Prednisone Can Lead to Bone Loss…

As many of you may know, I have been on prednisone now for 8 months straight (with only 1 month break in the middle). In the middle, I had hit as high as 160 mg a day through I.V. (when I was in the hospital).

Put directly - that is A LOT of prednisone.

I never knew this but discovered it recently (when my doctor asked me to get a bone density scan) - but long use of prednisone, even on a low dosage, can really cause bone loss.

I recently went and had a bone scan, they scanned my spine and my hip. Luckily my hip bone was fine, but my spine did show some bone loss.

This is recent so not sure what my doctor will do - but I do know I am taking 1.5 grams of calcium right now.

So, make sure, if you’re taking lots of prednisone - take calcium and also ask your doctor to monitor your bone density.

As always, this is not medical advice of course, talk to your doctor…

20 April 2006 | Crohn's Disease, Personal, Crohn's Research | Comments