Prednisone with osteoporosis

[Maryam]

Hi All,

we recently found that my hubby got osteoporosis thanks to pred for this. now his GI wants to put him on ACTONEL. I looked at the side effects of this med and it can be very bad for kidneys. this is something that old folks get. he is only 31. I am just very disappointed and sad. Has anyone has had similar experience as a result of pred. would there be alternative medications that would make his bones strong but not damage the kidneys.

I read that when you are on pred you must take calcium supplements. His GI never told him that. any suggestion or advice is appreciated.

Maryam,

 

[Misty-Eyed]

Hi Maryam,

Yes, I was on Pred for 7 years during my adolescent years and ended up with osteoporosis. They only found out when I was about 22 or so!

I was on calcium tablets for a while but I don't bother with them now and my bones are getting stronger again on their own.

Try not to worry. I just have bone density scans every couple of years to keep track of it and I've not broken any bones yet!

 

[MADiMarc]

Maryam,
Yeah I have been on very high doses of pred for rather long periods of time. They wanted to to do shots everyday for 18 months. I chose not to because all the testing was done on post ,menopausal women. At the time I was 35. My bone density is slowly coming back. It is no where near where it should be but it isn't as bad as it was 10 years ago either. I take some calcium though.
Good luck,
Michele