do concern me. I'm fussy about my teeth as I lost some in an accident in 1975. I have recently spent an eye watering £5000 on treatment too
I wish I hadn’t taken AA or Risedronate for 3 years, without evidence I needed to. There are other ways to protect the bones, eg CalichewD3 and load bearing exercise.
Well that's my 2nd day since taking AA and I'm in a lot of pain all over. It seems worse than before but that maybe me thinking too much.
I don't know!
I take calcium supplements and D3.
I had a DEXA scan in 2021 and was found to have osteoporosis in the spine and osteopenia in hips, so was put on Alendronic Acid. I had to have a consultation with the dentist first and she took X-rays of my teeth, but was fairly relaxed about me going on it. Have been on it since then taking once a week tablets. Haven’t experienced any problems. Am also on Calcium and D3. Another DEXA scan was recommended after 5 years unless I break anything in the meantime. PMR arrived in August 23. I’m ok with taking the Alendronic Acid, but I’m not sure now whether I need to have another DEXA scan earlier than 2026. Given that the waiting lists for NHS scans are lengthy, I don’t know whether to make enquiries earlier.
" don’t know whether to make enquiries earlier......."
I would
I’m inclined to think so, yes. The first scan I had was a private one in 2021, because the wait for an NHS one was 14 months. Now, that I’m on steroids for PMR, it brings another factor into it, so I’m thinking I’ll have to find out how long I’ll have to wait for an NHS one now. NHS or private, it will have to go through the GP for a referral either way. I just need to know when to set the ball rolling. Hope you get on ok with the AA.
Did I, ever, say I stopped taking A Acid after 4 weeks? I felt awful and all sick in the stomach....
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