Alendronate User Reviews & Ratings (Page 4)

• Horri...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 10, 2017

For Osteoporosis "Nausea... Headaches... Sticks in my throat...and sours in my stomach Cramps with joint pains Carpel tunnel from my shoulders down my arms. Cramps on my chest, hands,arms, legs and feet I started taking it because I was hurting from osteoporosis Now I am hurting from taking this drug. Vitamins D and calcium would have been the answer, but Dr.s get paid to push this medication on their patients."

• Mary
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 3, 2023

For Osteoporosis "This is the worst medication I have ever taken! 1 dose of this medication and I feel like I have been in a major automobile accident (this is the only way I know to describe this pain). I took the medication in the morning and by time I was ready to go to bed that night my entire body (joints) were sore. By the middle of the night, I woke up with such pain in the right side of my chest (bone pain) that it hurt to take a deep breath. I am seriously hoping that this is short lived! I have never had a reaction to a medication like this. DO NOT TAKE THIS MEDICATION!!!"

• Retired...
• August 30, 2017

For Prevention of Osteoporosis "I took one dose of this hideous drug. Within 24 hours I started experiencing horrible hip pain, then shoulder and back. I have been unable to go about my daily duties because I am overcome with pain and fatigue. It is a week today. When will this be out of my system?"

• Just...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 9, 2020

For Osteoporosis "I took alendronate once a week for osteoporosis! After six weeks I simply had to quit....it was a matter of quality of life! I developed pain in my sciatica that was so severe that I was in pain most of the time! Walking was often impossible! Scale of 1 to 10.... 10 being the worst pain......I hit that most everyday! Would not recommend this to anyone!"

• Cindy...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 21, 2020

For Prevention of Osteoporosis "I took 35 mg a week for 4 months and started to have ear ache and jaw ache, I stopped as soon as I found out that this is one of the side effects It has been 3 months now since I stop taking the drug but the ear pain and the trouble it caused is still around Stay away from this drug"

• adjrean
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 4, 2018

For Prevention of Osteoporosis "After 1 month of taking 35 mg of Alendronate, once a week, I had extremely severe constipation. Usually, eating salads and whole grain cereals keep me regular, but this constipation did not respond to any of those measures. I am 67 years old and was diagnosed with osteopaenia. I've received this same diagnoses for about 10 years. So far, exercising and a calcium supplement were apparently enough. A drug that makes me too sick to exercise seems counter-productive."

• Ken
• April 2, 2017

For Osteoporosis "Doctor prescribed 70 MG Alendronate weekly for pre-osteporisis. I also have a compressed disc in my lower back causing chronic back pain for 30 years which was being controlled by Naprosyn (Anti inflamatory). After 3 doses of Alendronate I am bedridden with severe lower back pain. Pain is so bad I am now on morphine. Haven't talked to my doctor yet but the hospital ER Dr / Pharmacist said there aren't indications that Alendronate can cause such severe pain after taking 3 weekly doses. Seems to me there are others having severe side effects like mine within a few days or weeks of starting the medication? Please let me know if you have, thank you."

• Angela
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 31, 2019

For Prevention of Osteoporosis "My bone density test said I had osteopenia so my doc prescribed weekly Fosamax. I took the first pill carefully following instructions to stay upright and no food for 30 minutes. Felt fine until two days later I couldn’t get a deep breath without coughing. Every time I talked, the coughing started. My throat felt like there was something lodged inside. I got a cold sore on my lip and three little sore spots on the roof of my mouth. Took my second pill the next week. Felt like throwing up, the coughing still constant and developed the worst headache. Went to the doctor the next day, diagnosing me with acid reflux and to stop take Fosamax ‘for now’. If I ever feel better, I’m not interested in going through this again."

• nutmeg
• May 25, 2020

For Prevention of Osteoporosis "9 months from just 2 doses (35 mg/week) and I am finally recovered from the severe arm, hand, and shoulder pain it triggered. A factor in my adverse reaction to alendronate is likely that I was also taking PPI's, which I learned later amplify absorption. After the first dose, I noticed sharp pains in my fingers that came and went. After the second dose, the next day I had severe pain in my right forearm, which grew worse over the next few days. I switched to using my left arm, but then that forearm grew painful, too. (I also had a few cramps in my thigh muscles over the first few days, and some pain in the balls of my feet). Over the next few weeks my forearms slowly improved, but as I started using my arms more, I developed pain in my shoulders and fingers. With rest, everything slowly improved. Believing I was well at 5 months, I carried a heavy bag on my shoulder, which triggered 6 weeks of shoulder pain. Now, at 9 months, I'm finally okay."

• Candi
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 14, 2018

For Prevention of Osteoporosis "Took the once weekly pill for eight weeks. My quality of life is still suffering three months later. After eating, I become nauseous and vomit at least twice a day. Bone pain, jaw pain, dental issues (never had before), excruciating heartburn and indigestion, and an overall sickly feeling rounds out my symptoms. Stay away from this toxic medicine!!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 6, 2017

For Osteoporosis "After taking alendronate for 1 year my pelvis fractured suddenly. I was not doing any strenuous activity. Everyone insisted that I must have done something to cause this. The orthopedic surgeon who saw me in the hospital told me it was the alendronate medication and told me not to take it anymore."

• Kiddo
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 23, 2019

For Osteoporosis "I started this drug Alendronate two weeks ago. I have taken 2 doses I am taking myself off this drug. The first dose I noticed that my lower spine was aching and sore to the touch, it went away after 2 to 3 days. The next time I took it a week apart, I noticed pain in my hips butt and down one side on my right side, by day 2 of taking it the pain was lighting up. I am calling my doctor come Monday I shouldn't be feeling this bad I was fine before I started taking this drug(Alendronate)."

• MamaGro
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 24, 2022

Fosamax (alendronate) for Osteoporosis "I have been on this drug for over 3 years, once a week, 70mg. I had a kidney stone that was calcific. I’ve never had a stone in 64 years. Then, I have a large Calcific tendonitis from a calcium deposit in my toe. It’s significantly big! These do not go away, so now I have to have the toe injected for pain control. I also have Calcific tendonitis/capsulitis in my shoulder! I had to quit this med. Its benefits do not outweigh the risks. My orthopedic surgeon stated that this does happen in women. The gyn doctors put us on it for osteoporosis hoping that we will get at least to osteopenia, but he stated that he sees the side effects and hairline fractures/stress fractures in women and also has had several femur fractures. Not good!"

• Chris...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 3, 2018

For Prevention of Osteoporosis " Doc put me on this scam by this company. because a health fair portable scanner showed pre-osteoporosis (osteopenia), had full bone scan, same thing. I've been on it 1.5 yrs and fortunately did not have the side affects most others noted. Went to see an orthopedic surgeon for another issue and I mentioned this drug and my Dx. He said STOP TAKING IT!!! He said my bone density is normal for someone my age (67 male). He said his wifes T-Score is worse than mine but she doesn't need to be on it, and in fact should NOT be on it, and that I just need to get calcium through food, and vitamin D. Turns out that the drug companies had a drug without a Dx, so they basically created a Dx and cheap scanners for the Dr. office to sell this drug. He referred me to research done by NPR - I urge you to read it: google how-a-bone-disease-grew-to-fit-the-prescription. Good luck with what you decide to do, I wont be taking any more of this drug."

• Fed...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 10, 2019

For Osteoporosis "I took once a week Fosamax for three weeks. Starting after the second dose I developed heart palpitations severe enough to put me in the ER. Also severe back muscle spasms that pain medications could not control. Doctor does not suspect a correlation but after reading reviews and researching in depth, I believe it is more than coincidence and I stopped taking it. If I had known that Fosamax has a half life of TEN YEARS - yes 10 years for half of it to be out of your body!!!! I would not have ever taken it. I thought that I could just try it and stop if I had bad side effects and they would go away but evidently the heart issues and pain issues could continue for months or years."

• DEETS
• June 6, 2019

For Osteoporosis "My wife started taking alendronate 70mg tablet once a week for four weeks. After one week started having stomach pain. Saw her DR. after fourth week with back pain, stomach pain, leg pain and discomfort in one eye. She is no longer on this drug and I don't think it should be prescribed. There are others products on the market for osteoporosis and will not have her take those either. My wife now uses a walker and was very active before . I wish I had researched this drug prior to her taking it. Lesson learned. Stay away from this drug."

• Alijan
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 26, 2016

For Osteoporosis "Alendronate/death Doctor prescribed this for my 91 year old mother against my objections. My mother was in excellent health until this medication was prescribed. I stated my objections several times regarding this medication. I related recent incidences of falls and no bone breaks. ( She had fallen several times, once off a ladder onto concrete...only bruised. Another time slipped off step, sprained ankle. The er doc said she had great looking bones.)Also, my mother repeatedly told the doctor she had memory/cognition issues which were documented in her chart. The doctor insisted. Ten days later my mother died. She misread the directions and didn't remember the doctors directions. She took one pill daily instead of one weekly."

• hev
• May 7, 2020

For Osteoporosis "I started the alendronic acid 3 weeks ago every Monday 70 mg Reluctantly .. I’ve never had such excruciating pain I feel like screaming at night . My pain was my knee . Now it’s from my hip to my toes in agony . I was used to having days in pain 2/3 days but no were near this agony . It’s took me 3 weeks of research to see it’s this medication .. gone , I’m never taking again ."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 17, 2023

For Osteoporosis "I am 55 and have osteoporosis (in my hip). My doctor pushed me to take alendronate (Fosamax) and within a few hours of taking ONE pill, I had the worst back pain I've ever experienced. The spasms lasted for hours. Over the counter pain meds did nothing. I had to get some prescription drugs. I don't want to try "getting used" to this poison and I refuse to take this again. So now my doctor is pushing Tylmos (daily injection... oh joy!) and I am so afraid to get long-term (and even short term) nasty side effects. I believe the women who write these reviews--why don't the doctors? Reduction in fracture risk has not been shown, with current data on this drug, to even decrease significantly. At my wit's end and looking for non-medical solutions."

• Mkano
• September 25, 2019

For Osteoporosis "I started using these pills 3 months ago, ever since I have unbearable body pain, my neck, arms, hips, legs, lower back hurt so much. I can’t move around , sit or stand up . I wish I’ve read these reviews before . I will stop taking them"

• Mary
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 29, 2020

For Osteoporosis "I had taken 6 doses of Fosamax. Every week intense stomach pain. After 6th dose woke up I’m the middle of the night with vertigo. Paramedics suggested going to the ER to rule out a stoke. I’ve ruled Fosamax out of my life. I subsequently saw orthopedic doc for another issue. I asked him what he thought about Fosamax and what happened to me. He said if I can’t tolerate it stop it. Get back out and run/walk daily. It’s taken me 3 months to see that the stomach pain subsiding. And back out there running up to 4 miles . Never felt better."

• Toomi
• July 16, 2021

Fosamax (alendronate) for Osteoporosis "Worst medication I have ever taken. I started Fosamax 2 weeks ago , followed the directions exactly for my first dose. Within 10 hours I was vomiting, headache, chills, fever, ached all over like severe myalgia. A week later I took my second dose not sure if my initial reaction was a flu bug. Nope, 15 hours later it started all again and more severe. I couldn’t walk, horrible sharp pain in my hip, plus all the stomach stuff. No thanks, this is no way to live. I’ll stop taking this awful drug."

• Birdie
• March 18, 2019

For Osteoporosis "I'm speaking for my mother, she took 3 pills, 1 per week of 70 mg fosmax and now she is experiencing severe hip and groin pain along with some pressure in one of her eyes. She stopped it cold turkey and we are hopeful that there are no long term effects. She wasn't even in this severe pain to begin with!!! My mother is 80 years old and felt way better 3 weeks ago before she started. Now we have to wait to see if things get better!!"

• Rubix
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 27, 2018

For Prevention of Osteoporosis "I was in pretty good shape working out 3 to 4 days a week, never really having any bone problems. My doctor prescribed Alendronate sodium for me supposedly to prevent osteoporosis because I am taking prednisone. I took it twice as instructed. By that night I felt some pains. Through the night it got worse, but figured it would settle down. OMG !! That next day , I felt like a can that was being crushed. I felt like I was going to be paralyzed from my right arm, through my hip , in my groin area, and my right shin and leg was numb and still is. My right side still hurts after 5 months or more. Spent a whole day in the emergency room where the same doctor was on duty. The doctor tried to say it seemed like it was my back nerve. Barely gave me anything for the pain. I stay in pain. I need a attorney about this because my insurance will not pay for an MRI . AND Though it's not as bad I believe it has caused permanent damage "

• Ms...
• February 12, 2018

For Osteoporosis "I was prescribed this medication by my rheumatologist for osteoporosis. (I have RA) During the first few months I noticed bloating and some random aches but it was minor. Now 4 months in I have gained 16lbs, I get random jolts of pain in my head, knees and hands. Sometimes light sensitive and have a thickness in my throat. My finger nails keep splitting and peeling and I feel dizzy (vertigo symptoms) and tired. I will not be continuing this and will speak to my PCP about increasing calcium and vitamin D instead."