Methotrexate and Prednisone | Arthritis Information

 

 Hi! I'm Nana. I posted awhile back ,last month, and several kind people answered me. Thank you. We have changed internet carriers so I now have to be Nana1. Oh, well. Minor. I have posted at several places on this website. I am not good with computers. I can't find the posts I already made!! This looks like it may be where I was, before. I'll stop with the history and get to the point. Does long term use of Methotrexate and or Prednisone, cause the bones to thin? I read an article by Dr. Fusco, "someplace" at this site, and I believe he stated Prednisone could cause the bones to thin. I can't find anything about Methotrexate. If anyone knows, for sure, I would appreciate hearing from you. Thanks. Nana1I have heard so many horrible stories and have seen 1st had, how prednisone can weaken the bones. My Grandmother took it for years and before she passed she had to have surgery on her back, the doc said he did not even have to cut her bones, that he could literally just scrape them out. So ya just don't want to stay on it any longer than you have to all though it works wonders.

Yep pred can cause bone thinning. I have decreased bone density in my right hand because of pred use. But it is a minor thing, compared to all the pain and swelling I would have without the pred.

I think it probably would not have happened if I had just took a lot of calcium, seems that is what my RD before I dumped her was trying to say. She wanted me to get at least 1500mg of calcium a day.

Methatrexate not sure about was not on it long enough to know much about it.

I have never been warned that MTX will weaken your bones and I've been on it for 17 years. Pred. on the other hand can be very hard on your bones. I had a bone density test when I first started taking it and also had to start Boniva as precautionary. My bones were fine and I was only on Pred. for only about 9 months. Have you had a bone density test to see where your bones are at now? When I went in to have the bone scan, the tech asked why I was there and I said the dr wanted a baseline scan because I was on Pred and she said your insurance will not pay for a baseline and I'd have to pay for it out of pocket! When I hesitated, or maybe I choked out, WHAT!!! She went out to reception and came back with, no it's all been cleared with your insurance, when Prednisone is involved it's covered.

Hi Nana, My doc repeatedly shook his head and said, 'get of the pred. as soon as yu can. I take fosomax, after boniva caused me more prob. than it helped. I took the bone skan and my density had been decreased after pred and everything else.

Get off the pred if you can. Lynda

My sister has been on prednisone (5 mg. I think) for 8 years.  She recently had an accident while avoiding a deer and fractured her lower spine in two places.  She's 71 years old with her RA well controlled.  The fractures sound bad but the doctor said her bones are in good shape, otherwise she would have had a worse injury.  So I don't know how the predisone has affected her bones, if at all.  I was on Predisone for five months after diagnosis, no base-lines done, and developed osteoporosis, which another doctor caught.  I will never take Predisone ever again.  I am hopefully going to start weaning off MTX starting in a month or so. 
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