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Osteoporosis: Can You Get It From Your Arthritis Medication?
By Greg Marsh
Osteoporosis is a condition in which your bones become weak and brittle.
Although many individuals get this condition simply as they age, others will
face it due to other situations including those like taking arthritis
medications. Some medications that are used to treat rheumatoid arthritis
interact with the calcium in your bones and can cause a weakening in the bones
that is significant. If you are taking these medications, it is quite important
that you talk to your doctor about your risk of developing osteoporosis.
What Medications Put You At Risk?
Corticosteroid medications are those that are most likely to cause you the
development of osteoporosis. In order for this to happen, though, you will need
to take the medication for a long period of time, regularly. Some of these
medications include cortisone, prednisolone, prednisone, and dexamethasone. As
you use them, they slowly cause the bone to become weaker and weaker. They can
severely damage the bone if they are not carefully monitored, which most doctors
will do.
Does that mean that you should stop taking the medications that are
important for treating the rheumatoid arthritis pain you have? Absolutely never
stop taking the medications that you are on without talking to your doctor about
them first. In addition, you and your doctor should have a treatment plan
available that will incorporate regularly monitoring your body’s bone density.
In a simple test, your doctor will be able to determine if your bones are being
affected by these medications and then can alter them as he or she sees fit.
Some doctors will prescribe medications to help treat the osteoporosis and
medications that can increase your bone density.
Treatments for osteoporosis and arthritis are important considerations for
you and for your doctor. The doctor is not likely to be treating just one of
these conditions and therefore should monitor your bone health throughout your
care. But, you can and you should ask questions about what the medications you
are taking for each of these will do to your body. You should know the risk
factors and what they mean to you, personally. In addition, you should have an
understanding of what is available to help avoid these risks to the fullest
level.
Preventing osteoporosis is something that can be done. Not only will you
want to talk to your doctor about these conditions, but you also should take
into account the risks that are there. Prevention of osteoporosis should be one
of the first things that you and your doctor talk about when you begin taking
these types of medications. Prevention usually includes increasing the amount of
calcium that your body takes in on a daily basis. You probably will need to
increase this amount considerably.
There is no doubt that the medications you take for arthritis are important
to your health and well being. They shouldn’t be stopped, in most cases. But,
you should talk to your doctor about a prevention plan for osteoporosis, which
can be prevented in most cases.
About the Author: To read more of Greg’s thoughts, go and click on this
link: Rheumatoid Arthritis
Source: www.isnare.com
Permanent Link:
http://www.isnare.com/?aid=112303&ca=Medicines+and+Remedies
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