Polymyositis & Dermatomyositis Support Group

I searched older discussions and found a post where we discussed Alendronate, sorry for asking a repetitive question! I forgot it had been mentioned before.

Hi nikilee, I'v been on Methortexate for 5 months now. I started with 4 pills and worked my way up to 6 weekly right now. I take all 6 pills on Sunday morning. However, my Doc says I can take 1/2 in the morning and 1/2 at night on the same day. When I first started I got a little nausea from time to time. Not so bad now. I'm also tampered down to 3 pills of prednisone (7.5 mg.) daily. My physician believes to go very slow during this process. I do take the folic acid the same day of the methotrexate. Actually, I take 1 mg. daily. and 2 mg. the day of methotrexate because of canker sores. It seems to work well. I also have a bone density scan tomorrow. Hopefully the Prednisone hasn't done damage. Wishing you best of luck !!!

Thanks Kiddy! I wish you lots of luck on your scan!

I hope to taper the pred asap, I'm on 60mg daily and my face is HUGE!!

Hi nikilee, I am on Methortexate for 5 years now. I take 7 pills on Friday , I take 4 in the morning and 3 at night on the same day. I don't take the folic acid the same day of the methotrexate. I take 5 mg of Folice acid.3 days a week.(Sunday, Tuesday,Thursday) . It seems to work well.

Hi nikilee, I am on Methortexate for 5 years now. I take 7 pills on Friday , I take 4 in the morning and 3 at night on the same day. I don't take the folic acid the same day of the methotrexate. I take 5 mg of Folice acid.3 days a week.(Sunday, Tuesday,Thursday) . It seems to work well.

Hi nikilee, I am on Methortexate for 5 years now. I take 7 pills on Friday , I take 4 in the morning and 3 at night on the same day. I don't take the folic acid the same day of the methotrexate. I take 5 mg of Folice acid.3 days a week.(Sunday, Tuesday,Thursday) . It seems to work well.

Hi Nikilee.

I take Metho injections on Saturday nights. I do it at night so by the time I wake, most the nausea is over. I just sleep through it. I was told not to take Folic Acid on the Metho day because part of what makes Metho work is the reduction in Folic Acid. I take 5 mg the next day.

If it were me, I wouldn't do the Alendronate until you see that your bones are actually reduced or if they diagnose you with Osteoporosis. Like you said, maybe your bones just aren't dense. You need a baseline before you know what the Prednisone is doing to your bones. I would be amazed if you lost density in a month. That is my two cents. It is mainly driven by the fact that I heard those drugs are not very pleasant side effects wise. I've been in Prednisone for 5 years, never took calcium before I started it, and my bones are still fine.

Thanks Michael!

Lexi, I agree with you, the only thing I worry about is that I have been losing weight (muscle, I'm sure) and I know the Pred will change that very soon, but I do have more aches in my bones than before. Especially my shoulders and for some reason my heels.

I too agree that it would be amazing for the Pred to make the bones less dense in a month, that just doesn't seem right. I don't like the looks of the Alendronate either though. Thank you for responding :)

Niki, i took it twice and had awful side effects, really hard to live with ones. I am at over a year on Steroids and i worked hard to find a more natural endochrinologist. I will repeat the test DEXA againt his year to see if there has been imrpovement or loss continues. Definately get a base line, but the data on Alendronate is not good en ough. Lets take it for 10 years so that later we have some benefit... There are ways to shift the bone loss thru diet too, but many alternatives to Alendronate.

Hang in there, shawna

Hi Nikki
I take methotrexate pills (10 at one time) in the evening, that's how I used to do my injections too. Like Lexi said, that way you sleep off the nausea. I still feel kinds punky the next day but it is much much better than it was in the beginning. I have been on it almost a year soon. I was not told to skip my folic acid the day I take it, I take 1mg a day. I also was on prednisone for 10 months. I had a dexa scan, supposed to be a baseline at about 4 months and had no concerns. I can understand your hesitation on taking that medication. I am sure you will do your research. Good Luck
Hugs
Maruska