Drug Ratings for ACTONELAverage Rating: 1.4 (1356 Ratings)
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Results are sorted by Date Rating Was Added 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 |
Charts & graphs: Reviews Summary for ACTONEL | Top 10 Adverse Effects (reported to FDA)
| RATING | REASON | SIDE EFFECTS FOR ACTONEL | COMMENTS | SEX | AGE | DURATION/ DOSAGE | DATE ADDED |
  | F M | | | | |||
| 1 | Osteopenia | Severe back pain | I switched from Fosamax to Actonel as I had severe back pain from Fosamax. Was ok on Actonel for 1 month, then the severe back pain started again. I could not exercise, do simple bending or even tie my shoes. After I stopped taking the drug, my back was better in a week. Actonel may have worked for some, however it was not for me. | F | 71 | 3 months | 2/11/2008 | 1 | Osteoporosis | Did not connect my increase in blood pressure, heart palpitations, etc. to Actonel until reading these side effects. Have also had torn retina, blurred vision, etc. since taking. After two yrs, my bone density was improved to osteopena. | Recently visited my dentist who told me the nerve in my tooth was dead; needs extraction; but no one but an oral surgeon will touch anyone taking Actonel! Have to be off Actonel for at least three months prior to extraction as very dangerous consequences could occur (jaw disintegration)! I will stop taking it immediately and permanently! Had no idea what I was ingesting into my body. | F | 58 | 3 years | 2/1/2008 | 1 | osteopenia | After being on actonel for a year I started to feel joint and muscle pain. I didn't contribute this to the actonel. After another 6 months (total 18 months) the pain increased and also the bones and joints became more painful. I have stopped actonel and hope that it doesn't take a long time to get out of my system. I have been off it for one month and there is some improvement on the pain level. | This site is the best. It shows that there are more people having severe side affects then the drug company has indicated. DRUG COMPANIES pay attention to this web site and what people are saying about your drug. | F | 67 | 18 months | 1/27/2008 | 1 | Osteopenia | Felt tightness on both knees while taking stairs on the second day of taking actonel and on day 7 Rt knee swelled up like balloon, no pain. End up going to emergency, doctor reported no injury, told me to take anti-inflammatory med, see your PCP. That’s it! My PCP convinced me to take Actonel without discussing me about severe jaw problem or any other side effect of Actonel. My doctor never told me to stop the drug even though PCP prescribed a new drug and I have had this sever swollen knees, PCP biasedly blaming another eye drop I was prescribe a year ago that caused severe allergic reaction on my throat and gave me Laringytis. I trusted my PCP, continued to take Actonel an anti-inflammatory med three times a day without any relief of swollen deranged knees. Last time I forgot to report that not only my knees have been severely affected; my both wrist joints come out of their locks if I try to hold a small book in my hand for more than a few seconds. One year after stopping that | I believe a PCP must discuss about a new medicine's side effects with the patient then the patient should decide whether she would take or not. Not only that, PCPs should be penalized for their irresponsibility. Otherwise they will continue to do the same. One doctor told half life of this Actonel is few days, which means many doctors have poor knowledge about many medicines. Only they have the authority to prescribe and they have some kind of contract with pharmaceuticals so they just prescribe and barely take any responsibility. Today I will write from one research report what bisphosphonate drugs (Actonel is one of them) does to human body. "Bisphophonates accumulate almost exclusively in skeletal sites that have active bone remodelling....which becomes burried under new layers of bone and remain biologically inactive for a long time." Nat Clin Prac Oncol. 2007 Dec:4(12)"711-21. The article actually writes, that until this bisphosphonates are surgically removed from t | F | 56 | 8 months | 1/20/2008 | 1 | Osteoporosis | All of the horrible things described here, and more. I aged 90 years in 3 years on this drug. | PLEASE, PLEASE GO TO THE FDA WEBSITE & FILL IN AN ADVERSE EFFECT FORM. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/medwatch/ If we don't report it here, so that they know so many people are having problems, we may never find out why. | F | 70 | 3 years | 1/20/2008 | 2 | OSTEOPOROSIS | I was so happy because I had not experienced any side effects BUT recently I am feeling like a crippled person... my neck, my back everything aches and I cannot sleep I am even using a vertical traction... I do not now if it has to do with my scoliosis or with actonel... but I have always had scoliosis and never felt like this befores | I am so sad... I do not know if the problems I am having after one year taking actonel is related to that drug but after reading this I am beginning to have my doubts | M | 67 | 1 years | 1/18/2008 | 1 | Dexa scan showed mild osteoporosis | After only 1 dose 6 days ago, I still have severe acid reflux. Can't eat or sleep much due to the pain of the reflux. | Called Dr. who said to give it another try, or maybe switch to Fosamax. Sorry! I've taken my first and last dose! Just how long will it take to get this stuff out of my bloodstream, and could one dose have done some permanent damage? I'll continue with my own prevention: diet and exercise. My sympathies to all who suffer from this. | F | 57 | 1 weeks | 1/13/2008 | 1 | Osteopenia | Was prescribed actonel for post menopausal reduction of bone loss. I'm only 45 and hit menopause at age 40 for no known reason. I was taking Actonel and had not been aware of any obvious problems for about 9 months. Then I had been prescribed Prednisone for an autoimmune disorder. No one told me that Actonel and Prednisone individually could cause gastritis which is a very painful condition, but combine the two together and you end up VERY sick. Four months later, another round of prednisone due to a doctor thinking severe muscle spasms was linked to the autoimmune disorder. WRONG. 9 months later, I'm just beginning to get a reduction in spastic muscles across my traps, up the neck and into the skull. Very debillitating. Now I read on Reuters news service about the Actonel link to muscle aches. Makes me wonder if this was the problem all along. I discontinued the Actonel against my GYN's advice approx 4 months ago. Odd that I'm slowly improving with the giant muscle spasms that ha | With all the warnings out there, take heed and do not take this drug. | F | 45 | 1.5 days | 1/8/2008 | 1 | I felt great before I took my 1st dose of Actonel on Sunday as directed. That night I experienced the worst flu like symptoms ever with chills, hot flashes, severe reflux, palpitations, severe joint and muscle pain, nausea, severe headaches, weakness in legs and severe gas. The next day those symptoms were less severe but others were worse, like joint pain, lerthargy and weakness. Doctor was informed, but wants me to continue. After finding this website and reading the horror stories of others I have decided that I would rather try alternate, more natural treatments than suffer a life of hell as many others have. What good is a drug that compromises quality of life with no guarantee of treatment? I hope no one suffers any life threatening effects from this drug. I guess that's what the drug companies are waiting for before pulling it off the shelves. We've all become guinea pigs for Proctor and Gamble. | Do your research on this drug BEFORE taking it. I don't think the long term side effects have been investigated yet and the benefits certainly don't out weight the risks! | F | 56 | 1 weeks | 1/8/2008 | 2 | Osteopena | 7yr.+user and have developed hard lumps on forehead and hands and just had calcium based kidney stones. I was told to eliminate Actonel,tums and vitamin D-3. Also told that it is now recommended that Actonel be taken in 5-yr cycles (on 5 off 5)due to side effects. | Had been on Evista which gave me terrible joint aches and shin pain. Actonel did not do that. | F | 67 | 7 days | 12/26/2007 | 2 | some bone density loss | Ached all over. Hands, elbows, knees ankles even toes. | Began feeling the aching after first dose. Dr. said it would go away, stick with it. I hurt so bad last week I didn't take that weeks pill. Will not take any more for awhile and see if I feel better. | F | 50 | 10 months | 12/22/2007 | 1 | osteosporosis | Constant, severe pain in ankles knees, elbows, wrists, fingers, toes, arms and legs as well as numbness in arms and legs....pain so excruciating most nights I'm awakened by it. I came upon this site today searching for side effects of this drug -- boy, did I receive an education. I see my doctor this afternoon and, in no uncertain terms, am telling him I will NO LONGER take Actenol. I've had this pain for well over 3 months now constantly wondering what was happening to my body. Now I know. Medicine is supposed to help not hurt. Wonder how long it will take for the pain to stop. I've been taking 800 mg of Ibuprofen as well as Aleve 4 times and day and it not helping, so we'll see. | F | 57 | 10 months | 12/20/2007 | 1 | osteopenia | Had my last pill five days ago - have been suffering terrible muscle and joint pain for several weeks. went to ER three weeks ago with stabbing pain in calf of leg, suspected blood clot until ultra sound revealed it was not. I feel very run down the last few days - like the flu - can't sleep at night for the pain. Found this website and realized my problem is the Actonel! My family Dr. even stopped my Lipitor but I didn't feel any better. Am going back on Lipitor today. If I hadn't realized my problems were the Actonel, I don't think that I would be able to get around in a week or so. I also tried Boniva first but my stomach would hurt for four days after I took it. I took it for three months. | A second look should be taken at this drug by the FDA | F | 67 | 4 months | 12/15/2007 | 1 | Osteoporosis | After 1 35mg pill...everything went downhill from there. I followed instructions..didn't eat or drink anything for an hour,, next day had flu like symptoms..then severe pain began in my flank region, was so intense all week, I thought I might have a stone blockage in my left kidney. Now I am getting ready for a renal ultrasound..and have a referral to a nephrologist (Kidney Specialist)... Added to that, the calcium citrate ...this is too much for me. I;m almost 60, weigh 118 pounds..my fingers hurt my legs hurt..can barely roll over in bed. I'll NOT take his any longer. Its a choice, like HRT..too many side effects....my mother (who is 82) never took HRT OR ACTONEL and she's doing well. It may work for some...but life is too short to live it in pain like this. THUMBS DOWN TO the biophosphonates....all of them ! Linda | F | 59 | 1 days | 12/14/2007 | 1 | Osteoporosis | awful pain in all the body what else can one take ????? | F | 63 | 4 months | 12/11/2007 | 3 | osteopenia | muscle pain or joint pain | F | 69 | 3 years | 12/10/2007 | 3 | Severe osteoporosis (3.8) | No side effects. | Drugs may not be the osteoporosis solution. It could be as simple as reversing the acid environment of your body. I came across an abstract that changed the way I understood my condition. The magic words that stood out were "acid-alkali balance", and that is where my focus has been the past several months. In a nutshell, acidosis is a condition that, because of unusually low blood pH, can leach the bones of bone-building minerals. Going over past blood tests, to no surprise, my blood pH was severely low, something two physicians had overlooked! I have recently discontinued Actonel, radically changed my diet and just purchased a water ionizer which makes alkali drinking water. I am also doing hormone replacement therapy (testosterone) for osteoporosis, but that is another subject altogether. In a few short weeks my urine and saliva pH tests are improving and I am approaching neutral pH. It is too early for bone density testing, but I did want to give any of you looking f | M | 57 | 7 years | 12/10/2007 | 1 | osteopenia | On the first day I took the drug I experienced mild joint pain in my hands and shoulders. By late evening I went to bed experiencing chills severe pain in my shoulder blade area, chest, knees, hips as well as severe leg cramps. Diarhea, stomach cramps and headache followed. I could barely walk and could not stand upright. The joint pain and stomach distress have lasted three days. | This is a frightening drug. I will never touch this or any other drug in its class. Now that I understand what osteopenia and osteoporosis is, I realize that these drugs are dangerous to my body and do not do anything except make my T-score look better. I will also research any recommended drug before taking it. | F | 62 | 1 days | 12/7/2007 | 1 | low bone density | I took ONE dose of Actonel on Sunday, Dec. 2,2007. By midnight I had the most horrendous pain in my lower back. Couldn't get out of bed, my husband had to help me stand. My legs wouldn't work and I couldn't bend at the waist at all... even to brush my teeth! | After taking one dose of BONIVA resulting with awful like flue symptoms, my doctor said try Actonel! I did and the results were horrible as I just described. I WILL NOT TAKE IT AGAIN! | F | 62 | 1 days | 12/4/2007 | 1 | osteoporosis | I was taking 75mg 2 days a month. The first day I was okay, just a slight pain in my back. By the second day I felt horrible. Almost as if I had the flu. Severe joint pain from head to toe, extreme fatigue and heavy pressure in the chest area. The doctor told me to take anti-inflammatorys and it helped, but it took almost 2 weeks before I felt normal again. | F | 46 | 2 days | 12/3/2007 | 1 | DOCTOR PRESCRIBED | I started taking actonel once a week beginning 11-18-07. On 11-22-07 I began getting chest pains so severe I thought I was having a heart attack. On 11-25-07 I took my 2nd 35mg actonel and the pain spread to my back and I have been unable to work since.(I'm an RN). The pain has been with me a week and I have since had a chest x-ray,EKG and a echocardiogram and an ultrasound of my heart,liver and gall bladder. During these tests another doctor told me to immediately stop taking actonel which I have done. I haven't been able to sleep through the night due to the pain. The gall bladder tests were negative. The pain continues. | Do not take this medication. | F | 54 | 2 times | 11/29/2007 | 3 | Osteopenia | I have been on this medication for almost one year. I have had pain in my lower back with "sciatica-like" symptoms. I have also noticed one of my molars has hurt on and off. I also get numbness in my hands at night. I am going off of this for a while to see how I feel. | Not sure how I feel about this drug. I work in the healthcare field. Many of the women that I work with have been on this for a while and they have had no improvement in their bone density. I think that I figured out how this medication works though. You feel so crummy that you do not do anything; hence, you do not break any bones! | F | 52 | 10 days | 11/26/2007 | 2 | osteopenia | not many. The most annoying one is hair loss. I read SOMEWHERE (forgot where) that this could be a side effect of this stuff. Has anybody else experienced it? | Despite taking Actonel my bone density has not improved at all. Is it even worth taking this medication? After reading all the negative comments I start to wonder. | F | 56 | 4 years | 11/26/2007 | 1 | Dr Recommended as I just hit menapa | The day after taking my first weekly pill I thought I got the flu, ached all over. second weekly pill the following day i could not move without hurting all over.just took my 3rd pill this Sat and again I am aching and hurting. After reading this site I see I am not alone. I threw out the last pill- I had 4 free samples. I will be seeing the dr again in 2 weeks and tell her all this. I have never had a bone density test so I do not know that i evenneed anything- But I will not be taking this. I hope that the 3 pills did not do any permanent damage. I am a healthy active person and love to garden and this has my legs and knees feeling as if I am 90 years old. I can not get up without help when I squat down. | Reading this scared me. Glad it was available, as who would think 3 little pills could do this? | F | 48 | 3 weeks | 11/26/2007 | 1 | osteopenia | Weekly dosing 35 mg. After taking the first dose, I had pain in my knees for about three days. I attributed this to my arthritis and weather changes. 12 hours after taking the second dose (week 2), I had generalized aching. By the next morning, I had trouble walking and bending my left knee. I was at work and was unable to walk to my car at the end of the day without the use of a cane. When I arrived home, about an hour drive, I was unable to get out of my car. My husband assisted me and helped me up the steps. The pain in my joints and muscles was excrutiating. I had some relief lying down and using warm compresses on my joints. I needed assistance with all activites and experienced pain with any movement. This is the fourth day since onset of symptoms and the pain is gradually subsiding. I have been taking Aleve and Flexaril for the joint and muscle pain. I did not go to the ER and have been unable to get an appointment with my arthritis doctor. I did talk to his nurse | This is the worst experience I have ever had with a medication. I would not take this drug or any drugs in this class again. | F | 63 | 8 days | 11/15/2007 | 1 | for ostopenia | joint pains in my arms and legs and in shoulders, weakness in the muscles of my arms and legs--constant heartburn--I have all the symptoms that I have read on this site-- | After reading this site, I am flushing actonel down the toitlet--no more for me! | F | 59 | 2 years | 11/12/2007 | 1 | osteoporosis | Dental problems, teeth loose, needed bone grafts, 6 months later still not healed, bones in neck and upper spine crack and ache, sleeping longer hours, no energy. It's been over a year since I stopped taking it and I'm still feeling the effects of it.Vision was diminished, mental function was affected. | Some research suggests that the drug interferes with the normal function of the bones. Also that it can remain in your system for years. I've also read that xrays cannot detect problems, only MRI's can. Doctors will not diagnose. They become upset if you say anything negative about one of their miracle drugs. | F | 52 | 4 years | 11/11/2007 | 2 | osteopenia | Bone & Joint pain, fatigue | I have had to quit yoga because of this medication which I have been taking for 6 months. I am going to stop taking this med and ask DR for script for calcitonin nasal spray. | F | 62 | 6 months | 11/7/2007 | 1 | osteoporosis | Severe pain started 8 hrs after weekly dose!! It was like reliving 2 car accidents together. Went to ER for pain relief. Over $5000 in bills!! If you have ever had any trama and/or broken bones BEWARE. Could also be the pain sensitivity of Fibromyalgia. | Pain was as bad as day after car accident that caused compression fracture in back, cracked sternum and broken leg. It all felt the same with muscle spasams and bone pain. Everyplace have had trama or have arthritis was unbearable. I had narcotic pain medication took twice the dose but did not give any relief. Went to Er when I could not get breath and could not lay down or walk. All kinds of test, x-rays and scans taken then given IV sedation. Out for 24 hours and still had continuous pain for 2 weeks. MRI's taken 4 days later showed the 6 yr old back compression fracture as ACUTE!! Was sent to back surgeon but he could do nothing but tell me to wait for the actenol to get out of my system. Will never take anything like this again!! | F | 60 | 1 days | 11/4/2007 | 4 | osteopenia | pretty strong sleepiness for about 6 hours consistently after taking each pill; otherwise no other side effects that I notice | able to combat sleepiness by taking a long walk after dose. I am not on any other drugs, and am otherwise healthy. Haven't had a bone mass density test since starting actonel, so no comment of effectiveness yet. | M | 53 | 8 months | 11/3/2007 | 1 | bone loss | rash, hot flashes | F | 56 | 6 months | 11/3/2007 | 1 | osteopenia | Severe joint and muscle pain, fatigue, indigestion. Difficulty walking in the a.m. Absolute exhaustion and pain at the end of a day of teaching like I've never experienced. As I looked for any change that could cause all of this, I attribute my discomfort to taking Actonel. I found this site when I began looking for information on the side effects of Actonel. | I am stopping immediately after reading the many comments here that echo what I'm experiencing. No more Actonel. It absolutely is not worth the loss of quality of life. | F | 59 | 6 days | 10/31/2007 | 1 | osteporenia | I started taking actonel in August 2007. Late October 2007 I started to have heart palpitations and shortness of breath. I am 57 years old, and I exercise regularly at least 3x week since my twenties. Suddenly I cannot walk up one flight of stairs without my heart racing as if I ran 3 miles. I took my last pill on 10/29/07. I am looking for a safe natural alternative. | F | 57 | 9 weeks | 10/31/2007 | 2 | otosclerosis | Pain in jaw. feeling depressed like I am just not happy and my heart area is very heavey. I am prescribed on this medication to treat inner ear problems, my diziness seems getting better but I can not afford feeling depressed. | F | 43 | 3 weeks | 10/23/2007 | 1 | Osteopenia | Severe joint pains in my ankles, knees, elbows, wrists, fingers, toes, and on my right hip. | Before taking Actonel, I already had stiffness on my feet right after I get up in the morning, and then started to take Actonel. At first, I thought I got flu and joint pain started. Since I already had stiffness before, I thought I now have Arthritis. Within a week, I considered getting a wheelchair at age of 50 who was fairly active before, working out at a gym 3 times a week for an hour. I believed at that time I had Rhuematoid Arthritis(I didn't think of blaiming Actonel for this joint pain) and went to see a specialist and had a blood test which came out negative. I complainted to the doctor that even if the test came out negative, I'm in pain and I can barely walk. He gave me antiinflammatory medicine and cream, which didn't help me much. I also had trouble changing positions in bed. It was so painful! And then, I discovered this site! I stopped taking Actonel immediately. Now, 2 weeks later, my joints are still achy, but nothing like 2 weeks ago. I'll stick with calcium suppleme | F | 50 | 5 weeks | 10/21/2007 | 1 | osteoporosis | From the get-go 3months ago, I have had flu like symptoms and the first dose{ I was to take 35 mg. every week} sent me to the emergency room. | My Dr. {Rheumatologist} told me to keep taking it even though I was aching so badly. I am quitting this drug right now. I am just hoping I can get rid of the muscle pains and flu like feeling. Also have hot flashes especially during the night. I am almost 75 years old and went through menopause with no hot flashes and I sure can sympathize with those who have them. Just found out last week my blood pressure is going up. First time ever.Going to my family dr. this week and see what can be done about my feet and ankles swelling. I feel like I have participated in a horror movie. | F | 74 | 90 days | 10/10/2007 | 1 | Ostopenia | Severe pain hands wrists forearms, hips, knees and neck | These symptoms started the next day after my 4th dose of weekly 35mg Actonel. I am sleeping 10 hrs and waking up tired. Today my pain has eased a little but my handa and wrists are still obviously swollen. I can see no point in taking this drug which ,on the promise of some future benefit, is making my present life miserable. | F | 71 | 4 weeks | 10/9/2007 | 1 | osteoporosis | Severe diarrhea on occasion the day of or within a couple of days after my day to take my pill. I followed instructions to the letter because I was afraid of the indigesion, etc. After taking the medication for about 6 months, I began suffering from elbow pain in the ulna area. It became so bad one day I went to the ER. They sent me to an orthopedic, who sent me to a neurologist. Although nerve studies found a very mild entrapment, nothing explained my pain. At first it was just my left elbow then my right began to bother me. My shoulders started aching. My friend read about these drugs and told me to get off. (My doctor told me not to read the information because I was going to have to take it anyway.) I stopped taking the Actonel and within 2 weeks my arms were perfect again. I'm lifting my grandbabies without any pain or problems. I may even start lifting weights again. | The medication caused the inflammation and pain but warned against taking Motrin which was the only thing that helped the pain. | F | 57 | | 10/1/2007 | 1 | severe osteoporosis | Taking 35 mg. once a week. Within 30 minutes of taking the medication felt pain in my hips. Have experienced pain in: jaw (feeling every tooth), wrists, ankles, collar bone, spine, fingers, feet, skull, etc. Some days feel chilled like I had the flu. The pain would come and go in different parts of my body. Never taken any drug which has caused so much pain before! | Due to the pain, saw my doctor before taking second dosage. He said it would take at least 2 weeks for my body to adapt to the medication. My body did not adapt, the pain just got worse. After 7 weeks of escruciating pain and finally finding this web site, I decided to quit. I thought the pain meant my bones were getting better. Not worth taking since the medication has interferred negatively with the quality of my life. I will be 5 weeks off of the medication and although I am feeling better, I am not pain free! Doctor wants to try a nasal spray called miacalcin when this medicine is out of my system. Wonder when that will be?! This medicine is scary. | F | 55 | 7 weeks | 9/22/2007 | 1 | Osteopina | Took one dose. Next day could barely get out of bed. Now Friday, still every part of my body aches. | I took my first dose of Actonel on a Tuesday. That was the same day my doctor gave me samples because they diagnosed me as having Osteopina. Woke up Wednesday morning feeling like I had the worst flu ever. I thought to myself, that's too bad, I felt so great yesterday. Now it is Friday, and I ache everywhere. I started thinking, I'm going to check out side effects of this drug. (Now I start thinking....dumb)I find this site, and am amazed. We all have the same symptoms. Coincidence, I think not. I just pray this pain goes away. I'm actually very scared at this point. I have always been pretty healthy. Now I feel like I'll never be the same again. If anyone has same experience, please let me know if your pain went away, and how long it took. Thanks. | F | 51 | 1 days | 9/21/2007 | 2 | osteoporosis | I have been taking 4 pills a month for two years.I am having sharp pains in my left abdomen just under the rib cage, also very severe left hip joint pain,left knee joint pain and left ankle joint pain, have gained weight in the 2 year period also. 15+ lbs. | F | 67 | 2 years | 9/19/2007 | 2 | Osteopenia | No side effects that I noticed. I took Actonel for 2 years after being diagnosed with Osteopenia. I had to stop taking it 2 years ago because I no longer had prescription coverage and this medication cost $104.00 a month! I restarted it 3 months ago since I now have insurance. | My recent bone density scan did not show any improvement at all. I wonder if not taking it for 2 years is the reason? I will continue to take it and if I dont see any improvement in one year, I will discontinue it. I am terrified of getting the JAW NECROSIS that it can cause. There have been many lawsuits regarding this! | F | 63 | 2 years | 9/17/2007 | 1 | Osteopenia | Severely swelled knees, inflammation on legs as well, lose knee joints, 8 months after stopping the drug physical condition stayed the same, diagnosed degenerative arthritis, unable to walk normally, muscle damage to my lower body on both legs. I have no physical strength at all. | I have no physical strength from the first month of taking this poisonous drug. At the age of 55 I feel like a 90 year old woman. I cannot walk properly because of my deranged knee joints from the first week of taking Actonel. I am an avid gardener, but from last summer I cannot do any gardenning. (First dose I took on 4/28/06 morning, I felt tightness on both knees from the second day, which I thought regular seasonal arthritic discomfort. On 7th day my rt knee blew up like a balloon.) Now I cannot think of bending and do something in my garden. Actonel destroyed my physical body completely. I contacted FDA. FDA personnel requested me to fill out a severe adverse effect of Actonel on line. Please everybody who has been severely effected by this drug complain to FDA. This poisonous drug should not be prescribed to any female. If the males are benefitted let them take it. | F | 55 | 8 months | 9/17/2007 | 1 | osteopenia | Took my first dosage two days ago. Within 24 hours had severe joint pain in hips and legs, had a lot of rectal gas, headaches. Within 48 hours had severe burning behind the sternum. I am an otherwise healthy petite female and on no other prescription medication. There has to be another healthy alternative!! | F | 55 | 1 weeks | 9/16/2007 | 2 | to prevent bone loss | Initially, stomach cramps, diarrhea, then extreme fatigue which was disabling. | I resent the fact that P&G called my home and indicated they were just "reminding" me to refill my prescription. I asked how they got my name and how they knew I was on ANY medication. They said my pharmacy, CVS, provided the information. I told them I didn't want any reminders, that this was confidential information that should not have been shared with P&G and to take my name off their reminder list. I got another call three months later and I, again, told them the same thing. | F | 67 | 8 months | 9/14/2007 | 4 | osteopenia | none so far but starting to notice muscle pain in my left calf | I have been taking Actonel for almost 4 years now. At the beginning I had terrible stomach pains that eased after about 3 weeks. I take the once weekly tablet, always on an empty stomach and I make sure that I do not eat or drink for 30 minutes after. Actonel has been beneficial to me in that it has slowed down my osteopenia. At the age of 44 my spine had the age of a 75 year old and my hip that of a woman in her late 60's. The two bone scans that I've had since beginning therapy have shown no deterioration (which my doctor considers an improvement) in my bone mass, but Actonel has not built up any new bone mass for me, just slowed the progression of the disease. My suggestion for other women my age is to insist on a bone scan in your early 40's or even before if, like me, you took oral cortisone for the treatment of a chronic condition. Eventhough my G.P. knew my history it was me who insisted on a bone scan. In my case I took massive doses of cortisone from the age of 2 until | F | 47 | 4 years | 9/11/2007 | 1 | osteoporosis | Took just 1 dose of Actonel 35 mg Sunday morning. By Sunday evening my arms had a few hives. Monday morning a few more on my chest. About 11 hives in total, but they are a fairly good size and very, very itchy. I plan to discontinue. | F | 53 | 1 days | 9/3/2007 | 1 | Osteopenia | 4 months after starting Actonel left hip became very painful and also had gastric reflux. I was then treated for bursitis of the hip and given a steroid injection, no improvment, started on Voltaren to control pain for 3 weeks in July-Aug. with no improvment. Severe stomach pain, diarrhea flu-like symptoms, etc. Endoscopy done last week showed multiple erosions found on stomach lining... and I've been taking Prevacid twice a day for months!! | I'm finished with the Actonel! Be very careful if you have any kind of stomach issues. I'll ask my doctor for another bone density and try to get this hip calmed down so I can begin exercising again and take Calcium supplements. Will find out biopsy results on stomach erosions tomorrow. | F | 45 | 1 years | 9/3/2007 | 2 | to maintain/increase bone density | I had taken Actonel for a few years and the last year I started having breast pain and itching on the breast. One month after stopping the drug, I now longer have the breast discomfort. | F | 71 | | 9/2/2007 | 4 | diagnosed with post-osteoporosis | I have been taking the 4 (35mg) pills a month. Most serious problem for me has been remembering to use it. Now put it on mysink counter to remember 1st thing in a.m. Now understand how important to take and stay in upright position for 30 minutes is.My 2 year test for bone density showed an 6.8 increase - but my doctor insists I continue. So I shall, but will also increase my exercise program. | F | 70 | 2 years | 8/31/2007 | 1 | Osteoporosis | Muscle damage to lower body, from buttocks through ankles. Also, some muscle damage to upper arm muscles. | Please DO NOT take this poison! I went from regularly walking about 3 to 4 miles per day to barely being able to move! After more than two years off this drug, I am still having problems. It is NOT worth the risk! | F | 56 | 10 months | 8/30/2007 | 1 | to prevent osteoperosis | severe pain in my left hip, lower back, neck. stiffness in my left shoulder. | I was an active 58 year old. Jazzercise, tennis, biking, skiing, hiking were regular activities. I have been on Actonel for 2 years and I am now totally incapacitated. I cannot even move to do simple things like tie my shoes, make a meal, walk. Pain started in my hip 7 weeks ago and has moved to all these other areas. An MRI showed degenerative join disease which I think is a fancy name for osteoarthritis. I will be seeing an orthopedic specialist next week. I wish I had read this site sooner. Actonel is the only medication that I take. | F | 58 | 2 years | 8/25/2007 | 1 | Osteopenia | Severe pain in hands, wrists, and neck. | I carefully followed the directions for taking Actonel for 10 months. I had not read of muscel or joint pain and after 8 months, I suddenly would wake every morning about 4AM with excruciating pain in my wrists and hands for about 6-7 hours and then it would ease. I also experienced neck pain which my chiropractor questions me about the meds I was taking. I was leaving the country with concerns about this severe pain. My Dr. told me to take Ibiprofin. It didn't seem to make any difference. Returning to the country, I renewed my prescription and noticed the side effect warning of severe pain from immediately or up up to 10 months after taking the meds. I immediately stopped taking it. I was sent to an arthritis specialist and tested for arthritis. The pain moved to my behind my knees. The drs all said it would be out of my system by now. It took 6 monlths for the symtoms to disappear and it is 6 months later and I am still pain free. | F | 64 | 10 months | 8/11/2007 | 2 | osteopenia | This is only my second week on Actonel but already I am miserable. Like many others here, I too have a pain in my right hip which after sitting or lying down makes standing very difficult. Also, I have had daily bouts of diarrhea and am tired all the time. | I have been exercising religiously for the last six years (weights as well as cardio) and have been a life-long milk drinker. I take all the suggested vitamins, especially D, calcium supplements, glucosamine/chondroitin, omega 3, and until July's scan I was not osteoporotic. I am 61 years old and eat a very healthy diet but none of this could override my genetics - my mother had rather severe osteoporosis. But this is the first time in my life I have ever experienced such unpleasant side effects that I immediately felt attributable to a medication (Codine makes me nauseous so I just don't take it). After finding this site and reading of all the others with my symptoms and far worse, I am afraid to continue. I had the scan in July and when the results showed up at my gynocologist's office she called with the results and had me come pick up samples and a prescription. I have taken the samples and unfortunately (cost-wise)am awaiting the arrival of the 6 month supply from the mailorder ph | F | 61 | 2 weeks | 8/8/2007 | 1 | Low bone density | After one day of taking Actonel, I had pain in my back, neck, arms & legs. I felt like I had the flu. I don't know why they are giving people medicine that makes us feel sick. The pains lasted about 4 days. I will never take this medication again and I will not advise other people to take it either. | F | 66 | 1 days | 8/8/2007 | 1 | osteoporosis | Buzzing and loss of hearing in ear, permanent damage to inner ear. After three years of taking it I am now being treated for esophagus reflux and constant stomach pain. There is an alternative which my rheumatologist mentioned. It's called Evista which works in a completely different way. I "may" try it but I am beginning to think this is all a lot of hype by the pharmaceutical companies. Research some sites and you will find that most hip breakages happen to people over 80 and usually they are on some medication that can cause dizziness etc. | Get off the dangerous stuff! RESEARCH "osteoporosis" hype. | F | 57 | 3 years | 8/4/2007 | 5 | OSTEOPOROSIS | NONE!!! | I HAVE BEEN TAKING ACTONEL SINCE JANUARY SO FAR NO SIDE EFFECTS WHATSOEVER I HOPE TO SEE MY NEXT BONE DENSITY IN JANUARY NEXT YEAR IMPROVED IT WAS VERY VERY BAD -3.6 | M | 66 | 8 months | 8/3/2007 | 3 | osteopenia | slight headache on day taken; occasional pain in hip | After watching my mother-in-law suffer with severe osteoporosis, the slight side effects that I experience are NOTHING compared with what she is going through. Had she known then what she would be going through now, she would not have stopped, I am sure. My bone density has improved since taking actonel. | F | 47 | 2 years | 7/30/2007 | 1 | osteoporosis | SEVERE LOWER BACK PAIN, BONE PAIN, FOOT PAIN AND TOTAL SPINE PAIN TO THE POINT THAT LIFE IS INTOLLERABLE ALSO HAVE INSOMNIA AS WELL AS NIGHTMARES. DO NOT KNOW IF IT IS WORTH TAKING | The reason for actonel is for the good of the patient, but I guess you have to determine what is best for you. When taking other drugs that also cause severe back pain, bone pain etc this just doubles the pain | F | 73 | 10 months | 7/30/2007 | 1 | Osteopenia | It looks like I have experienced severe side effects beginning with feet and leg cramps 2 1/2 yrs. ago then a limp then significant loss of use of my right arm. None of these symptoms were attributed to the Actonel until I was facing a diagnosis of Parkinson's Disease. By then I had developed classic PD symptoms...cogwheel rigidity in my arm and loss of arm swing. I have been off Actonel for 10 wks. and am improving. I can do things I haven't been able to do in a long time but am far from normal. The neurologist said PD does not improve at all so we're hopeful. I will see him again in December for final determination. | I spoke with a Proctor & Gamble pharmacist who explained since Actonel embeds in the bone and stays there for many years, it is "possible" that it continues to be released into the system as the bone goes through the natural process of "turn over". That would explain why many of us are continuing with symptoms after stopping the pills. It is amazing to me that Proctor & Gamble isn't issuing very strong warnings about the muscular effects this drug can have! | F | 53 | 2 years | 7/29/2007 |