FOSAMAX Reviews (ALENDRONATE SODIUM)Average Rating: 1.4 (1230 Ratings)Filter ResultsCompare FOSAMAX with similar:
Type: Rx Drug
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Results are sorted by Age oldest to youngest. Key to Ratings: 1=LOW (I would not recommend taking this medicine.) Page: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 |
More on FOSAMAX: Reviews Summary | Drug Safety Information
| RATING | REASON | SIDE EFFECTS FOR FOSAMAX | COMMENTS | SEX | AGE | DURATION/ DOSAGE | DATE ADDED |
| 1 | Osteopena | Had 11 of 15 listed side effects first time I took Actonel | My Dr. prescribed Actonel after a bone scan showed slight density loss in my spine. After suffering side effects and doing some research I immediately discontinued use and will NOT go back to any of the medications for bone loss. I started taking Citracal w/Vit D & Vitamin K2 supplements. My 86 year old mother started on Fosamax. Up until that time she had impecable posture, with no problems. Within 6 mo. she virturally became a cripple,with joint swelling, gastric problems, and extreem pain in her back. After discontinuing the Fosamax her symptoms decreased and continue to improve. The stuff is poison. It does not build new bone, it retains old, dead, brittle bone so, yes, the bone density test shows improved bone mass. It's like replacing a steel rod with one made of porcelin. | F | 52 | 1 days | 7/6/2007 | 1 | Osteopenia | Extreme fatigue and constant, all-over muscle and joint pain, especially in the groin, sciatic pain and rib-pain in the middle of my back, so severe that I cannot lie down for more than a few hours at a time. Like many of you, I didn't relate, nor did my doctor, any of this to Fosamax. | All I can say is thank you, thank you, to all of you who posted comments. I have been desperately ill and had begun to think that I was going to die. Day-by-day I felt myself growing weaker and weaker and the pain in my rib cage grew more intense. I just never related it to the Fosamax. I was relieved to read that many of you had experienced the same symptoms, especially the rib pain and that it ceased when you stopped the Fosamax. I immediately stopped taking it. Hallelujah! For the past two nights I have been able to sleep without rib pain; however, I am still very stiff. Like many of you, I wonder if I will ever be completely free of the effects of this horrible drug. I am working with a nutritionist and have started taking chelated magnesium with B-vitamins and detoxifying my body; it seems to be helping. I will seek a natural alternative for the Osteopenia. I welcome any of your email if you have any suggestions. | F | 52 | 1 years | 7/28/2006 | 1 | osteoporosis | From first taking fosamax I noticed a rash - very small red spots across chest area. then after 9 months my neck started to ache but the Doctor said it was not related to fosamax as it would have happened straight away. Then I developed a sore throat, pains in neck and burning sensation in bones in the neck and shoulder. It was then that I looked on the internet and saw others with the same symptoms. | stopped taking fosamax 6 weeks ago symptoms subsided but still have sore throat. Seen today by e.n.t specialist who says I have reflux. I will not take fosamax again as I am sure that my problems are due to the drug. | F | 52 | 1 years | 7/25/2006 | 1 | pre osteopenia | leg & toe cramps, back and hip pain, and sore throat | my doctor doesn't think there is a conection between my symptoms and the fosamax because I have been taking it for 2 yrs. After reading this web site and speaking to my niece who is a pharacist I decided to stop taking this drug. | F | 52 | 2 years | 6/27/2005 | 1 | osteopenia | I started out with a slight cough after taking Fosamax for about a month. It continued to get worse. It felt as if I had a severe chest cold and was trying to get over it but couldn't cough anything up. I got very hoarse. It hurt worse to sit than to stand. I had a barium swallow xray which showed I had decreased mobility in my swallowing which I've never had a problem before. I didn't have acid reflux. My doctor finally gave me Protonix and told me to go off the Fosamax. After 1 1/2 months, I see slight improvement but it hasn't gone away yet. On certain days I cough a white phlegm which seems to temporarily make me feel better. I'm afraid it's done permanent damage to my esophagus and more. | I think Fosamax might do some good things but it should be closely monitered. Actonel made me feel sick but didn't appear to do damage. Doctors don't seem to put two and two together until it's almost too late. I think before doctors precribe a medicine, they should be more knowledgable about the side effects rather than how much money they will make from the drug. | F | 52 | 6 months | 6/26/2005 | 1 | osteopena | Mild nausea for four days after first pill, then explosive vomiting on the fifth day. Horrible. | Never, ever again. | F | 52 | 1 weeks | 11/23/2005 | 1 | slight bone loss | SEVERE muscle & joint pain | Within 24 hours of once-a-week dose I felt like I had been beaten with a stick! Every muscle ached and joints gave sharp snaps, crackles & pops. Within 30 hours my sternum(breastbone)ached and the penny dropped - it had to be the drug. Tops of shoulders and upper back & spine where first to be assulted, then sternum, followed by mid-spine and shoulder blades. Couldn't sleep first night due to crackling joints & pain. At 36 hours pain moved to ankles, toes & soles of feet. Dosed 6 AM Saturday, it's now 3 PM Thursday...all muscles feel like the day after a too strenuous work out, and bottom of heels are still painful & walking is agony. Per Dr. DO NOT TAKE SECOND DOSE, call next week(or when I feel normal again)and she will consider another medication. This drug is a lawsuit waiting to happen. | F | 52 | 1 times | 10/20/2005 | 1 | Osteoporosis | After approximately 6 weeks on Fosamax I started to feel a stiffness when getting up from a sitting position. By the time I had been on it 3 1/2 months, I was so stiff I could hardly walk upon getting out of bed in the mornings, I tossed and turned all night. If I layed in one position too long my legs/sides would start to ache. If I sat for more than a few minutes my butt/legs/hips would ache and be so stiff and sore I could hardly get up from my chair. HUGE PAIN and I have NEVER had any muscle or joint/bone stiffness in my life prior to this. I am a secretary and this has posed a huge problem with my work. I have not taken any Fosamax now for approximately 5-6 weeks and I have had improvement but still suffer. I spoke to a pharmacist who told me it will likely stay in my system for a long time. I plan to see my doctor next week to let him know of the adverse reaction I have had. Also, on their website, Merck warns against taking the drug if you suffer any severe joint/bone pain. I will NEVER take another drug on my doctor's word alone, and will do my research! This has nearly crippled me. | F | 52 | 3 months | 8/18/2005 | 1 | PRE OSTEOPENIA | hip & back pain, leg cramps and bloated feeling | Wrote in 3 weeks ago that I was stopping this drug. Since stopping 3 weeks ago all pains have gone away and I feel good. Will not go back on. | F | 52 | 2 years | 7/12/2005 | 1 | Osteopenia | Extreme Acid reflux, stiffness, tired, stomach aches, high RH numbers. Horrible medicine. | F | 52 | 3 years 1X W | 11/1/2021 | 5 | ostopenia and very low Vitamin D | No side effects. | I have been taking this exactly as prescribed and do not deviate. It has not bothered me at all. I also take a multivitamin and calcium with D3. My vitamin D levels have now increased to normal but I'm not due for a Dexascan until 2 years have passed. | F | 51 | 6 months 70 mg 1X W | 11/23/2010 | 5 | osteoporosis | I used the 5 rating so you all will see this. My first rating is buried somewhere - it was a 2. See an endocrinologist and have your parathyroid checked. Go to www.parathyroid.com. You will learn so much and posiblly find the cure, not a band aid for the problem of osteoporosis. I did. | F | 51 | 10 years | 10/2/2006 | 4 | osteoporosis | No side effects of any kind, other than occasional mild heartburn (which may or may not be drug-related.) I have maintained a regular exercise program -- 4-5 days a week -- for 20+ years and have not noticed any changes since beginning treatment. | My follow-up DEXA scan showed significant improvement in my hips -- I went from osteoporosis range to low normal in 2 years. My spine, however, showed only slight improvement from osteoporosis to | F | 51 | 2 years | 3/29/2005 | 3 | Osteoporosis | Stomach pain, bloating, diarhea, heartburn. Black spots in eye. | I've been taking this for 11 months and am thinking of stopping due to the side effects. It has helped my back pain, but is it worth the price of damage to the rest of my body? Not sure. | F | 51 | 11 months | 11/1/2004 | 3 | bone lose | I have been taking Fosomax for 2 years. I have joint pain, especially in my hips and lower back. My eyes hurt from being so dry all the time. I don't know if any of this is from the drug or if I would have the joint pain even if I came off of it. I am staying on it for now. I am 51 years old. | F | 51 | 2 years | 5/15/2006 | 3 | diagnosed with severe osteoporosis | I have been taking fosomax 70 mg. for the last four years when I was diagnosed with severe osteosporosis at the age of 46. Severe wrist pain where I could not lift or open anything. Extreme pain in bottom of feet upon getting up in the a.m.. Pain and swelling in fingers(knuckles) where I have had to have rings resized? Muscle soreness. | I did not relate aches and pains to fosamax until I read this site. Although I no longer have the wrist pain and the foot pain, now I wonder if it is the fosamax?! The sore fingers and resizing of rings I attributed to getting arthritis from working in the garden? I had just heard about the "jaw death" in the last year which has me concerned. Since I have periodontal disease already, I have been concerned about the long term effects. I will be seeing my physician next month and will be asking for a dexascan and discussing discontinuing this drug. | F | 51 | 4 years | 6/16/2006 | 3 | Osteopenia | I have been taking Fosamax for approximately 1 1/2 years and didn't think I had any side effects because I was only looking for difficulty swallowing. I have an upset stomach daily (never had stomach problems), I have a LOT of gas, I just started getting a pain in my right hip, loose stools but the worst part was the debilitating fatigue! I have absolutely no energy except to go from the bed to the couch. Everyday chores now seem overwhelming, I seem to get anxious and depressed over minor issues. This website is like a god-send. When I contacted my doctor, she told me to stop but didn't believe my issues were from the Fosamax. I believe they are because I have never had any of these issues before taking it and the only other medication I'm on is Zestril for blood pressure which I've been on for approximately 12 years. | F | 51 | 1 years | 6/29/2006 | 3 | diagnosed with severe osteoporosis | I have been taking fosomax 70 mg. for the last four years when I was diagnosed with severe osteosporosis at the age of 46. Severe wrist pain where I could not lift or open anything. Extreme pain in bottom of feet upon getting up in the a.m.. Pain and swelling in fingers(knuckles) where I have had to have rings resized? Muscle soreness. | I did not relate aches and pains to fosamax until I read this site. Although I no longer have the wrist pain and the foot pain, now I wonder if it is the fosamax?! The sore fingers and resizing of rings I attributed to getting arthritis from working in the garden? I had just heard about the "jaw death" in the last year which has me concerned. Since I have periodontal disease already, I have been concerned about the long term effects. I will be seeing my physician next month and will be asking for a dexascan and discussing discontinuing this drug. | F | 51 | 4 years | 6/16/2006 | 2 | Osteopenia | Aches in legs in early morning hours that wake me up and I have to take something for the pain. Elbow pain all day. I have to wear a brace when carrying things. Unexplained rash, like hives on neck and around eyes. Eyes would water very thick, salty tears that would make the rash worse. | I asked the doctor if these symtoms could be due to Fosamax and she told me no. I am supposed to take my weekly dose tomorrow, but I don't think I will after visiting this site and seeing that so many other people are experienceing the same symptoms. | F | 51 | 8 days | 6/20/2006 | 2 | osteopenia | jaw stiffness, irregular heart beats, these are the things I noticed which did not exist before taking fosamax. | I'm taking the 70mg plus D by weekly. Not sure it helped my bone density or not. | F | 51 | 9 months | 12/26/2006 |