Re: Prednisone & Its Side Effects

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 1/16/03 12:39:04 PM, paco1@... writes:

<< I'd like to add my 2 cents and experience with Prednisone. I was on 5 mg

(the LOWEST dose), once a day, for nearly 2 years. I ended up getting severe

Osteoporosis from it >>

Did your doc have you take calcium when you were on the pred?

How old were you when you got osteoporosis?

Pris

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[Guest guest]

Dawn,

Do you mind if I ask how old you are? I'm asking because I'm 39 and on

low-dose prednisone. My doc. has me taking calcium and Vitamin D for my

bones. I haven't had a bone scan, so I was wondering if we were close in

age, in which case I would ask for a bone scan. Thanks.

Janet

[Guest guest]

Janet,

Scuse me for butting in, but when we have these autoimmune diseases, I'm not

sure age is a factor in deciding about some of these preventaive measures. I

remember one person in one of my spondy groups who said they were in their

30's and the doc said thier bone scan was that of a 70 + year old person. I

went to one of those mall bone scans. I'm sure it isn't as accurate as a

real one, but it did give me some assurance that I'm doing OK taking 2 grams

of calcium a day. My scan was-.4 so I'm not in the range for anything else

right now. I'm a smidge older than you, so there might be hope. : )

GA

Always wear a smile--it makes

folks wonder what you've been up to. : )

[Guest guest]

<<Do you mind if I ask how old you are?>>

Hi Janet,

I am 42 and got Osteoporosis when I was 36 years old. I was on a huge amount

of Calcium per day. I was on the calcium pills, 3-4 16 oz of milk and ate

ice cream like it was going out of style! And, it STILL did nothing for me.

But, one thing is, in 1994 I had a full body X-ray done and the doc said

that my bones looked like an 80 yo and there was a LOT of deformations due

to arthritis. But, like I said in my earlier post, this is ME, not everyone

has problems with the Pred, although I do recommend a bone scan if you're on

Pred or as you get older. You just NEVER know.

Any one at any age should have a bone scan while on Pred, in my opinion. I

have a friend who's daughter is on Pred. for asthma and she's 13 yo. She has

her go thru bone scans once a year to make sure she's okay. She has a slight

curvature of the spine and she doesn't want her ending up with Scoliosis

(sp?).

[Guest guest]

<<Did your doc have you take calcium when you were on the pred? How old

were you when you got osteoporosis?>>

Hi Pris,

Yes, I was taking a LOT of calcium per day (see another email that I

answered that question). I was 36 when I got it and I am now 42.

Dawn

[Guest guest]

Thanks so much for the info. I will ask my doctor about getting a DEXA

scan.

[Guest guest]

This is good for me to hear, because I didn't think I needed a bone scan

until I was older. I will ask my doc. about it.

Janet

[Guest guest]

Anyone that takes Pred. should be on calcium supplements, I take 1800mgs.

of liquid calcium a day along w/800mgs. of vitaminsD and I start the day off

w/5mgs. of Actonel. Before that nobody told me anything about the bone loss

caused by 8yrs of at least 5mgs. a day of pred. Now I have osteopina (SP) of

the lumbar region at age 47. I have finally got my self off pred with the

help of a good Rheumy. When I moved and had to change Rheumy's and he said we

have to get you off this stuff now!

It's the best and the worst drug for us, but if you can stop taking it, I

would. Remicade, methodone for pain and methotrexate along with the remicade

have finally gotten me off prednisone.

[Guest guest]

Dawn, I hear you with the bone problem. My Mom just found out she has

osteoporosis at 73, but she had had a hysterectomy when she was 27, and never

had hormone replacement. She was never on prednizone though. I was on

prednizone for 10 years all different doses for ulcerative colitis, and my

bones don't show any of the symptoms But my Doc says, since I was an athlete,

and also weight lifted when I was young, that I lucked out by having made my

bones strong. Too bad all my soft tissues didn't get that effect. I had a

hysterectomy, due to endometriosis, like my Mom, but when I was 40. Lucky I

loved to play sports. Now I can hardly move due to the pain. I am unable to

take calcium, due to my kidney problems, so I'll ask my Doc about the nose

spray, maybe that will work out for me. Take care EFD, Oregon

[Guest guest]

My mother, who has lost 6 " off her adult height, has used Miacalcin for 2

and a half years. I have no idea why she wasn't on a bone sustaining med,

but for whatever reason she wasn't. She has also been using the walker at my

insistance. Between the two things she has had no more fractures. I used

Miacalcin for a while but it's about $90 a month or it was when I used it,

so I take 2 grams of calcium a day. So far that's working for me.

I hope you have the good response she has had.

GA

[Guest guest]

<<My mother, who has lost 6 " off her adult height, has used Miacalcin for 2

and a half years. I have no idea why she wasn't on a bone sustaining med,

but for whatever reason she wasn't.>>

Hi ,

Maybe your mother couldn't use Fosomax & the like, as me, due to stomach

problems. That is why I was put on Miacalcin. It really reversed my

Osteoporosis tremendously, but the damage was done and I'll probably have

Osteopenia or worse (if I don't take care of myself) for the rest of my

life. The Miacalcin was really a life saver for me.

I'm really happy to hear that your mother is doing well on it. I have

insurance, and I believe I was paying $20.00/month for it, but no more than

that. So, if anyone is having these problems and have insurance, Miacalcin

is the way to go!

Take care and I hope you and your mother are doing well.

Dawn

[Guest guest]

<< I'll ask my Doc about the nose spray, maybe that will work out for me.>>

Hi EFD,

Let us know what your doc says and if you do get on it, let us know how

you're doing.

Good luck & take care,

Dawn