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 Date 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 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 | lowered bone density | distinct hip pain | I was prescribed fosamax due to low bone density test (MRI). I took it for about a month, once a week. I experienced distinct hip pain, but it took me a while to associate it with the drug. I would take the drug on Sunday but the pain wouldn't get bad until the following Wednesday/Thursday. I thought it was from exercising but I finally made a connection between the drug and the pain. I stopped taking the drug and finally after a month the pain slowly went away. After a few months, pain-free, I tried the drug again and sure-enough, the pain in my hips came back. I stopped again, permanently, and the pain went away permanently. | M | 54 | 2 months | 4/8/2005 | 2 | Loss of Bone Density | I'm rating it a 2 at this time because I've only been taking Fosamax for 8 months and don't know if it has increased my bone density or not. I'd be willing to put up with a little bit of discomfort if it worked. I just stopped taking the once a week pill. The first side effect I noticed was the headaches. They were so bad and lasted so long that I had to change the day I was taking it from Thursday to Saturday because I was going to work feeling terrible. Then started the sore muscles and the bottom of my feet hurting, and the sore joints. A few months ago I started getting itchy. I thought it was dry skin, but my skin isn't dry. The itching was internal. Then my sciatic nerve started bothering me. There are more, but the icing on the cake was this past weekend. I got up Saturday morning, took my pill and drank my water as I always do. I noticed that I felt really very itchy and it was driving my crazy. I had a family function to go to, so I was going to take a shower and when I looked in the mirror I was shocked. My face was swollen and was red with blotches and hives. My neck had red blothces everywhere. My ears were hot and itchy. The itching got worse. Then the heartburn started. I was so scared. I got ready, went to my family function, and told my aunt what was going on. My cousin gave me one of her prescription allergy pills and within 1/2 hour to 45 minutes I was fine. I didn't realize the Fosamax was causing all of this until I read everyone elses comments. It also made me realize why I've been itching for the past 4+ months. I am not going to take it anymore. My doctor is giving me Actonel to try. I'm going to see if I can find any side effects on that drug so I know what to watch out for. | F | 50 | 8 months | 4/4/2005 | 2 | osteopenia | The first night called my doctor with extreme muscle stiffness. Thought I was having a heart attack. He suggested it was low calcium in my tissues and the fosamx was pushing whatever calcium I had into my bones. 2 months later still having joint pain, especially bottoms of my feet and the knuckles of my right pinkie fingers. He said to keep taking it. I'm observing one more week and checking out other possibilities. | My mother takes 10 mg a day instead of 70 mg a week and has taken it for more than ten years without complaint. | F | 52 | 2.5 months | 4/2/2005 | 1 | Fosamax for mild osteopenia in hip | Terrible headaches for two days after the day on which I took the weekly tablet. Aches and pains all over - had to stay in bed for two days - and loss of energy. Bad pain behind one eye - and as I am using drops to lower pressure in my eyes to prevent further damage (glaucoma) this really worried me. My doctor said none of this worried him and he would only be concerned if I were unable to swallow. After the fifth weekly tablet I had severe stomach pains and decided to discontinue. | I think the possible side effects are frightening and would prefer to do weight lifting and change my diet rather than risk this drug. Maybe something new will come out in the near future that will be safer and pleasanter. | F | 67 | 5 weeks | 3/31/2005 | 2 | SEVERE OSTEOPOROSIS | NONE | WARNING! This drug is not labeled properly. Did you know that if you follow the directions on the package and wait | F | 52 | 1 years | 3/30/2005 | 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 | 2 | thinning bones | I have been experiencing leg pain and weakness. Also, arm weakness and headaches. I didn't realize it was coming from taking the drug until I started reading the comments on this web site. I am thinking of stopping this drug immediately. | F | 56 | 7 days | 3/29/2005 | 1 | hip osteoporotic | sever body aches and pains(neck, shoulder, thighs and back), chills, headaches, jaw and neck stiffness, dizziness, fatigue, increased sensitivity to light. basic immobility! | stopped taking! | F | 62 | 6 weeks | 3/27/2005 | 1 | Bi-level cervical disk fusion | The first week I took it after 24 hours I was bedridden with horrifying hip pain. the second week I was up all night with what felt like food poisoning, stomach cramps, nausea, vomitting and diarrhea. This is the third week and first my left eye started twitching then both, I have a slight sore throat and I am having skin problems sort of like cystic acne behind my ear. since taking Fosamax every joint and tendon issue I have ever had has flared up some that I had not had for years. | The side affects prompted me to check the internet and I found this site. I am due to take Fosamax on wednesday, but I will never take it again. I am pre menopausal and relatively young I have always been athletic and have practiced martial arts for 10 years, I have not been able to train since taking this medicine. | F | 44 | 3 weeks | 2/26/2005 | 2 | Osteoporosis | After stopping Fosamax I was starting to feel like my old self again. I restarted it and now am having the stiffness again, so I am stopping it indefinitely until I see my doctors again and will get their opinions on this. | The reason I went on Fosamax in the first place is because I had what I think was a slipped disc that had me moving around slowly. I wondered if I had ruptured a disc but the x-ray did not show any such, just low bone density. Because I had to move around with great care for about 6 weeks until I got over the back problem, I thought maybe I should seek further evaluation. So, I went to Duke University Medical Center and was placed on the Fosamax. However, since I now feel worse than I did before I started, I am stopping this stuff. Also, the Quick Time Video on the Gillian Sanson website was most informative and I am going to take my chances. I will say that on December 23, 2004, I climbed from the front seat to the second row seat of our Suburban and leaned over the back of the second seat to get an umbrella from the third seat, as I was caught in a heavy rain. I think I fractured a rib and it took 6 weeks to get completely over that. However, I did not go to the doctor since what I read on the internet indicated that there was nothing really to be done for such an injury and that it just took time. I took an Advil at night as necessary while I was uncomfortable turning over in bed. I am now fine. I also read on the internet that leaning over a firm surface, as I had done, is a frequent cause of rib fractures. So, I don't think that my rib fracture was caused by anything other than my own carelessness and still trying to climb around and do the things I have always been able to do. I guess at now, 57, I need to be more careful. However, I am giving up the Fosamax. I will continue to read the postings here just to stay up to date on what is going on with this drug. I, too, believe that it may not be long until Fosamax is also taken off the market, like Celebrex, etc., as one person mentioned. I would like to know what others who have stopped taking the drug are doing, if anything. I am going to start walking on our treadmill and doing some simple weight lifting. It is interesting to me that I was told not to lift over 10 lbs. until the results of my follow up bone density were in. Those results showed that my density was stable, but no one mentioned whether or not I should not lift more than 10 lbs. By the way, I can't exist if I can't lift over 10 lbs. There is just too much to be done for me to never lift over 10 lbs. I do try to be careful, however, when I am lifting. Again, I would like to know what others are doing in place of the Fosamax beyond exercise and a healthy diet, if anything. | F | 57 | 3 years | 2/22/2005 | 1 | bone denisty | muscle aches , short car trips pain in back pain all over in the morning when i get up, after a short time of walking some relief makes me sleepy tired all day my ankles hurt my wrists hurt my shoulders hurt my fingers hurt, i cannot pick up a gallon of milk orange juice o laundry detergent , i have trouble with hip and bakc and leg pain getting out of car. my fingers stay swollen i have taken fosamax for a year , 70mg every monday morning, all day i'm extermly tired and sleey and depress, i take parnate 40mg each day, zanax 2mg daily...my worst day of the week in monday when i take 70mg. fosamax.. | i'm thinking about not taking another pill, i have an appointment with a rheumatologist may 5th. 2005 also my ankles and knees feel like they are broken. severe lower back pain | F | 59 | 15 days | 2/21/2005 | 1 | osteoporosis | I have been taking Fosamax and am experiencing prickling sensations all over my skin. The nerves inside my legs feel like they are trembling/twitching. I took Fosamax for 5 years, and had no problems until recently. Does anyone have this? I am now off Fosamax for one month and still have these feelings. I am not sure what to do about this. I am not sure if this is related to the Fosamax or not. How did you get help? What type of Doctor did you see and what did he or she do to help you? I am in NY. Where was your Doctor located/name? I am also taking Evista and Zocor. Any chance you are taking these, too? Fosamax did not improve my bone density until I started taking Evista and magnesium with it, but then I got these feelings. | 5 years | F | 60 | | 2/20/2005 | 1 | Osteopenia | Muscle and joint pain in arms, wrists, elbow, and shoulder. Very little strength in hands and arms (drop things). Back has been aching and left hip joint and muscle area are very sore. Quadracepts are sore. It seems that, in my arms, the closer the muscle is to my joint the worse it gets. Neck is cracking like I have never heard it crack before, even jaw has been cracking. I take 70mg every two weeks and have only taken three doses in six weeks. | I have taken Synthroid, Advair, and Nasonex daily for a few years and have never experienced any side effects. I am sure that Fosamax is the culprit. I had none of these problems before taking this drug. I will be discontinuing it immediately and will seach for a natural treatment. It is not worth the overall weakness and pain I am experiencing. I am so glad to have found this website! | F | 48 | 6 weeks | 2/19/2005 | 1 | Osteopenia | I ended up in the emergency room completely unable to swallow. After an endoscopy it was determined that I have a hiatial hernia, barrett's esophagus, GERD and am supposed to take prevacid forever. | I have never had indigestion, acid reflux or heartburn symptoms. I believe that the fosamax did all of this to my stomach and esophagus. I need to talk with my Dr. about this, but I stopped Fosamax immediately and will not be taking it again. | F | 52 | 11 months | 2/14/2005 | 2 | bone density loss | I have been taking Fosamax for approximately 3 years. I originally had no side affects that I can recall. However, the last 2 years I have had really bad back pain, starting in the middle section of my back, extreme fatigue and what felt like heart burn. I was always stopping to rest when out anywhere because of the pain in my back. I have a heart condition so it alarmed me and I went to my cardiologist for a checkup. It was not my heart. The pain in my back continued to keep me awake at night and it was extremely difficult to get comfortable in any position. I also noticed that my legs and ankles were very stiff first thing in the morning. This went away after a few minutes of exercising. My doctors did not know what was giving me such discomfort and I have now stopped taking Fosamax entirely due only to the fact that I just ran out of pills and never got a refill. It has been 2 months since I have been off Fosamax and I am feeling like my old self again, a lot more energy, and no back pain at all. However, my legs and feet are still stiff in the mornings. My doctor told me that it was probably the Fosamax causing me such discomfort and has now recommended a drug called ACTONEL. Any feedback from anyone on Actonel? | F | 60 | 3 years | 2/8/2005 | 5 | extreme osteoporosis | This is the easiest drug to take--I've experienced no side effects at all. Just have to take a full glass of water and delay breakfast for 1/2 hour once a week. My sister, however, had heartburn from her first dosing and discontinued. This is a well known possible side effect that affects some people. | Unfortunately, my extreme genetic osteoporosis is not improving very much--but it's also not getting worse. I'll keep taking for a few more years to see if things improve or switch to another drug for better efficacy. | M | 42 | 2 years | 2/5/2005 | 3 | Osteoporosis | I am the person who rated this drug and mentioned that I am taking Brewer's Yeast. I think I am going to stop this drug for 1 month and see how I feel. Has anyone found any safe alternatives to this drug or what have your doctors recommended. My endocrinologist at Duke University Medical Center indicated that he felt my symptoms were likely coming from the Fosamax. I will post again after stopping this drug for 1 month and advise what happens. I also have the muscle soreness now and when I get out of bed in the morning my feet hurt when I bear weight on them on the floor until I have walked a couple of dozen steps. | F | 56 | 3 years | 2/1/2005 | 1 | osteopenia | I took one dose of once a week Fosamax in the early morning as directed. In the early evening had an upset stomach and pain in breast bone. In the middle of the night I awoke feeling like I had the flu with chills and sweats, but no other typical | F | 55 | 1 days | 2/1/2005 | 1 | Osteopenia | Very stiff joints, in particular hips, knees, and ankles. My muscles seem tight and contracted. | I will discontinue for about 3 month to assess if symptoms will subside; then I will decide whether to restart the drug. I will meanwhile increase calcium intake, and all weight bearing exercise. I will update the site in 3 month (4/28/05). I will notify my physician of my actions but I will take this break whether she agrees or not. | F | 56 | 2 years | 1/28/2005 | 3 | Osteoporosis | I had none, really, until after being on it for about 2 years. Then, I noticed that I would get very stiff in the hips and knees with sitting (30 minutes or so) and have to get up slowly and walk a few steps before I could walk without walking like I was 90 years old. I asked the doctor, my endocrinologist, about this and he said it was probably coming from the Fosamax. I was also having to sleep with a knee pillow between my legs, because when I laid on my side with one knee on the other, it hurt badly. I left the Fosamax off for a week, only because I missed taking it, and the symptoms got better. They started up again and I missed it intentionally again about a month later. Gradually, the stiffness in the hips and knees began to subside. I kept taking the Fosamax. Recently, just for more energy, I began taking Brewer's Yeast tablets which I have taken off and on through my life. Well, since doing that, I don't need the pillow between my legs anymore and I don't have the stiffness in my knees and hips after sitting. The only time I notice the stiffness now is if I make a driving trip of 2 or more hours. I have not decided to stop the Fosamax and am not quite sure what to do. But, like many others, I am beginning to seriously question if this is really going to be good for me in the long run. I wonder if there have been any autopsies of people who have been taking Fosamax for a while to determine exactly what kind of bone or bone density the Fosamax is really building. I would like to know this. | F | 57 | 3 years | 1/27/2005 |