Does anyone take Alendronic Acid? Any side effects?

watermeadow

I’ve been taking Alendronic acid for nearly 18 months because I have Polymyalgia Rheumatica and am on Prednisolone. This is a steroid and weakens your bones so I have to also take AA and calcium/vitamin D.
I HATE taking the AA because I can’t have my coffee until half an hour later. My steroid dose is tapering now (has to be lowered gradually) and I can’t wait to stop the AA . I have no signs of osteoporosis, not that anyone’s ever looked. I’ve never even seen a doctor during these nearly 18 months of treatment.

I have just, finally got off prednisolone!
I had to take it for rheumatoid arthritis, much against my wishes because I have a strong family history of osteoporosis. They wouldn't even do a Dexa scan at first as I was on a low dose and it was "temporary".
Weaning off is ridiculously hard and that last 2mg ....

I also hate the 30 minute rule. I just do some jobs that I would normally do after breakfast.

I have been taken AA for the past two and half years. Never had a dexa test (much to my annoyance). Had spinal stress fracture back in 2019 and was told that anyone of my age with that sort of injury MUST have OP.

I took prednisoline plus other steroids for ten years in the 1980's for Ulcerative Colitus - only stopped those when I had my entire colon removed. So I do assume that bone density was damaged with that medication. At the time, nothing was every said about this.

Friend told me of dire side effects from AA before I started them. Must say have never had any of them. Good side effect, though, has been for the first time in my long life, I have decent finger nails!!!

Slightly annoying once a week to change my brekkie habit of getting up and eating breakfast (dishes laid out night before) straight away. Nurse told me that I should take them for five years and then they will review.

I have PMR and GCA ... I feel like I'm just coming to the end of it hopefully.... how are you? I started off at 60mg of pred. and now down to 2.5 a day and life is pretty much back to normal. I do have OP which was diagnosed after a dog related accident otherwise I would have had no idea.

I have been taking a weekly alendronic tablet for nearly five years together with calcium/vitamin D tablets and anastrozole. Five years are up at the end of this month so I’ll stop taking them. I don’t think I’ve had any side effects.

I’ve been taking Alendronic acid for nearly 18 months because I have Polymyalgia Rheumatica and am on Prednisolone. This is a steroid and weakens your bones so I have to also take AA and calcium/vitamin D.
I HATE taking the AA because I can’t have my coffee until half an hour later. My steroid dose is tapering now (has to be lowered gradually) and I can’t wait to stop the AA . I have no signs of osteoporosis, not that anyone’s ever looked. I’ve never even seen a doctor during these nearly 18 months of treatment.

I took AA for six years for osteopenia. No side effects. I came off it after six years as for most people there is no benefit in continuing for longer (my bone condition was back to what it should be for my age) and the risk of sudden upper leg fractures increases.

Obviously everyone has to be guided by their doctor, though.

I started taking AA a couple of years ago but just couldn't tolerate AA nor Risedronate. I was eventually referred to a Rheumatologist and now have twice yearly denosumab injections with no issues at all.

Happygirl79

I have osteoporosis and have been taking aledronic acid for 2 years.No one has advised me to take this only for a certain number of years.
Yesterday my pharmacy could not dispense them as they said they are out of stock with every pharmacy at the moment due to shortage by the manufacturer so I was unable to continue the course as today I should harken my weekly pill.

Oh that's not very good news, hope they get stock in soon. I've got about 3 weeks worth left.

Funnily enough I have had aches in my upper legs during the night for a few months but just put it down to age and activity level. I walk 5 miles daily and this prevents pain in my lower back completely

Today I should have taken my pill

I have osteoporosis and have been taking aledronic acid for 2 years.No one has advised me to take this only for a certain number of years.
Yesterday my pharmacy could not dispense them as they said they are out of stock with every pharmacy at the moment due to shortage by the manufacturer so I was unable to continue the course as today I should harken my weekly pill.

Yes BlueBelle, I know you have commented before about taking AA for a long time.

When I had my last bone scan, in the spring, I asked the radiographer about it. She said it would depend on my scan results. When the nurse at my gp practice rang me with the results, she said I was to stop taking it immediately, which I did.

My osteoporosis was slightly better, so maybe that was why?

(Or, more likely, any review on my medication that should have been done before had been ‘missed’.

?‍♀️

I thought I would be on them a couple of years?
I watched a very informative video by the Royal Osteoporosis society if anyone is interested.

Marydoll I did think it was RA at first. However my inflammation markers are the lowest they've ever been and when I think about it it's muscles more than joints that hurt?

I don't plan on stopping the AA because I'm more worried about fractures but I will raise when I next see Rheumatologist.

Dolly I don't blame you. As I understand it the risks of side effects are greater as you go up the scale of bisphosphonates, tablets being the bottom.

I have the infusions have had 3 and my bone densisoty has improved by 9% sounds very small amount of improvement to me I m due one in October I have had a two year break
My understanding is that you shouldn’t be on those tablets for years and years calandergirl my friend was on them for about the same time as you and a new doctor was horrified she’d been on them so long and took her off immediately I m not sure if the reason I ll have to Google it

I had to stop taking it after just 5 weeks when I developed an itchy rash which is made worse by UV light. It was cleared up only with steroidal cream. I was so disappointed as I have osteoporosis in my hips. I'm reluctant to try the infusions as I would have to live with the side effects which may possibly be worse. I have read that skin issues with alendronic acid are experienced by one in every thousand.

I took alendronic acid continuously for nearly 9 years for osteoporosis, but after my last bone scan was told to stop taking it.

Never had any issues with it though.

I too have RA and OA, been on Alendronic acid on and off for over thirty years. I am having a break from yearly infusions, started because I can no longer tolerate the tablets, due to stomach issues.
My dexa scan should I had the hip of an eighty year old woman at 30 years old. The medication definitely improved my bone density.

Are you sure it's not your RA, which is causing problems? I have had no serious issues with Alendronic acid.

No noticeable side effects here. I've been taking it for nearly a year.