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Weight Gain on Osteoporosis Medication

(13 Posts)
Granny23 Fri 29-May-20 23:02:23

I fell heavily and broke my upper arm last October (now totally healed). Was sent for a scan and eventually told I was "borderline" for osteoporosis. I was prescribed Adcal D3 daily and Alendronic Acid once a week. In the 6 weeks I have been taking these tablets I have put on 1/2 a stone in weight, though I don't look or feel any fatter, am actually eating less (no lunches or coffee and cake with my sister) and am getting much more than usual exercise, cutting my own grass, window/car washing and tending a huge fruit and veg garden, including watering twice daily by watering can as my outside tap is broken.

Anyone else put on weight while being treated for Osteoporosis? My DD reckons that the weight gain is due to my bones getting heavier/denser hmm

blondenana Fri 29-May-20 23:12:28

Not sure bout your other medication, but my son is on Alendronic acid and has put no weight on,he's very slom

Marydoll Fri 29-May-20 23:55:37

I was on Alendronic acid and Adcal for many years and it made no difference to my weight at all. In fact it upset my stomach so much, it affected my appetite.
In the end I couldn't tolerate it any more and now have yearly infusions. It's a great relief not to take it.

When I first started it all those years ago, I had to fast all night, it was so difficult not to automatically make a cup of tea first thing. Then of course you had to stay upright for an hour after taking it.

However, it did help reverse some of the bone loss.
In my thirties, I had the hip of an 80 year old woman, due to regular steroid medication.

Persevere, it will be worth it.

Calendargirl Sat 30-May-20 06:40:30

I’m on the same as you, but have not noticeably gained weight as a result.

BlueBelle Sat 30-May-20 07:00:48

I have annual infusions and my best friend took the daily tablet until her new doctor realised she’d been on it 13 years and was told to stop immediately as you re only supposed to be on it for a limited time I think it’s 3 years anyway back to the original question no I don’t think that it has any effect on weight

Franbern Sat 30-May-20 08:56:47

I take two Adcal daily, and a once a week Alendronic Acid tab. Instructions for that say 30 minutes before eating and drinking and to stay upright. Since I retired from my job I have got into the pleasant habit of getting up, having a long relaxed brekkie and then getting showered and dressed. On Alendronic Acid days, I have my shower, etc. before brekkie. Not a dreadful hardship.

I was warned by several people of the side effects of this tablet and was concerned about taking it. Been on it now for more than six months, - and have to confess that not had a single side effect at all. Do not think that my current lockdown weight gain can really be blamed on that medication!!!

The only think that does annoy me is that I have been refused a DEKA scan. Was put on all this after I had a spinal stress fracture - told that a woman of my age (78), with such a fracture did not need tests to show she has osteoporosis. But I still do not think I have. Since that time have had a few other falls - (oh dear that sounds so careless!), but nothing ever been broken.

GP told me NOT to take the Adcal tablets on the day I take the Alendronic acid.

Calendargirl Sat 30-May-20 09:10:20

Have never been told not to take ad cal on same day as alendronic, but take alendronic 6-6.30a.m., and the adcal in the afternoon. Several hours apart. Eat both the ad cal tabs at the same time although it says it should be separate, as the pharmacist said that was ok to do.

I am also on medication for underactive thyroid, and I know I mustn’t take that at same time as calcium! So that is early morning as well, but not as same time as alendronic.

Granny23 Sat 30-May-20 09:13:48

Thank you friends. It seems that the consensus is that weight gain has nought to do with the medication but is rather a bi-product of lock down, i.e all the extra hair I'm growing and muscles I am building . Mary Doll the acid is hard to take literally but I am getting used to it. BlueBelle Yes I have to be scanned again in 3 years. GP said to put it on the calendar!

Jennybev Sun 31-May-20 07:56:26

Granny23 I have put on 4/5 lbs in 2 weeks its definitely not lockdown, unless its my hair, I walk most days, I spend hours gardening and I’m never still. My weight is normally constant, I am a target member of slimming world... I find the tablet hard to take and I leave at least an hour after taking it before I attempt to eat or drink anything other than water.

Franbern Sun 31-May-20 09:03:18

CalendarGirl. How do you manage your thryroxine tabs on Alendronic Acid days. six days a week, it is easy. I leave those tabs in a dish next to my bed, and take them when I do my last loo trips, or when I wake up. This give a good half an hour before my brekkie.

Never worked out how to cope with those on Acid days. Some weeks Ijust do not take the Thyroxine on those days, but other weeks, I wait until half an hour before my lunch and take them. Or, sometimes, I take them at a very early hour (2 pm) at one of my loo runs/

My previous GP never told me not to take the Adcan on the days of Acid, but the GP here was quite insistent about it.

The ONLY side effect I can put down to the Alendronic Acid is the fact that my finger nails have ceased to break all the time, and now look more like well kept nails. Only previous times in my life this occured was in pregnancy.

Happygirl79 Sun 31-May-20 09:34:55

Broke my arm in a fall and prescribed natecalD3 twice a day and aledronic acid once a week
I felt dizzy and started suffering from vertigo after a few weeks
Then when attending a dental appointment was a advised to go back to my GP to ask more about the aledronic acid
My GP was excellent and said my symptoms may be related to the AAcid
He gave me pros and cons and I decided to come off the weekly pill
The vertigo disappeared
My dentist was unhappy about the Aacid because I had recently had implants and it may have disturbed them
I have put weight on yes but its lockdown boredom to blame not pills

Happygirl79 Sun 31-May-20 10:16:45

Forgot to mention I was told by my GP that I was borderline for osteoporosis

25Avalon Sun 31-May-20 10:25:33

Muscles weigh more than fat so if you have been doing lots of exercise and/or gardening that could be an explanation. If you fall and break a bone you are almost automatically referred for an osteoporosis scan and even if borderline prescribed pills. Instead of this I changed diet and do weight bearing digging etc in the garden to improve bone density.