Hi Amber. My Rheumatologist put me on D3 chewable calcium tablets with vitamin D all the time I was on steriods. When I finished the steriod he said to stop the calcium but to take Vit D which I buy over the counter in Boots. I had a dexa scan before he stopped the calcium. It's pretty standard treatment yo protect the bones and joints with Vit D and calcium all the while we are taking steriods. He also put me on Alendronic acid another bone protector which I took weekly. I have not had to take them since 2013 as I tapered the steriod and my dexa scan was fine. I did not notice any side effects apart from the usual taper issues and of course the weight gain which has to be kept in control. Best wishes. Autumm

Hi Amberhere, I take vitamin D and calcium too. I would ask the pharmacist about what to do on the day you take MTX. I avoided taking anything except the Prednisone on the same day as MTX. I now take 1000mg vitamin D daily and 1200mcg calcium citrate daily, but two hours after I take Cellcept. I also take magnesium which has magnesium citrate, taurinate, malinate, glycinate, and succinate. Avoid magnesium sterate which is pointless. Magnesium helps the calcium absorption into the bones.

I do have my vitamin D checked by the rheumy periodically. In autoimmune disease, the kidneys will rob the bones of calcium and vitamin D. It is important to have normal vitamin D levels in the body for proper kidney function. My mother became vitamin D deficient and had to take large amounts of vitamin D to restore it in her body. I once took too much vitamin D and had to quit vitamin D for three months! Check vitamin D levels and keep them correct.

My rheumy has prescribed the alendronic acid for me, but I will not take that stuff. I looked up the ingredients in the alendronic acid and lets just say it is not for me. If you visit the osteoporosis site on this website, they discuss bisphosphonate issues. It might be helpful to discuss the vitamin D, calcium, and other bone supplements with those folks too.

I will try to eat foods that are calcium rich like bok choy in salads, vitamin K rich foods, etc.. that do help with bone building in my diet.

Any side effects then I quit the supplements for a while and just eat calcium rich foods.

Excellent book - "Your Bones" How you can prevent osteoporosis & have strong bones for life- naturally by Lara Pizzorno, MA, LMT and Johnathan Wright, MD. This book answers lot of questions and what to eat too.

I hope this helps. Best Wishes.

I wasn't on methotrexate, but while on prednisone my neuro told me to take OTC calcium, magnesium, and vitamin d, which I did. My current doctor still has me on calcium, magnesium, vitamin k2, and 5,000 IU's of vitamin d3, all OTC. The supplements have not bothered me, but once-a-month Actonel made me very sick for 4 weeks, even though I was super-careful to take it correctly. Couldn't take a second dose.

Hi Amber,
I take calcium and vitamin D supplements and don't have any side effects from it. I take it lunch time to avoid any stomach upset.

Thank you all for your comments, apparently they want me to take the Aledronic acid but I agree trpt1 it is not for me. I take high strength Vit D every day prescribed by the doctor, I think I will get a calcium supplement from the health food shop which will probably be a lower dose but at least its something and shouldn't cause any side effects.