Sorry to jump in on this discussion but my 62 year old mum has just been prescribed Aledronic Acid after they found she had 4 fractured bones in her spine. They did not do a dexa scan but only a MRI. She has taken the 1 a week tablet twice, ie two weeks in a row but even in this short time, she seems to have severce reactions. Her bones ache all over, her elbows, her shoulders and she still has the pain in the spine from the 4 damaged bones. I want her to stop taking these as i have read such bad things about the effects of this drug.
Couple of questions, Am i right in thinking this prevents any further damage to the bones (supposedly) rather than it helping the existing broken bones in her spine?
Also is the injection the same? Does this mean the side effects last a year? She already has a mulitued of health problems and i just dont want to make it worse for her by allowing her to take this drug. Any advise given would be greatly appreciated.
Regadrs
Kerry
I'm a bit surprised they have used alendronic acid - I'm not even sure it wil prevent future fractures as it doesn't actively build bone. Only a drug called Forsteo does that and I do know of people with spinal fractures who have been put on that. There is a hierarchy of medications in the UK, you start with alendronic acid and move along the list to try the next if you can't take the one you are on.
I think your best bet is to call the National Osteoporosis Society UK helpline - google it to get the details of the site or just follow this link:
https://nos.org.uk/
and a specialist nurse will discuss all the options for your mother with you and give you advice on how to proceed as well as answering your questions.
If the pains your mother has are due to the AA and too much for her to cope with she should be offered the next medication on the list to see if that suits her better. So do tell her doctors AA isn't suiting her at all. It's bad enough being in pain from fractured vertebrae but to add to it is really not on. However, all the medications have some side effects athough everyone is different and some people have no bother at all. With the injections the side effects usually last for a few days, not the entire year.
Who put her on to the AA? Has she seen an osteoporosis specialist?
Thanks for response Eileen. I had actually about 5 minutes ago jotted down the number for NOS helpline.
It is her GP that has put her on this plus calium tablets. She has not seen an osteoporosis specialist. She also has rhumatoid arthritus. She is due to see her GP on the 8th Dec. Until then, i have told her not to take another dose. I do hope that as it was only 2 weeks worth, that the pain she has encountered will stop now.. Do you think it will? I am also going to insist they do a dexa scan and then be refrerred to the osteoporosis specialist.
I honestly don't know about the pain - but I would think it will at least improve.
I'm not convinced that a dexascan will tell them a lot at this stage that will alter the need for bone protection medication - she obviously has osteoporosis in the spine at least. If she has RA then she might be better served by seeing her rheumatologist rather than her GP - though I'd want to talk to an orthopaedic specialist I'd have thought. Not sure who's best in the UK but the Osteoporosis Society will know.
Good luck and do tell us how you get on.
Thanks Eileen for responding. I will ring the NOS Helpline and go from there. I will be so upset if the pain does not go away. I will feel bad I let her take it. I will let you all know what happens
Kerry
x
Now then - don't go blaming yourself! She has a problem, her GP has taken one of the possible approaches - whether it is right or not is another matter but it is NOT your fault she has developed one of the side effects to AA. She might have been fine, probably a majority are.
Thank you for your advise, I've been so worried to take the tablets, I've taken them on and off for about 6 months I guess. I've Oesteopena and have had a dexta scan showing Z score -1.8 and T score -2.4.
I'd rather look after myself in natural ways but scared to go against the advise of my Dr.
Hello allie, not being medically trained I have no experience re your dexa scan readings, but the topic of bone damage seems to be the topic of the day.
Keep taking your vit d, calcium and magnesium daily, RDA amounts. Keep up with a daily gentle exercise programme which can consist of nothing more than walking, the best weight bearing exercise for helping to increase bone density.
regards, tina
The Z score is pretty meaningless really but your T-score is pretty borderline - -2.5 is where the diagnosis changes to osteoporosis. When did you have the first dexascan done? You will need another after about 2 years to see if things have got any worse. Are you OK when taking the alendronic acid?
I really would suggest contacting the National Osteoporosis Society if you are in the UK and discuss it with their helpline.
Thank you Eileen, I'll contact the NOS and have a chat. My dexa scan was March this year, the dr said 5 years before my next, I'll push for one sooner than that though.
Thank you Tina, I'll check the max doses of the vits and be a bit more organised to take them.
Under normal circumstances 5 years would be fine - the changes are normally slow and more often than that probably isn't worth it if you have good bone density now. Pred MAY change that - hence the recommendation to have it done after 2 years maximum. Though presumably it is assumed you are taking alendronic acid so it won't get worse. Did they check your calcium and vit D levels before putting you on the bone tablets?
Yes calcuim was fine but Vit D low, it was back in March time.
Then before you take the "bone protection" pills you need to have that vit D got up to where it should be - it says it quite clearly in the data sheet for the pills. That means highish dose vit D and checking the blood level. Only when both are in the recommended range should you start the alendonic acid or risendronate, which ever they give you.
Gosh - ok. Will get some Vitamin D tablets.