Osteoporosis

Janey3

Thanks Catman and other contributors - yes, it has helped me and glad you started this thread.


Donna, the Adcal-D3 is a separate pill to the Alendronic Acid. This is what I take, too, as prescribed by the Doctor. I have no problem with the Adcal.


It's true to say that not everyone will suffer side effects. I take letrozole as well, which in fact, contributed to the osteo, but I do not have any side effects with this pill, that some do, but I seem to have a block with the AA.


Excellent advice, brook2jack.

no1catman

Extra info - there is an osteoporosis charity, with nurses available to talk to, with a web page with plenty of specific information on the subject together with a 'forum', also a list of countrywide support groups.


https://www.nos.org.uk/


HTHs

McKneff

brook2jack wrote: »

Could I make a plea for anyone taking alendronic acid or any bisphosphonate drug to see a dentist, preferably before starting the drug to get dentally fit . Bisphosphonates can cause problems with healing after teeth out.

It's particularly important if you are having iv bisphosphonates like pamidronate to make sure you are dentally fit before you start treatment.

I agree that this is important, my dentist always asks me if I am still on it before any treatment. He says its more important if you are having an extraction. I believe mine has in the past put me on some antibiotics before an extraction, just in case of any problems.

jenniewb

I was told after my last bone scan in 2011 I had osteopenia, there is little doubt my bones have gotten worse, my situation was caused by an eating disorder.


I have been prescribed calcium and vitamin D pills for about 15 years now and have had no side effects on taking them. I normally get side effects to everything and as a result will deliberately not read the little leaflets that come with the medication as I worry it may make this even worse- I even get side effects from paracetamol!


I would say to take the pills, it's your choice OP but if you think about it; many foods are rich in calcium, it's even added to some foods such as bread, some childs foods and even added to soya milk, if it were so terrible to consume dairy they'd not be adding it so easily to everything.


With vitamin D, that can come from sunlight as well as many foods such as nuts or spreads for bread. If it were so hazardous, people would be warned to not consume these foods in excess and even give what excess was. I am yet to hear someone warn me not to go out in the sun because I may absorb too much vitamin D or for there to be a warning on foods with added vitamin D in because they could be harmful- it doesn't happen, and in fact what I do hear time and time over is that many are short of vitamin D due to our lack of sunlight, being stuck inside buildings all day or people being afraid of UVA/B rays causing skin cancer. I would then consider it to be safe to take a pill with a high amount of vitamin D in.

cbrown372

I'm on a two year daily injection treatment, no problems but did take an alergy to the calcium chewy pills, I was that 1 in a 1000

Armchair23

My aged Mum takes Adcal D3 and Alendronic Acid and was petrified when she read the potential side effects on the Alendronic acid notes, she's a very anxious person anyhow.

She has had absolutely no problems or side effects BUT she does follow all the instructions to a T.

My daughter who I doubt has ever read one of those inserts in her life is allergic to Ibuprofen, comes out in hives !
So any medication CAN have side effects, some have lots, you need to take a balanced view. My daughter can take something else for pain relief
so it's not a big problem.

If it's a prescribed medication talk to your GP or pharmacist there will most likely be other medications that do the same thing if you suffer with side effects. But mostly as other posters have said weigh up whats most important in all this.

A broken hip because you decided not to take the meds is a bad outcome in my book, but everyone makes their own choices, I just hope they're well informed.

Janey3

Thank you for the link no1Catman.


It's also good to read that some are taking the Alendronic Acid with no ill effect.


I have no problem with the Ad-Cal D3 tablet prescribed in addition to the AA.


I have been offered a regular injection of the Alendronic Acid at the hospital, because of my fear of the pill damaging my 'pipes', which I'm now considering and I'm grateful that there is such help out there to ward off the osteo.


Thanks all.