FOSAMAX Reviews (ALENDRONATE SODIUM)Average Rating: 1.4 (1230 Ratings)Filter ResultsCompare FOSAMAX with similar:
Type: Rx Drug
|
Results are sorted by Date from newest to oldest. 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 |
| 2 | decreasing bone density | I have been taking Fosamax for 2 1/2 years, 70mgs once a week for the last two years. In 2004 I had a bone loss of 6%, 2005 a loss of 10.7% besides taking 1200mgs of calcium and 400mgs of Vit D also eating a diet high in fruits, vegetables and moderate dairy products. I do water aerobic 3x's per week as well as gardening and general housework etc.The past 7 months I have had increasing pain in my knees, lower back, neck and shoulders also muscle weakness, have felt bodily tired which is relieved by lying down rather than sitting. Extremely stiff on arising in the mornings which wears off after 5 mins. of movement but generally ache and feel restriction of movement. I am awake several times during the night from discomfort, needing to change position because of aching. I am age 69 and have been very active and athletic all my life. I stopped taking Fosamax two weeks ago and will see my doctor this week. I do not know what to do about the bone loss but tend to feel Fosamax is contributi | I do not know if Fosamax is contributing to my aching joints and muscles and even the decrease of bone density but I am stopping it to see if the condition improves. | F | 69 | 2 years | 6/1/2006 | 1 | low bone density | After six years of taking Fosamax, I slipped in ice in my driveway and broke my femur (thigh bone). Two years later, still taking Fosamax, I fell in the snow and my other femur snapped before I hit the ground. | There is evidence that, while Fosamax increases bone density, it does not increase bone strength - in fact, it may cause bones to become brittle. Now I am stuck with this substance in my bones for the next half dozen years or so. | F | 58 | 8 years | 6/1/2006 | 1 | Osteopenia (-1.9) Update | I took Fosamax for approx. 8 weeks, off for 5 weeks and took Actonel for 6 weeks. I have been off Actonel for approx. 9 weeks and am still experiencing tightness in my neck and pain in my left arm. Started physical therapy approx. 3 1/2 weeks ago to restore mobility in my left arm (left shoulder locked and I was no longer able to reach behind me). Am improving with the hopes of gaining full mobility eventually (my therapist is pleased with my progress so far - at this date we have no idea yet how many more sessions I will need to regain full mobility). The continuing pain (especially during the night) in my arm concerns me. Also, I still have cracking & popping in my neck, jaw & left wrist. | When discussed with my GP that I had gone off Actonel she suggested Boniva. I told her I would be crazy to try & take that, or maybe she's crazy if she thought I would try it. We had a laugh over that. Now she is pushing Evista (which also lists muscle/bone pain as a side effect). I will not be trying that either. I will continue to update as necessary. I am happy for those who had restored health in a couple of weeks. Mine, however, is taking a little longer, but there is hope, which I wanted to pass along to those who are continuing to suffer as I am. This is not just age related aches & pains (at least for some of us) but a result of taking biphosphonates. Nothing will convince me otherwise. | F | 51 | 8 weeks | 5/30/2006 | 1 | Osteopenia | Pain in lower back, hips; restricted movement of hips when walking; spasms in legs. I walked like someone 50 years older than myself. I had bursitis in my shoulder. I was on Fosamax for almost 3 years. | I stopped taking Fosamax April 9th, 2006. By May 11th, 2006 my walking was back to normal, and hip pain decreased significantly.My doctor did not associate the pain with the Fosamax. I did my own research after I read an article about necrosis of the jaw. I realized that the pain was always worst four days after taking my weekly dose. I visited an orthopedic specialist May 26th, and after manipulating my joints, declared that the pain was due to the Fosamax. I'm glad I quite taking Fosamax. Every week I feel less pain. | F | 59 | 3 years | 5/30/2006 | 4 | Low bone density readings | Little side effect. Only find that I need to be ready to go to bathroom between half an hour to an hour after taking, because it acts like a mild laxative with me. | I will be watching the news on the problems others are experiencing and be ready to re-think taking Fosamax if I see any problems occuring in myself. One thing that I wonder about is whether the level of a person's activity may affect how the drug interacts within the body. I am a VERY active 65 year old (work in a daycare with toddlers) so imagine the drug has to be working through my system quickly and well. If people are not really active, but are able to be, perhaps they should consider that. | F | 65 | 1 years | 5/27/2006 | 1 | osteopenia & osteoporosis | Like others, every bone in my body hurts. Was very althetic, competed with people in their 30's, but now feel older than mom, who's 80! Start as osteopenia. Bone scan was just little better after first year. 2nd year, spine just slightly better, but hip went from osteopenia to osteoporosis?!! | Just found out this drug works by shutting down your system and building new bones over old (eventually old growth can collapse). Also it can cause jawbone rot (osteonecrosis). Upset that drug co. or dr. never mentioned these! Quitting cold turkey! | F | 54 | 2 years | 5/25/2006 | 1 | bone loss | After one once a week pill, the following night I had severe pain,bone,muscle, everything, legs,knees, hips.Ready to go to ER.Off work for 2 days.Dr.thought pain from other meds.No problem with them for years. Stopped others, but pain continued. Took another pill, and severe pain continued. Stopped Fosamanx, and still suffering a year later.Do not believe this is just arthritis. Want to sue company for severe pain, depression, loss of time at work, etc. DO NOT TAKE THIS! My sister-in-law had severe chest pains, thought it was a heart attack. Terrible medicine. DO NOT TAKE,PLEASE. | F | 68 | 2 weeks | 5/24/2006 | 1 | Bone density test showed osteopenia | I had no side effects from Fosamax and after the first year my bone density showed within the normal range, HOWEVER, as part of orthodontic treatment, I was to have several teeth extracted. It was then that I learned that folks who take Fosamax and other drugs in the bisphosphonate category are at risk for a serious, painful and irreversible jaw disease called Osteonecrosis. (And I will not be having the teeth extracted.) | I don't mean to be an alarmist, but THIS IS VERY SERIOUS!! There is much to be learned about the exact cause and effects and the reports are still coming in. Merck has added the warning to their label and I expect it is just a matter of time before other companies follow suit. My mother's doc advised her to stop taking Fosamax when she questioned him on this. (She is 86.) I have also stopped the Fosamax, and although my doc prescribed Actonel, I am ambivalent about taking it. This is a very difficult decision as I have seen the pain that osteoporosis has caused a family member. Please refer to this article for information and ask your doctor about it immediately. The information in this article is relevant to everyone taking bisphosphonates, not only folks wearing braces. http://www.archwired.com/Osteoporosis_and_Braces.htm | F | 56 | 2 years | 5/23/2006 | 1 | Low Bone Density. | I have had left hip pain on and off for several months along with back pain. Last night a friend told me about the jaw side effects and I should stop taking this immediately. I told her I had not heard of ANY side effects. After reading all of these comments, I am stopping it immediately. My GYN put me on this several moths ago. I am not good about remembering to take medication so have not been very regular. Now I am glad I am so forgetful! GD | I have severe asthma that has been untreatable to date. Nothing works so I attributed my low bone density to all of the rounds of steroids I have been on. I am so grateful for everyone's comments. I agree that the drug companies are going to have to pay the piper over this one and pull it off the market. FDA, are you listening? | F | 51 | 6 days | 5/21/2006 | 1 | osteoporosis | pain and stiffness-folks, look up Boniva comments on this site and you will see one by a female general practitioner - if doctors took these meds, like she did, they would know - Osteoporosis prevention Crippling flank and calf pain within three hours of the first dose. I was barely able to walk to my car and into my home when I arrived there. I spent most of the next two days in bed. The pain has decreased but is still present six days later. I am a board-certified family practice physician. When I was down, in terrible pain and unable to walk, I called GSK's hot line, asking what to do. The person answering had no useful information. Two days later I contacted the local GSK sales representative to find out what the company is doing for doctors whose patients experience crippling side effects. GSK tells a patient to contact her doctor, but doctors don't know what to do. I am dissatisfied with the responses (and nonresponses) GSK has offered as to what doctors are supposed to do when | F | 58 | 3 years | 5/21/2006 | 1 | osteo | every one described by the women terrible pains and problems listed by the 319 or so who e mailed in. | I think fosamax,actonel and boniva are all bad and poison and needs more research on the long or short term effect. It has to be strong to make almost everyone so ill so fast and i think they all should be takenn off the market. Today the jaw tomorrow who knows what bones are next...please do not take these if your dr prescribes them,,THEY ARE POISON. I am off almost a yr and its been a year of HELL. and hopefully i will feel good again and my nerve endings are not permanently damaged.First actonel and then fosamax...which only made me sicker..Thanks drug companies for making so many women sick and with aches and pains you cannot believe. | F | 70 | 3 months | 5/19/2006 | 2 | osteopenia | I have had an increase in back, neck and hip pain; infrequent but severe leg cramps; dry eyes that have caused blured vision and floaters; an increase in sinus problems and most recently I have experienced intermittent, severe jaw pain. | My doctor said with HRT and Fosamax, my bone density scan improved but I question whether this medication is worth the risks. I noticed when I stopped the drug for 6 mos against doctor's advice, the pain increased. I wish I had never started Fosamax. | F | 58 | 4 days | 5/17/2006 | 2 | osteopenia | See next description - Note jaw pain - Research "osteonecrosis" aka "jaw death" as this is something to discuss before you have any dental work. I have taken Fosamax for 4 1/2 years and will not continue. | F | 58 | | 5/17/2006 | 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 | 1 | Prevention of Osteoporosis | I have been healthy all my life. At the age of 75 I needed two hip replacements due to a very active lifestyle. The operations went well, and one month later I was up to walking 1 mile. My Drs. recommended I take Fosamax as a preventive to bone loss. I have no history of fractures nor of osteoporosis, but it sounded like a good idea. The pain and disability started slowly. Burning and weakening muscles got worse and I had no clue where the misery was coming from. I kept on taking Fosamax. I developed extreme pain and dizziness; burning of the soles of my feet; cramps in my calves and toes; extreme loss of strength in my thigh muscles. Drs. called it arthritis but I know that something was out of the ordinary. It wasn't until I took the next Fosamax that I read the side effects (in very small letters). I stopped taking the Fosamax three months ago but I am still in so much pain and almost unable to walk. I went on the Web and discovered that I am not alone in my misery. Can a | The side effects should be made more public; and the Doctors should be better informed. The drug should be taken off the market immediately! | F | 76 | 18 months | 5/14/2006 | 2 | Dr.presribed after bonedensity test | Weakness in kness joints, suddenly I could not step up the one step to our deck with my right leg.Extreme weakness in arms, often could not carry even one plastic grocery bag, whereas I used to carry one bag on each finger when unloading car! Trouble falling asleep and sleeping through night because of leg cramps/ knee pain. | Took once a week Fosomax for 2 years - after 1 year of Evista -then in 2005 asked Dr. whether I could stop taking Fosomax for two weeks to see if I would feel better. Almost immediate dramatic improvement. I never went back on that medicine. Drink o.j. with calcium and skim milk instead! Do water arobics now and get vitamin D (20 min. sun) | F | 64 | 2 years | 5/10/2006 | 1 | osteopenia | I have been taking this drug for 4 weeks and feel awful. My whole body aches, I have headaches, my energy level is extremely low, my legs feel weak and the tops of my shoulders are very painful. I have a nasty taste in my mouth and at the end of meals my food comes up into my throat...After these symptoms started i decided to do some research and after reading pages and pages of information on this drug I have decided to stop taking it. With a little research you can find lots of natural treatments, I plan to call my doctor and tell him what I have decided to do and then contact a homeopathic physician and a nutritionist to help me put together a more sensible plan...This drug sounds like poison to me...corrosive, laundry detergent, fertilizer..who in their right mind would ingest these things...we must all be proactive in our medical care...doctors are not Gods! Best of luck to everyone on this site, I am sure that there is another way...read books! Gather information and trust yo | F | 54 | 4 days | 5/8/2006 | 1 | osteopenia | Lower back pain, leg pain, sciatica, a creaky feeling when get up from sitting; could not do regular exercise I had been doing for years--felt like I aged overnight; my balance was off; pain moved around a lot; burning pain down hamstrings; whole midsection was just off somehow; thumb joints ached | It's been a year and half since I stopped taking, and I noticed a difference within a week or two, but I still experience achy thumbs and muscle and joint pain off and on for no apparent reason, and I believe it's due to Fosamax as I never had this before. | F | 49 | 3 months | 5/4/2006 | 1 | Osteopenia | I was on Fosamax for three years and I have previously rated this medication. I had foot and ankle pain that did not respond to cortisone shots or physical therapy. The next option was surgery. I had huge knots on my Achilles tendons that the foot doctor told me must have been from torn tendons. I had never torn any tendons. Every muscle in my back, arms and neck hurt. When driving, I would have to rest one arm and drive with the other hand on the steering wheel and then change hands when the aching got to be too much. I have been off Fosamax for two years and most of the pain has gone, including the knots on my Achilles tendons. But, I still have hand, wrist and arm pain that so far is not responding to physical therapy or pain medication. | I advise everyone I talk to about Fosamax to watch out for ANY symptoms such as foot, back, neck or arm pain. I never see the symptoms that I had mentioned as side effects on any of Merck's information sites and yet I read about them on this website all the time. Does anyone know how to contact someone at Merck and get some answers on this? | F | 61 | 3 years | 5/3/2006 | 1 | Osteopenia spine & one hip | Joint pain, especially thumbs, muscle aches. Extremely dry nose and mouth, headaches, sleeplessness (insomnia) depression, breathlessness, overall feeling of hopelessness | This drug Fosamax is a terrible drug, six months ago I was a totally happy person, today I am a mess. In the six months I have taken Fosamax 70, I feel like I have aged 20 years, I'm depressed all of the time, I have no interest in anything, and I constantly am in pain in some part of my body. The people who know me have noticed a change in my personality. My dentist could not believe how dry my mouth is! I have made the decision to stop taking this drug, I will be taking my chances I know, but the quality of my life is gone, and I can't live like this anylonger! I think this drug is very dangerous, and should be removed from the market before someone dies from taking it! (suicide) I believe this drug has caused me to becomed so depressed, to the point of wanting to die. | F | 55 | 6 months | 5/2/2006 |