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prednisone and osteoporosis, should i be taking supplements?

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Posted 9/30/2007 5:40 PM (GMT -6)
i am worried about the long term effects of prednisone and osteoporosis. my mom was diagnosed in her mid to late 40's with pre-osteoporosis and her mother also has osteoporosis. none of us have ever been big on milk or dairy products and me personally, i am sensitive to a lot of dairy foods. are you ladies that have been on or are taking pred also taking some sort of supplements? i am concerned, is this something i should talk to my doctor about? maybe just start chewing up some tums every day??

thank yous :)
Posted 9/30/2007 5:49 PM (GMT -6)
My Rheumy put me on Actonel while I'm on pred.  That's pretty common.  I would mention it to your doctor and see if you can get a bone density scan, too.  They're quick and painless.  With your family history and the likelyhood that you'll be on pred off and on, it would be a good idea to get ahead of the situation if you can.

Posted 9/30/2007 5:55 PM (GMT -6)
YES Definitely you should be on some calcium.

I will recommend BONE-UP. A very good one. Good for Colon as well (which we can all use). It is very important to be on something while on prednisone, especially long term and as you get older!
Posted 9/30/2007 6:24 PM (GMT -6)
im on bonive for that, i was on prednisone for a year and a half ahilw ago and now i have been on it for 4 months. it doenst upset my stomach like fosamax did. i have had 2 bone scans and i dont remember exaclty what they read but they said i need to take something becasue they are weakinging or somehting.

bunnyp

Posted 9/30/2007 6:58 PM (GMT -6)
I've been on and off prednisone (mostly on) for the last 19 years. I'm 42 now and had my first compression fracture in my early 30's. I can not say it strongly enough. YOU NEED TO TAKE CALCIUM while on prednisone and everything else you can do to build up your bone strength. I didn't, wasn't warned and now, eventhough my bone density is actually improving because of all the meds I take for it, I will always have osteoporosis. I currently have a compression fracture in my upper back. I thought it was just about healed from a few months ago, but I moved too quickly or in a different way last night and reinjured it, so I have to start the healling again. Do everything you can to build up your bone strength now, it will only help you later.
Posted 9/30/2007 7:22 PM (GMT -6)
wow. thanks ladies for all the words of advice and suggestions. it's kind of late or i would head out to the the drug store NOW! tomorrow, definitely. and i think my gi owes me a call tomorrow so i will talk to him about it as well.

THANK YOU again!
Posted 10/1/2007 8:37 AM (GMT -6)
As stated above you should always take a good calcium supplement. On Pred and when your not too.
Posted 10/1/2007 10:22 AM (GMT -6)
I am 38, just got tested and am 1 point away from osteoporosis of the spine.  I took calcium the whole time with my entocort EC and got it anyways.  Take all that you can.  My gastro ignored all my talk of how bad my bones might be and me wanting to get tested. I finally got tested through a study and am now off Entocort.  Was on it almost two years.  I am way too young for this crap! Now I have another thing I need to be treated for.
Posted 10/1/2007 11:32 AM (GMT -6)
i find it completely insane that our doctors don't tell us these things! i think i am going to start on a vitamin d/calcium combo today! any suggestions on mgs of each?
Posted 10/1/2007 6:26 PM (GMT -6)
My primary told me I need at least 1200 mgs of calcium per day, plus vitamin D but i can remember how much. 
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