ACTONEL Reviews (RISEDRONATE SODIUM)

Average Rating: 1.4 (1412 Ratings)

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 BISPHOSPHONATES

 Type: Rx Drug

  

ACTONEL  (RISEDRONATE SODIUM):  Risedronate is used to prevent and treat certain types of bone loss (osteoporosis) in adults. Osteoporosis causes bones to become thinner and break more easily. Your chance of developing osteoporosis increases as you age, after menopause, or if you are taking corticosteroid medications (such as prednisone) for a long time. This medication works by slowing bone loss to help maintain strong bones and reduce the risk of broken bones (fractures). Risedronate belongs to a class of medications called bisphosphonates.   FDA Approval Date: 2008-04-22 (Sources: U.S. Centers for Medicare Services, FDA)

  

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Key to Ratings: 1=LOW (I would not recommend taking this medicine.)
5=HIGH (this medicine cured me or helped me a great deal.)

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RATING  REASONSIDE EFFECTS FOR ACTONELCOMMENTSSEXAGEDURATION/
DOSAGE
DATE ADDED
 
 1  Osteoporosis I want to thank you all for this site. I haven't begun treatment yet for my bone loss. I already walk 5 miles a day, And hiked all the mountains in the Northeast, take calcium and vit. D. I continue to lose bone density and I'm only 47. I don't know what to do from here. I already have reflux somewhat and a hiatal hernia which is under control with diet. Any suggestions would be great. I'm also post-menopausal and they're telling me that I have the bone density of a 70 year old already. I do feel fine, except for minor back pain from arthritis and an automobile accident I had in 2004. Should I be doing more? I'm very afraid to take any of these medications after reading all these comments. The verdict is overwhelming except for the very very few it worked for. F 47 0 days
3/18/2008
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 1  Osteopenia 10 hours after my first dose, I experienced fever, chills, and the worst joint pain I have ever had! It has been 3 days since my one and only dose of this "poison" and I am still hurting and having to take 600mg Ibuprofen every 3 hours just to stand the pain. My left knee is swollen and is very painful, my hips, ribcage, neck and toes are all very painful. This is unbelievable. I went from a healthy, active individual with no pain to being stooped-over, groaning, limping, and in horrible pain. IS THERE AN END TO THIS MISERY????? I accessed the FDA's website (www.fda.gov) and filed a report (health watch report) on my side effects with them. This med needs to be pulled immediately! F 51 1 days
3/16/2008
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 1  osteopenia Have been on Actonel for almost two years. After taking the once a week pill, I was nauseous for the first couple days for several weeks. My current side effects are all over aching, joint pain in my knees, hips, shoulders and ankles. I'm seeing my doctor on Tuesday to tell her I don't want to take Actonel anymore. F 56 2 years
3/14/2008
 1  osteoporosis About 1.5 years ago, I took my first Actonel pill. One day after taking my first pill, I had aches all over my body as if I had a flu. The aches lasted for several days; however, I was not sure whether I did really get the flu or it was the pill. I took my second pill the following week and experienced the same pains, mostly in my arms and legs. That same reaction confirmed to me that it was the Actonel and I stopped taking it. My T scores are now worse and I was going to try once more, but after reading the comments here, I am not going to do so. I am not sure what to do as my doctors are all urging me to take one of the bisphosphonates. F 52 2 weeks
3/14/2008
 1  Osteopenia The side effects were horrid! The pain was indescribable. I was being treated for cervical C3, C4 & C5 & C6 vertebrae problems and it got so bad I then thought it was an RSI (repetitive stress injury) I pleaded, screamed, cried, no one believed me. My symptoms started with headaches within 4 weeks of taking it, next I complained of neck pain. Three MRI's....chiropractor, three sets of shots, epidural steroid injections, facet block joint injections, only VICODIN would relieve the pain, Physical Therapy....everything I tried failed except for the VICODIN, but that would only help about 88%. For 2.5 years plus I suffered with this pain and weird muscle spasms that would arrive un-announced and incapacitate me, that I could not move, walk, dress or drive. Again, I would beg for narcotics, but the doctors all pooh-poohed my cries and hysteria. I turned into a monster. Actonel turned me into a monster, I was in bad moods every day, no one understood my pain and how excruciatingl The reason nothing ever worked as far as treatment was because I would get treatment, then swallow that damn pill on Sats. and it would start all over. It was a nightmare. Now I am having jaw and dental problems and the dentist said I cannot get any extractions because I could end up with dead jaw--- ONJ. He said about ONJ that if you get it--it's so bad that it could drive someone to suicide. I am still taking two separate pills of narcotics to ease the pain which I STILL SUFFER from-- Oxycontin and Vicodin. I have been off Actonel 10 weeks. Do not take this bone pill it is poison, I had no quality of life for over two years. Me a vital, healthy womanm, now I am 55 and I cannot sustain any kind of exercise. I am not overweight either. The other side of my neck hurts now with this weird bone growth in my jaw....post-actonel. I grew a weird bump on my knee that nobody can explain. They say if they take a picture (X-ray) of these bumps they mimic tumors, but they aren't tumors. I F 55 3 years
3/10/2008
 1  Osteoporosis Severe muscle pain and joint pain. My thumbs wouldn't move as they should and they hurt immensely. My arms, back and knees were also very painful. I didn't stay on it long enough to see if it helped the osteoporosis or not! F 62 2 days
3/5/2008
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 1  osteopenia I've almost completed 3 years of taking this drug.I haven't experienced problems until a couple of time last year and just recently, I have had episodes that have resembled heart attack pain. The last one was the worst. I ended up in the hospital for a heart catheterization.Thankfully I learned I have the heart of a teenager. I have had pressure in my chest and back, along with burning and the feeling that something is stuck in my throat. I had a gall bladder scan which showed no problems.I just had an endoscopy which revealed I have a hiatal hernia. My primary doctor took me off the Actonel my GYN had prescribed for low bone density. The gastroenterologist also said to stay off the Actonel. After reading this website, I am now relating my low back pain, aching of right hip during the night,periodic insomnia,breathlessness when climbing stairs, and some really bad headaches to this drug. I am 59. I swim, boat, bike, and work out at a gym. I have never had digestive problems before in my life. I think Actonel is responsible for the hernia and many of my other aches and pains. Is there a class action suit against Actonel? If so, how does one participate? F 59 3 years
3/4/2008
 1  Osteopenia I took one pill 5 days ago in the morning at 6am.I had a normal day,went to work,errands at lunch,cooked and had dinner. At 9pm I felt an "ache" in my back,then around my shoulders,then my chest. I thought I was getting the flu so I immediately went to bed. During the night I woke up about 1am and the pain had tripled and I thought I was having a heart attack. The pain in my chest and around my shoulders were unbearable.I could only move my head from left to right. I immediately thought I had a stroke. I didn't have my phone on my nightstand and I live alone. So, needless to say it was a chore sitting upright.I had to clasp together under my right thigh and pull myself up. It was at that point I had "remembered" I took Actonel in the morning and I had remembered in the "patient information" sheet it stated "joint,muscle back pain, severe etc etc" and then I started putting the puzzle pieces together.By Wednesday evening the pain started slowly I can only say that this is how my reaction is to Actonel. When the patient information states possible side effects this is exactly what it means,possible side effects! F 56 1 days
3/1/2008
 1  Osteoperosis The first week I took it I did not notice any major side effects. The second week of taking the medicine was when I stopped. I took it at 7 am and by 4 pm I started having joint pain, I thought nothing of it at first because I did not realize this was a side effect of this medicine. Then as the night went on it got worse, before be around 10pm I could barely walk up the stairs to bed. I woke up around 2 am and could barely move. I had severe cramps in my legs and had to have assistance getting out of bed. I went to the Emergency room it was so bad. I will never take this medication again or recommend it to anyone! It has been about 13 days since I took the final dose and I still am having trouble walking and bending over from the pain in my legs and lower back. These side effects are not worth it. F 24 2 weeks
2/28/2008
 1  osteopenia It started with sciatica type pain running down one leg. My foot would feel tingly in the morning and I would have to walk off the pins and needles. Pain has now moved to right shoulder blade and down one arm. It felt like I had been hauling around a 20 lb. sack. I'm so tired and want to sleep 9 hrs. and still not rested. My arm/hand feels like it is going asleep. I stopped the Actonel 2 weeks ago and haven't noticed any improvement yet. I was on Actonel for 6 months. I am 50 years old and exploring the HRT option for bone health and hope to feel better enough to get back to exercising. No thank you. F 50 6 months
2/25/2008
 4  osteoporosis None - no pain, no headaches, no stomach, no esophagel or dental problems. I am very pro-active. Take with measured 8 oz of distilled water. Stand for the first hour and stand or sit the second hour - after taking. Do not lay down or bend over. Do not eat for 2 hours after taking Actonel. I am on the daily Actonel because it works best for me. My current DEXA t-score is -2.3 for hip (better than 6.5 years ago) and spine -2.9 (same as 6.5 years ago). I have fallen twice about 2 years ago. One of the falls was very hard, on cement, hit my hip and shoulder, broke glasses -- no fractures or breaks. I have learned much. If I had it to do over, I would have requested a vitamin D test sooner (and taken 10,000 units plus of vitamin D3 daily until I was at least mid-range on the test), tracked my progress with Ntx tests sooner (or c-telopeptide), did weight bearing exercises (there are now Osteoporosis videos available), made certain the calcium I took -dissolved (regardless of what it said on the bottle!!) and ate more dairy (combined with supplements). But since I didn't know these things when I started out, the Actonel saved me, while I learned. I am not certain where I will go from here. I may "take the summer off" of Actonel and track with the Ntx test. I have done that once before, to no seemingly adverse effects. But F 55 6.5 years
2/20/2008
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 1  Osteopenia I have been having memory loss and was wondering why. I am post-menopause and had stopped having hot flashes then started all of a sudden. Now when I think back, the hot flashes probably started again when I started taking Actonel. Another web page mentioned hot flashes so I decided to look more and found this web page. My legs will be stiff sometimes for a day or two after I take the pill. I also have been extra tired all the time and yet will go to bed and only get three to four hours of sleep a night. I have been taking Actonel for almost two years. I plan to quit taking it and try lifting weights. I have been running four miles a day or walking and my last bone density even with taking Actonel was worse than before. I have osteopenia in hips and back. My back stayed the same but my hips were worse so the Actonel is not working on me. After reading all the comments, I plan on quiting the Actonel and see if my symptoms clear up then I will know it was the Actonel for sure. F 59 2 years
2/20/2008
 1  osteopenia Took the two day per month dosage for the first time last week. Have had diarrhea everyday since and for the last two nights have been awakened by severe pain in my shoulders (cannot lay on them). Attribute this pain to the Actonel because I had shoulder surgery on my left shoulder three years ago and never experienced pain again after the surgery. Now they both hurt! I'm an active 50 year old who runs 2-3 miles per day five days per week and I play golf on the weekends. I did not have aches and pains before taking this drug. I feel like an old woman. This drug is crap! F 50 9 days
2/20/2008
 1  osteoporosis side effects were felt all over my body. They include shooting pain, burning sensation, dry mouth and nose ,depression, G.I. discomfort, rash along nerve pathways. I will never take this drug again. The half life of Actonel appears to be 20 days. After I have discontinued the drug, it has taken three weeks to start to see improvement. F 63 5 months
2/19/2008
 1  osteoporosis Second day after taking my first dose,I experienced severe lower abdominal pain, all night and the next day. Also stiff neck leading me to think I had slept wrong. Next dose the following week, same symptons, only more severe. I couldn't sleep or barely turn over in bed. Called the pharmacist where I work, and was told these are normal side effects of this drug, and to call my doctor and discontinue further use. Checked on line, and find I am not alone with this. It has been a week since my last of the two doses I took, and I still have severe pain in my neck and shoulders. No more stomach cramping, for which I'm extremely grateful. I really fail to see how this medication remains on the market with so many having such severe problems. F 81 2 days
2/17/2008
 1  Osteopenia - mild My doctor put me on Actonel 7 months ago and I've been in pain ever since. Bone, joint and muscles hurt as if I'd been beaten. My back, shoulders, legs, ribs, fingers, wrists - you name it. The pain pops up in different places so I ache all over all the time. I just read a statement issued in January 2008 by the FDA warning doctors about all the bisphosphonates. The FDA states that these drugs have been "linked to severe and incapacitating bone, joint and muscle pain." They issued the warning because doctors aren't connecting the dots between the severe pain and these drugs which is "delaying diagnosis, prolonging pain and impairment and necessitating the use of analgesics." Many doctors are ordering expensive and unnecessary tests trying to diagnose this condition. To read the whole warning, Google FDA Actonel Warning or go to www.newsinferno.com/archives/2326. The FDA website provides an online form where you can submit a complaint and tell them about the problems 57 7 months
2/13/2008
 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
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 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  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

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