Didronal, Calcium Supplements (Was Re: Not a good day!)

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

Thanks for that info. I hadn't heard of that one (Didronal) before, so

after you mentioned that Tabitha took it I did a brief search to see if

I could find anything more about it. Sure enough ....

Etidronate

http://my.webmd.com/content/article/3185.668

Description

Etidronate (eh-tih-DROE-nate) is used to treat Paget's disease of bone.

It may also be used to treat or prevent a certain type of bone problem

that may occur after hip replacement surgery or spinal injury.

Etidronate is also used to treat hypercalcemia (too much calcium in the

blood) that may occur with some types of cancer. This medicine is

available only with your doctor's prescription.

Proper Use of This Medicine

Take etidronate with water on an empty stomach at least 2 hours before

or after food (midmorning is best) or at bedtime. Food may decrease the

amount of etidronate absorbed by your body.

Take etidronate only as directed . Do not take more of it, do not take

it often, and do not take it for a longer time than your doctor ordered.

To do so may increase the chance of side effects.

In some patients, etidronate takes up to 3 months to work. If you feel

that the medicine is not working, do not stop taking it on your own.

Instead, check with your doctor.

It is important that you eat a well-balanced diet with an adequate

amount of calcium and vitamin D (found in milk or other dairy products).

Too much or too little of either may increase the chance of side effects

while you are taking etidronate. Your doctor can help you choose the

meal plan that is best for you. However, do not take any food,

especially milk, milk formulas, or other dairy products, or antacids,

mineral supplements, or other medicines that are high in calcium or iron

(high amounts of these minerals may also be in some vitamin

preparations), magnesium, or aluminum within 2 hours of taking

etidronate. To do so may keep this medicine from working properly.

Precautions While Using This Medicine

It is important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits

even if you are between treatments and are not taking this medicine. If

your condition has improved and your doctor has told you to stop taking

etidronate, your progress must still be checked. The results of

laboratory tests or the occurrence of certain symptoms will tell your

doctor if more medicine must be taken. Your doctor may want you to begin

another course of treatment after you have been off the medicine for at

least 3 months.

If this medicine causes you to have nausea or diarrhea and it continues,

check with your doctor. The dose may need to be changed.

If bone pain occurs or worsens during treatment, check with your doctor.

Side Effects of This Medicine

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted

effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do

occur they may need medical attention. Check with your doctor as soon as

possible if any of the following side effects occur:

More common

Bone pain or tenderness (increased, continuing, or returning—in patients

with Paget's disease)

Less common

Bone fractures, especially of the thigh bone

Rare

Hives; skin rash or itching; swelling of the arms, legs, face, lips,

tongue, and/or throat

Other side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention.

These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to

the medicine. However, check with your doctor if any of the following

side effects continue or are bothersome:

More common—at higher doses

Diarrhea; nausea

Less common—with injection

Loss of taste or metallic or altered taste

Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some patients. If

you notice any other effects, check with your doctor.

karens tribe wrote:

>

> hi it is karen(tabs mom)....georgina and tree there is also a pill called

> didronel that can be taken every 3 months for 2 weeks then it is the 3

> months again and then started again for 2 weeks. tabitha use to be on

> miacalcin also but it wasn't really doing anything for her. so she is now

> didronel and plus takes calcium tablet every day. so far so good on this.

> good luck!karen

>

> From: Georgina <gmckin@...>

> Reply-

>

> Subject: Was Re: Not a good day!

> Date: Fri, 24 Aug 2001 11:56:28 -1000

>

> Hi,

>

> Tree, it sounds like you had a very busy day yesterday ... and to add to

> that stress, as if it wasn't enough, here's this new information about

> your osteoporosis. That must have been a let-down ... but an eye opening

> experience, as well. A reminder to all of us that we really do need to

> be active, vigilant, vocal participants to ensure that we receive the

> health care services that we need to be able to best treat our or our

> loved one's arthritis.

>

> Yes, it is possible to recover some bone loss. I feel optimistic that

> you can do it, Tree! In recent years they've learned so much about this

> and there are several medications available that can help. My son Josh

> has been taking Miacalcin nasal spray since I think 1996 or '98, to help

> him better absorb the calcium that he gets in his diet and from

> supplements. Fosamex is another very good choice, also available only

> with a prescription.

>

> I wonder why your doctor wasn't keeping up to date about all the recent

> advancements and improvements in the way to test for and manage these

> bone issues ... and making sure that you and all of his patients had

> these resources available to them? Maybe he's been swamped by all the

> patients in his practice and doesn't have the time? No excuse, of

> course, I'd be pretty upset too if this happened!

>

> Tree, ever since you joined us here at the JRA List you've been so

> supportive and inspirational and have really been a big help. It works

> both ways! It's our turn now, to be there to listen and to give you some

> support. Virtual Hugs ... and lot's of warm, positive energies, coming

> your way

>

> Aloha,

> Georgina

>

> theresa sappenfield wrote:

> >

> > Hi it's Tree ,

> > Well I had back to back doctor appointments yesterday, First with

> orthopedist, second with Internist . And the results have maddened and

> sickened me, for I truely had trusted my rhuemmy for the last 18 years. It

> took breaking my wrist for a bone density test to be ordered and the results

> astounded me ..I have osteo porsis in the joints and osteopinia in the other

> parts of the bones. This infuriates me because I eat well and take calcium

> every night before I go to bed. Rhuemmy never informed me that taking it all

> at once was useless nor did he order a bone density test even though I have

> a very high risk for developing Osteoporosis.I'm not blaming my illness on

> him I'm just feel he neglected to help me prevent this ...because it very

> well could have been prevented.So I now feel I can no longer trust that my

> rhuemmy is doing what is truely best for me , but just moving me through his

> office as if one more condition wouldn't even be noticed by someone with a

> plate full

> > already..Shame on him !!!!! I will survive this and I will recover my

> bone loss eventually but I will never be able to just relax and let my

> doctor decide what I need to have tested and when! I am starting the worst

> part of my yearly cycle of pain and looks like it will take 2 months to get

> a new patient appointment with the new rhuemmy I want ..Sooooo pardon me if

> this old Tree has to lean on a few of you for a little while.I will now have

> to see a hand surgeon for my wrist, it's almost totally fused. The positive

> thing is that with my wrist fused my hand is steadier than ever when I'm

> doing my drawings lol!

> > Tree (trying to keep smilin:|:|:|:|)

[Guest guest]

Calcium Supplements

http://my.webmd.com/content/article/3185.206

Calcium supplements are taken by individuals who are unable to get

enough calcium in their regular diet or who have a need for more

calcium. They are used to prevent or treat several conditions that may

cause hypocalcemia (not enough calcium in the blood). The body needs

calcium to make strong bones. Calcium is also needed for the heart,

muscles, and nervous system to work properly.

The bones serve as a storage site for the body's calcium. They are

continuously giving up calcium to the bloodstream and then replacing it

as

the body's need for calcium changes from day to day. When there is not

enough calcium in the blood to be used by the heart and other organs,

your body will take the needed calcium from the bones. When you eat

foods rich in calcium, the calcium will be restored to the bones and the

balance between your blood and bones will be maintained.

Pregnant women, nursing mothers, children, and adolescents may need more

calcium than they normally get from eating calcium-rich foods. Adult

women may take calcium supplements to help prevent a bone disease called

osteoporosis. Osteoporosis, which causes thin, porous, easily broken

bones, may occur in women after menopause, but may sometimes occur in

elderly men also. Osteoporosis in women past menopause is thought to be

caused by a reduced amount of ovarian estrogen (a female hormone).

However, a diet low in calcium for many years, especially in the younger

adult years, may add to the risk of developing it. Other bone diseases

in children and adults are also treated with calcium supplements.

Calcium supplements may also be used for other conditions as determined

by your health care professional. Injectable calcium is administered

only by or under the supervision of your health care professional. Other

forms of calcium are available without a prescription.

Getting the proper amount of calcium in the diet every day and

participating in weight-bearing exercise (walking, dancing, bicycling,

aerobics, jogging), especially during the early years of life (up to

about 35 years of age) is most important in helping to build and

maintain bones as dense as possible to prevent the development of

osteoporosis in later life.

Vitamin D helps prevent calcium loss from your bones. It is sometimes

called ``the sunshine vitamin'' because it is made in your skin when you

are exposed to sunlight. If you get outside in the sunlight every day

for 15 to 30 minutes, you should get all the vitamin D you need.

However, in northern locations in winter, the sunlight may be too weak

to make vitamin D in the skin. Vitamin D may also be obtained from your

diet or from multivitamin preparations. Most milk is fortified with

vitamin D.

Do not use bonemeal or dolomite as a source of calcium . The Food and

Drug Administration has issued warnings that bonemeal and dolomite could

be dangerous because these products may contain lead.

Drink a full glass (8 ounces) of water or juice when taking a calcium

supplement. However, if you are taking calcium carbonate as a phosphate

binder in kidney dialysis, it is not necessary to drink a glass of

water.

This dietary supplement is best taken 1 to 11/2 hours after meals ,

unless otherwise directed by your health care professional. However,

patients with a condition known as achlorhydria may not absorb calcium

supplements on an empty stomach and should take them with meals.

For individuals taking the chewable tablet form of this dietary

supplement: Chew the tablets completely before swallowing.

For individuals taking the syrup form of this dietary supplement: Take

the syrup before meals. This will allow the dietary supplement to work

faster.

Mix in water or fruit juice for infants or children.

Take this dietary supplement only as directed. Do not take more of it

and do not take it more often than recommended on the label. To do so

may

increase the chance of side effects.

If this dietary supplement has been ordered for you by your health care

professional and you will be taking it in large doses or for a long

time, your health care professional should check your progress at

regular visits. This is to make sure the calcium is working properly and

does not cause unwanted effects.

Do not take calcium supplements within 1 to 2 hours of taking other

medicine by mouth . To do so may keep the other medicine from working

properly.

Unless you are otherwise directed by your health care professional, to

make sure that calcium is used properly by your body:

* Do not take other medicines or dietary supplements containing large

amounts of calcium, phosphates, magnesium, or vitamin D unless your

health care professional has told you to do so or approved .

* Do not take calcium supplements within 1 to 2 hours of eating large

amounts of fiber-containing foods, such as bran and whole-grain cereals

or breads, especially if you are being treated for hypocalcemia (not

enough calcium in your blood) .

* Do not drink large amounts of alcohol or caffeine-containing beverages

(usually more than 8 cups of coffee a day), or use tobacco .

Some calcium carbonate tablets have been shown to break up too slowly in

the stomach to be properly absorbed into the body. If the calcium

carbonate tablets you purchase are not specifically labeled as being

``USP,'' check with your pharmacist. He or she may be able to help you

determine which tablets are best.