I've heard this about long-term prednisone use, and RA in general, but I don't remember about mtx.

I am glad you bring this up, as I have an appt. on Monday with my RD. I will ask about it. Thanks very much!

With RA I would think the doctor might want to do a baseline bone scan. You could mention it to your doctor.Since you are so young the doctor may not think you need to be on meds like Forsomax or Actonel. Your appt. seems so far away. I would think the doctor might want to do blood work sooner than 6 months or more being on MTX and knowing it can be toxic to the liver.

I have blood tests every month but my next appointment with my Rheumy is not until July.

I had x-rays done when I was first diagnosed but nothing since then.

Lucy;

The bone scan test is a really easy and non-invasive one - I agree with Christine that it is a good idea to get a baseline.

Lynne

i am having alot of brittle bone problems now.. i started on methotrexate and prednisone when i was 6 yrs old, and went off both by around the time i was 20 or 21.. i am 27 now.. i have a pretty bad case of osteo. i asked my dr. the other day about it and he said the reason it was soo bad was the combination of both of them for such a long period time. i've had a spontaneous hip break.. a bone in my foot shattered.. its rough.. i wish the pediatric rheumatologist would have taken me off them and put me on imuran alot sooner but oh well.. damage is done.. taking calcium and vitamin d supplements will help. and at one point i was taking prenatal vitamins . they helped alot.

oh yea btw. folic acid and methotrexate dont do well together.. so i was taking a special prenatal vitamin that didnt have it in it. you cant really find that now. its a must have for mothers to be.

Folic acid is supposed to be taken with MTX not sure of the effects of MTX in a young child as yourself Beautiful and over the course of years that you were taking it. As far as Prenatals it is recommended that pregnant women take folic acid to help prevent neural spinal tube defects in the fetus.

Like Bistro I'm not aware of bone issues with MTX but definitely with Prednisone. Prednisone is so hard on the bones that the rheumy prescribed Fossamax once a week and 1500mg of Calcium and 800 mg of Vitamin D daily to prevent osteoporosis.

Folic acid is prescribed with MTX to prevent side affects like sores in the mouth and Anemia.

oh i know that.. all pregnant women need it.. what i am saying tho is... this was when i was a child.. not pregnant. no chance of it.. the doctor put me on a special prenatal vitamin to help me out but they said the folic acid would be bad with the methotrexate. they had tried it once in the hospital with me and i didnt do good at all with it. it made me even more sick, perhaps thats why i got it reversed *L* i should say FOR ME its a bad idea to take methotrexate with folic acid. i have had soo many conditions and treatments over the years i forget how half of em go anymore