ACTONEL Reviews (RISEDRONATE SODIUM)Average Rating: 1.4 (1412 Ratings)Filter ResultsCompare ACTONEL with similar:
Type: Rx Drug
|
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 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 |
More on ACTONEL: Reviews Summary | Drug Safety Information
| RATING | REASON | SIDE EFFECTS FOR ACTONEL | COMMENTS | SEX | AGE | DURATION/ DOSAGE | DATE ADDED |
| 1 | osteopenia | extreme joint pain, headaches, leg and foot cramps, GERD-like symptoms. | First, I want to thank all of you who posted their comments about actonel at this site. I thought I was a nut case about my theory of feeling so poorly when I took actonel. I also went to CDC and did more research. Anyway, 1st month I took actonel I had some joint pain that went away in about 3 days. 2nd month, some pain and stomach upset. Thought I could suck it up if that was the worst of it. After taking med for 3rd time, I developed excruciating joint pain - particularly in shoulder where I'd never had pain before. And the charlie horses and foot cramps were terrible and relentless -- whether walking, sitting or sleeping. After 4 days of suffering, I called the doctor who prescribed actonel asking if there was anything I could do to at least minimize these side effects that seemed to be increasing in intensity. He returned my call 24 hrs later. In the meantime, I couldn't wait and went to see another doctor. He explained that absorption is extremely important when taking calcium and if absorption is lacking, that's what causes the arthritic symptoms. He explained the importance of magnesium in aiding absorption and that research (which he showed me) supports this. Thought it was at least worth a try. In short time, the joint pain, leg and foot cramps, GERD-like symptoms and headaches went away. I know everyone responds differently to meds, but I have decided to take my chances and simply continue with 1,200 mg calcium + D and magnesium!! | F | 58 | 3 months | 3/17/2009 | 5 | Osteopenia | No adverse side effects | My hair has become thicker since starting Actonel many years ago. When other women my age start losing hair, I am gaining mine. | F | 56 | 8 years | 3/16/2009 | 4 | Osteopenia | Mild acid reflux. | I tried Actonel after orginally taking Boniva one time. The side effects from Boniva were horrendous, so I was hesitant to take the same class of medicine in fear of having similiar side effects. I was pleasantly surprised, because I had few side effects from Actonel. The purpose of my rating is to encourage people who had side effects from another medicine in this class to try another medicine. It may not give you the same side effects. | F | 51 | 1 days | 3/15/2009 | 1 | osteopenia | Actonel is the work of the devil. 3/1/09 took my first dose of the once a month pill. Within 12 hours I experienced severe joint pain and went to the ER; gave me percoset and prednisone, and all that got me was terrible heartburn. How long does this take to get out of your system? Am miserable... | STAY AWAY FROM THIS DRUG AT ALL COSTS! There must be a more natural way to build bones. Will never take again. | F | 55 | 14 days | 3/15/2009 | 1 | osteopenia | Neck pain, fatigue, weakness, shoulder pain, bloating, unexplained rash burping a lot, heart palpatations and now severe stomach cramps/pain. I take the once a week 35 mg and for the past month I realized I was coming in to work late Tuesdays or Wednesday because I felt so bad. Have had the cramps, gas etc since yesterday afternoon and it hasn't back off at all. | F | 58 | 2 months | 3/10/2009 | 1 | osteopenia | Took my 1st 150mg monthly dose and immediately started having pain and weakness in my knees and hips. Then achy flu like pain in my neck and shoulders. I'm in pretty good shape and work out a lot so this is ridiculous. I was hoping that this was just temporary and would go away with time but from reading what others have to say I think I should stop. My reading was 2.1. | I'm afraid to continue use. I'd like to see if anyone has a suggestion for something else that works but is easier on the body. Hopefully it doesn't cause permanent damage. | F | 54 | 10 days | 3/9/2009 | 1 | osteoporosis | Took once weekly Actonel and a couple days later started having an annoying pain in upper abdomen. Immediately began severe diarrhea and stomach cramps. Started belching uncontrollably. Dr.did upper GI series and I had developed ulcer and esophogeal irritation. Continued with diarrhea and could not eat anything without cramping. Lost 20lbs immediately. | I took Actonel for 8 months. I took myself off medicine against drs orders. Could not continue with stomach upset, diarrhea and constant belching. Dr.gave prevacid,nexium,prilosec, you name it and I still had GI issues. It has been 3yrs since taking drug and I still have constant uncontrollable belching and I have never had any GI problems before taking medicine and did not take any other medicine. STAY AWAY from Actonel! It may kill you before the bone loss does. | F | 58 | 3 years | 3/9/2009 | 1 | Bone Density test. | After a bone density test showed slight loss my Dr. recommended Actonel. I have taken Actonel for about five years. For the last few years I have suffered muscle cramps and bone pain. I have severe stiffness and pain in my hips and knees. I can no longer exercise due to the pain. I am 56 and feel and move about worse than most 80 years old that I know! Thanks to this site I will be stopping the Actonel. Are there any data on how long it takes for this drug and the side effect to leave your body? | M | 56 | 5 years | 3/8/2009 | 3 | full blown osteoporosis | I took Fosamax for a couple years and my doctor suggested trying Actonel as he said it was gentler on the system. I took the weekly pill and had no problems except found it was a nuisance to take weekly as you had to wait 30 minutes before coffee. Then my new doctor suggested monthly Boniva, which I have been taking for 8 months, but it does give me indigestion so I will probably go back to Actonel weekly. I agree with some other comments that the monthly dose might just probably be too strong. I have improved somewhat in my bone density since I started taking the drug. However I do wish there were some natural, healthy alternatives to taking pharmaceuticals. | I would recommend trying different brands and doses if you do not have any major symptoms. If you ever saw a model of what the bone looks like with full blown osteoporosis, it is very scary. | F | 56 | 5 years | 3/5/2009 | 1 | Osteoporosis -3.6 bone density | I was talking the once a month pills. After the first dose, I had severe bones/joint/muscle pain, the pain got better after a few weeks. Within 2 days of taking 2nd dose, I was crippled and had to use cane to move around. No pain meds helped with the pain and I quit this drug | Report adverse reactions to the feds using medwatch.com | F | 45 | 2 months | 3/5/2009 | 1 | Osteoporosis | Took the first 150 mg Actonel once-a-month pill on 3/1/09 and by the next day, started experiencing pain in lower & upper back, hips, in the bone part of my legs, severe cramping in legs & arms, neck pain, etc and got worse within another day. I also had a fever on the second day with a lot of aching all over my body - the fever only lasted one day. I am on my 4th day now since taking Actonel, and the bone & joint & muscle pain is there almost all the time, worse at night. I have heard it can take months even if you stop the medication, for the symptoms to subside. I don't know if all this pain is worth it. | I would certainly advise anyone else on this medication & these symptoms, to contact their doctor right away. | F | 61 | 4 days | 3/4/2009 | 1 | Taking low dose of Predisone for RA | Jaw snapping when eating , severe pain in the back of the neck, ringing in the ears, stomach upset, trouble swallowing. A certifiable nightmare. | I am wondering how long this drug stays in the body. I have anemia (genetic type- Thalesemia minor B). I missed seeing the warning about Anemia on the drug disclosure. I am taking a bone scan of the Jaw next week. Hopefully not too much damage has been done. | F | 64 | 3 months | 3/4/2009 | 1 | I was taking Prednisone for R.A. | Took one dose of Actonel as prescribed. Awoke that night around 2 a.m. with severe chest pains and pain in front of upper arms.Got up and sat for around 2hours and was able to return to bed .Felt o.k. for a couple more days ,then started getting hot flashes and feeling tight in the chest. By the weekend was feeling quite unwell.On the Saturday had to go home from work as I was still feeling quite sick.Now the fun began! What followed was about 8 hours of non stop vomiting and diarrhoea.No warning with the diarrhoea,just running right out of you.Worse than prepping for a colonoscopy. I managed 1 day back to work, but I will try to see my Dr today .No appetite and nauseous all the time, also one loose stool again.terrified to go to work in case it starts again. | I will never take anything like this again .I think it is quite toxic ,can`t understand why more about these side effects are not known.I asked my specialist and 2 pharmacists and they were adamant that Actonel was not the cause of these symptoms.Well ,I beg to differ, maybe they should try a couple of doses and get a feel for it themselves.I was astounded by the comments on this website, quite an eye opener. | F | 61 | 1 days | 3/3/2009 | 1 | Osteoporosis, osteopenia | After 3rd monthly dose started to have gastric upset with gas, and diarrhea. lived on immodium for the past month. Have never had a problem with stomach or GI problems. I am sure the Actonel is the problem. | Would not recommend this drug. I will not continue taking this. Have heard of an alternative called Osteo-valin. Will check that out and let the doctor have the rest of my meds!! | F | 66 | 3 months | 3/3/2009 | 2 | osteopenia and post menopausal | I have been on Actonel, once a week, continuously for 10 yrs. while missing doses here and there. I have mainly experienced moderate to severe hip joint pain on and off at night and sometimes during the day. On occasion, I have had episodic, excruciating lower back pain which can only be described as feeling like kidney stones (which it never was). These episodes lasted, for no explainable reason and no prior history, for days or a week or infrequently longer with no pain pills bringing relief. I am now going to experiment with removing myself from Actonel and see if these conditions improve. I had chalked it up to aging until reading all the descriptions below, reading up on the medication and trying to find some answers for unexplained joint pain. Thank you to everyone who has shared their symptoms, as I have been suspecting these conditions were not normal and had no explainable medical diagnosis. All gyn's seem to think there are no side effects and put all men | Thank you to everyone - I really feel helped and cannot believe I did not explore this issue before. All this cramping has to stop for a better quality of life now rather than later. | F | 60 | 10 days | 3/1/2009 | 5 | Osteoporosis | Hip Pain radiating into thigh | Due to taking Protonix for several years, my bones had thinned so that my left wrist broke easily in 2004, and I was put on Actonel 35mg once a week. Immediately my hair quit falling out, the food ceased being caught between my teeth, and a few other symptoms cleared up. In May, 2007, three and a half years into Actonel therapy, I rammed my foot against an immovable object and it didn't hurt my foot, but excruciating pain occurred in my hip. So bad was it that I wasn't sure I would be able to walk. Chiropractic manipulation didn't help. The pain radiated into my thigh so that it made sitting painful. Sometime around Oct. 2008, I heard about Fosamax sometimes causing jaw joint problems. I thought joint..maybe my hip joint is from the Actonel, so I ceased taking it. Slowly the pain started leaving and took about 6 weeks to disappear. In Feb. 2009, I started noticing some of my symptoms that cleard with the Actonel, and since I had a three month supply, I started taking the Actonel | F | 76 | 4 years | 2/28/2009 | 1 | osteoporosis | i took actonel about three years ago and stopped after 3 months because of pain in back and leg cramps. then my gyn encouraged me to take it again about a year later. the back pain and abdominal pain came back right away, but after taking it about six months, i suddenly remembered this is the same back pain i was having the first time. it is an unusual pain, different than any typical back pain i have. i also have a piercing pain in my abdomen and tightness in my chest. i become bloated and gassy, yet it is very hard to get the gas to pass. the last episode that i had before stopping, i also had severe nausea and i thought i might have to go to the emergency room because the nausea and other pains would not subside. otc pain relievers don't help at all. the peculiar thing about my side effects is that they only happen at night. the pain will wake me up and i cannot sleep until it subsides or goes away, which can take hours. i happen to have some left-over pain pills from another pain-r | i would never recommend that anyone take this horrible drug. it should be taken off the market. i am intrigued by the women that don't have any side effects. i wonder how they escape it. | F | 56 | 6 months | 2/28/2009 | 1 | Osteopenia | I took my first once a month dose of Actonel on 2/25/09. On 2/26/09 I suddenly at lunch time got flu like symptoms and had to go home from work. Terrible body aches specially in the lower back area. Driving home I thought I was going to pass out. Today 2/27 same flu like symptoms. I am wondering how long it will take to get this out of my body. I'm a working girl and can't afford to take off but this has me flat on my back in bed. | 57 | 1 days | 2/27/2009 | 4 | Osteoporosis | No side effects. | My bone density scan showed I was in the High Risk category so my doctor put me on Didrocal. I only had one side effect and that was leg cramps at night. My bone density improved by 10% and I took it for 3 years then my doctor switched me to Actonel. I have been taking Actonel for 5 years. My bone density has improved again and I've had no side effects. My last bone density scan showed me as being in the Moderate Risk category. However, I'm worried that I've been on this type of medication for 8 years which I feel is too long. My doctor has now prescribed a different drug called Protos and I'm not sure whether I should take it or not. | F | 65 | 5 years | 2/26/2009 | 1 | Osteopenia | Joint and muscle pain (severe)in arms and legs; severe back pain; muscle cramps in legs; hair loss; irregular heart beats (fluttering feeling). | I tried for two years to take Actonel at my doctor's insistence. I finally stopped because it was destroying the quality of my life. | F | 70 | 2 years | 2/24/2009 |