ACTONEL Reviews (RISEDRONATE SODIUM)Average Rating: 1.4 (1412 Ratings)Filter ResultsCompare ACTONEL 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 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 | after taking the second of a 2 day dose- I too experienced the same flu-like symptoms that others have posted. I ached like a truck ran over me. That was my first time taking this and my last- how awful! | terrible side effects- women should be warned of this! | F | 58 | 2 days | 2/23/2009 | 1 | Borderline osteoporosis | I took my first one month dose on the morning of 2/19 and by 6:30 that evening I had the worst flu symptons I'd ever experienced. I could do nothing to get warm, had difficulty breathing, a terrible headache and an aching body. I live alone and was too sick and weak to reach for the phone to call anyone. The next morning, while I didn't have the chills, my body felt like it had been hit by a truck - I ached everywhere and could barely get up to go to the bathroon. In addition, I had non-stop diarrhea - even with drinking water. I had the worst headache and now I have a terrible ache in my right shoulder joint. Needless to say, I have not been able to eat and can only tolerate a few liquids. I'm sure I've lost about 5 pounds. Today is Sunday, February 22nd and I'm still weak and can barely sit up and have an ache on the right side of my head. | I would not recommend this drug to anyone. Although the literature says that the symptoms may not happen after the first does, that is a chance I am not willing to take. This medicine should be taken off the market! | F | 52 | 1 days | 2/22/2009 | 1 | Osteopenia | I am 45 years old and took Actonel for the first time on Feb. 14th around 9am. Around 4pm, I stared to feel the worst flu symptoms I could ever imagine. I was running 103 degree fever, heat was coming off of my body. Every joint, bone, muscle and even my skin were screaming in pain. I was crying I was in so much pain. I had trouble breathing. My chest hurt everytime I took a deep breath. I had horrible diarrahea and stomach pains and by Monday I had dropped 5 lbs. My right wrist, ankle and knee hurt when it has never before and that is my dominant side. I have constant stomach pain all day long and heartburn into the night. I spoke to my doctor who was upset that I had these pains and could offer no other solution but to never prescribe one of these meds again no matter how bad my hip and spine are. I will now see an Orthopedic Surgeon to get an MRI and hopefully begin some form of Rehabilitation Physical Therapy. | I would never take Actonel again even one of their counter parts. Even though the Side Effect notes state that any side effects that you may feel the first time are not likely to occur again, I would never take that chance. | F | 45 | 7 days | 2/20/2009 | 1 | osteoporosis and osteopenia | I have lower back pain and muscle and joint pain, especially in my hips and knees and my upper back. I also have some tingling in my hands. I started taking the drug in December, 2007 and stopped taking it on my own late December, 2008. I was taking the 35mg, once a week version. I think it took a while for the side effects to build up but I began to notice them about 7 months after I first started. It wasn't until December that I connected the side effects with the Actonel because the only side effect my doctor emphasized was the one involving the esophagus and digestive problems. I never had any of that. However, I am quite uncomfortable with the joint and muscle pain. I | I have been off the drug for almost 8 weeks and my symptoms have lessened but they haven't gone away. No one seems able to put an exact time on when they should go away completely. I have decided to manage my osteoporosis on my own with increased walking and more calcium in my diet. I will not go back on any drug for my bones right now. In all honesty, I think some of this osteopenia/osteoporosis is being hyped by the drug companies because they have come up with a cure we can buy. It doesn't cost me anything to walk and very little to add more calcium to my diet. | F | 54 | 12 months | 2/19/2009 | 3 | Osteopenia | This is so weird... I'm 50 and just started taking monthly Actonel last Thursday (the 12th) and have been having some issues; I was wondering if maybe Actonel is the culprit (so I Googled "Actonel side effects" and got this website). Took my 1st monthly dose on Thursday, the 12th. Was very tired Friday evening, and went to bed early. Had chills most of the night, and discovered Saturday that I had a low-grade fever. Had little appetite Sat. or Sun.; Diarrhea all day Sat. and part of Sun. My knees have been bothering me more than usual... Tuesday evening started getting bad heartburn; continues off and on - I keep a water bottle with me constantly to help soothe the burning. Don't know whether I should try to wait it out, or when/if I should call my doctor... Has anyone's symptoms completely gone away? | Too soon to know yet if it will help. | F | 50 | 6 days | 2/18/2009 | 1 | osteoporosis | The day after taking my once a month dose (the first one), I developed lower back pain, in the sacrum area, and also had mild heartburn the first night only. After about 10 days, the lower back pain got much worse, and my doctor told me to take aspirin, which did help. I am still experiencing lower back pain, but not as bad and hope it will go away completely after the drug exits my system. My doctor told me not to take it again and to try calcitonin, a nasal spray. He also wants my Vit. D levels checked to see if they are 32 or higher. I will definitely never take this drug again!!! | F | 50 | 1 months | 2/17/2009 | 1 | early osteoporosis | After about 4 months of taking Actonel I experienced extreme pain in both ankles and discomfort in both wrists. Then began to experience muscle pain and spasms. After stopping on my own against the doctors orders all of the symptoms went away over a period of about 2 months although I still feel like I tire more easily and have that feeling of just not feeling like my old self. | The doctors told me it could not be the Actonel and I should start taking it again. I know my body and am convinced it is the Actonel. I will try alternative ways to treat my Osteoporosis now | F | 32 | 4 months | 2/13/2009 | 1 | unexplained premenopausal osteo | I took my first dose of monthly Actonel and the next day every bone and joint in my body ached (including my top teeth), I had stabbing pains in my stomach and I felt exhausted and chilled. I saw in the literature that bone/joint aches and "mild, flu-like" symptoms are common side-effects of Actonel, and that they are supposed to get better the longer one takes the medicine, but I would deem what I experienced more than "mild." The bone/joint aches and chills were gone the next day and I felt much better. The stabbing pains in my stomach have continued on and off - they seem to come in waves (perhaps when the medicine is released?). I'm also headachey and tired, and have an increased sensitivity to light. | Learning that others have had the same reaction (including the light sensitivity, which wasn't on the list of side effects) is a relief, since my doctor only warned me about the potential for stomach pain. He wants me to try it again next month, but I don't know if I want to risk it. If anyone out there has unexplained premenopausal osteoporosis, I'd love to hear from you. | F | 46 | 1 months | 2/11/2009 | 1 | osteopenia | Took the first 75mg pill and within an hour had awful chest pains. This was followed over the next 12 hours by severe pain in my lower back which has lasted for over a week and preveted me from sleeping, intermittent pain in my jaw and also the worst headache that I have had in years. | Stay away from it. | F | 51 | 1 days | 2/11/2009 | 1 | Ostopenia | I took my first dose Saturday morning following the directions to the letter. In the evening hours of Saturday I felt a bit achy and tired so I went to bed to rest. I woke up in the wee hours of Sunday morning with severe flu like symtoms. It is now 4:13 p.m. on Sunday and my body is still sore, run down, my back and hips ache and feel tender. I'm hungry and tried eating, but the food is not appetizing at all. I'm sitting here with a heating pad on my back and hips waiting for the aching to go away. | Any "medication" that causes severe reactions should not be taken. Your body is trying to tell you something! I will search for natural methods to increase my bone density, including weight bearing exercises. I would not recommend this medication to my worst enemy. I suggest the doctors and pharmaceutical company executives be forced to take medications they even think of prescribing and be the guinea pigs first. I bet this junk would never be prescribed to anyone. | F | 56 | 1 days | 2/8/2009 | 1 | Osteopenia | Started once-a-month Actonel 150 mg. in September '08. After the 5th dose in January '09 had sudden onset of horrible muscle and bone pain involving left hip, femur and knee. No response to numerous over the counter pain meds. Got so bad I consulted my physician who agreed Actonel was probably the culprit. Pain syndrome increased in severity requiring narcotic-strength meds with only slight improvement. It has been three weeks now and pain is slowly letting up. In retrospect, I formerly used Fosamax and also had joint stiffness and pain and developed hypertension. All symptoms went away when I quit taking it. Along with the bone pain my hypertension returned while on the Actonel. I will start bioidentical hormone replacement soon. | It should be banned. | F | 70 | 5 months | 2/8/2009 | 1 | Recommended by doctor | Severe diarrhea and nausea - 36 hours, bad headache for 48 hours, joint pain and aches for 3 days + | After taking the first 150 mg. dose, I developed the "flu-like" symptoms. I was miserable for 24 hours, then better. I took the second 150 mg. as directed at 6 am Monday, and by 4 pm was vomiting and had to leave work. The nausea worsened overnight and diarrhea started. I was up vomiting every 20-30 minutes for 24 hours, then it lessened to every few hours. It took 4 doses of immodium to almost control the diarrhea. Through all of this, I experienced the worst abdominal cramping I've ever had, and had a migraine level headache. I don't think this dosage should be kept on the market. At the VERY least, the patient info on side effects needs to be much clearer. I, too, will explore natural ways to improve bone strength. | F | 56 | 2 months | 2/5/2009 | 1 | F | 64 | | 2/5/2009 | 1 | osteoporosis | upset upper stomach, severe pain on my spine, pain accross my back shoulders, severe pain on my rib cage as if I'm having a heart attack, muscle pain on my arms and legs, severe neck pain that gave me a headache, pain accross my lower back. I hurt when I sneeze or when I'm taking a deep breath. | I would not recommend this pill or wish the pain I felt to any human being. My doctor said we'll try again next month and see if I'll feel the same side effects again. I said no way, I will not take a chance on this pain and suffering again. She said we can try Boniva next time. I looked Boniva and its side effects on the internet and guess what, this is not any better from Actonel. The side effects seem even worse. If anyone can find a better replacement please put on the blog. Thanks. | F | 53 | | 2/5/2009 | 2 | Osteoporosis | Severe foot pain | Since 1998, I have been taking calcium, Vitamin D and prescription drugs (first Fosamax and then Actonel) for osteoporosis. I switched from Fosamax to Actonel around 2002, and have been taking weekly Actonel, 35 mg. Starting in April 2008, I began to have severe pain in arches of both feet that persisted no matter what shoes I wore or whether or not I rested my feet. I had been exercising to strengthen my bones (i.e., walking) but even had to temper that. Because of reports about jaw necrosis and femur problems, I decided to take a drug holiday from Actonel starting two weeks ago. Surprise! The foot pain has gradually vanished! I'm shocked! | F | 64 | 7 years | 2/3/2009 | 1 | Osteopenia | Six hours after taking the once monthly, 150mg, Actonel, I experienced a migrane type headache. Over the next two weeks, I experienced: gripping chest pain, severe cramps daily, disabling joint pains for three days, gastrointestinal problems and later eye spasms, pain and pressure. | I was diagnosed with slight osteopenia and my gynocologist suggested increasing vitamin D to 1000mgs/day. She also prescribed Actonel. I was not in agreement with the Actonel, but I decided she is the expert. WRONG! She suggested the gains outweigh the negatives. When I called and explained my symptoms, she stated this was not caused by Actonel, she only knew about jaw pian. She said to contact my general practitioner. I had not referenced the side effects literature beforehand to avoid influencing my symptoms. I thought I was having a heart attack or a gallbladder attack. My husband had to help me with all daily functions since the join pains were so disabling. As the month progressed my symptoms waned and I thought I would try the second month. HUGE mistake! How quickly one forgets the pain. I feel as if I have been in a brain fog. Within 24 hours, I was experiencing every side effect again and more. Crushing pains in my rib cage and my eyes feel swollen with spasms and pressure. | F | 55 | 2 months | 2/1/2009 | 1 | Osteopenia | Severe muscle pain in back, neck, rib cage, some pain in legs, collar bone area, belching, lethargic. Feel sick. | I had been on Fosamax for 4 years and began the once a month Actonel in July. I began feeling lower back pain at the end of Sept. The pain increased up my back and into my abdomen, rib cage, legs. I began belching. I continued the medication until November. After my internist and rheumotologist could not diagnose my problem I began suspecting the Actonel. My gynecologist and rheumotoligist did not think it was the Actonel but I still disagree. I took 5 pills total and have not had a pill since November 1, 2008, but still feel sick. I hurt even when I am totally still. I have never felt this bad constantly in my life and wonder if I will ever get my good health back. Does anyone know how long it takes to get this medication out of your system. Does anyone know if this pain will ever go away? | F | 59 | 5 months | 1/30/2009 | 3 | osteoporosis | Have been taking 35mg for several years tolerated it well, but it has not really improved my bone density. MD gave me a sample of the once monthly, and had severe reaction to it. It seems too strong - needed 911 that evening, chills, pain and short of breath. | Went to doctor today and he does not accept my feeling that my discomfort was caused by the actonel once a month, but I disagree strongly. Everyone knows their own body. I will go back to the 35mg. and hope for the best. Bone density in June will decide what might be next. | F | 77 | 4 years | 1/28/2009 | 1 | osteoporosis | Extreme pain in ankles which I never had before taking the medication. Could hardly bear to walk it was so painful. | Took the medication for about a year after a spinal fracture, which is when they discovered I had the start of osteoporosis. The pain in the ankles started after about 5 months on the tablets but at first I did not attribute it to the tablets. It got worse and worse until in the end I looked on the internet and found whole pages of peaple who were suffering the same thing. Stopped taking the tablets straight away, doctor not interested and needless to say does not think it was the tablets. In limbo at the moment taking nothing, still in pain 3 months on, don't know quite what to do next to be honest as I don't want my bones to get any worse, but afraid to take anything to stop it. Does anyone else have similar problems ? | F | 52 | 1 years | 1/25/2009 | 1 | ostopenia | lower back pain, ringing in ears, asthma starting up after years of great breathing, tightening in jaw, starting to have sleep difficulties, upper GI discomfort, like heartburn. Also hair loss. But that is probably due to taking DHEA. Just discovered that bit of news today! | F | 28 | 5 weeks | 1/24/2009 |