Fosamax for Osteoporosis User Reviews (Page 2)

• Ranch...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 20, 2019

"I had a bone scan. Dr. said I had mild osteoporosis and to take Fosamax once a week and some added supplements to help bone repair. I took it on a Monday. Within 24 hours, I hurt head to toe! Deep down bone and tissue pain. Tylenol didn’t touch it. I was in a recliner for 3 days, crying to get up to go to the bathroom. I have had morphine for less pain than this! I’m tough but this was ridiculous! My muscles and bones hurt so bad just to breathe even. My knee swelled up along with all other pain. After 3 days, it started to improve slightly every day. After 7 days, I went to the chiropractor. He put my right jaw, 3 or 4 ribs, my left shoulder, and knee back in place. All from taking this drug! Doctor offered to give me a shot that lasted 6 months, I said absolutely not!"

• Phill...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 18, 2019

"I took Fosamax weekly for 2-1/2 years with great improvement in my DEXA scores. Suddenly had bad chest pain, spasm, and heartburn, diagnosed as GERD. After 2 months on PPI therapy, my nephrologist told me to stop Fosamax as that was to blame. My PCP, rheumatologist (who prescribed Fosamax for me), and GI doctor didn’t make the connection."

• ARhoHo
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 26, 2020

"I started on Fosamax in mid-July 2020 and after the third dose, two mornings later my left wrist was swollen to the size of a baseball! I discontinued the Fosamax since I believed it was the cause. My family doc didn't think so, but I saw a rheumatologist who concurred with me. He thought Fosamax caused the swelling. I'm now trying Actonel. I hope I have better luck with it."

• Nurse
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 15, 2019

"Took two doses one week apart. Headache, relentless gas, moderate to severe pain in my jaw, ear, hip, shin causing sleepless nights. Don’t plan to continue making myself miserable by taking this medication. I’m glad it works to improve DEX scans on some women. Unfortunately, I can’t continue this medication."

• Shell...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 25, 2020

"First dose of the weekly today — I have had diarrhea all day cannot leave the house, my butt is so raw I am using my baby grandsons Desinex. Every time I get up to go to the bathroom I was really dizzy and my knees are a little painful can only be thankful that I started this on my day off of work hopefully this diarrhea stops by tomorrow — for one will NOT BE TAKING A SECOND DOSE OF THIS .. I am done with fosamax —"

• Barb
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 6, 2023

"I’m not aware of any negative side effects that I’ve had from this Fosamax medication. I’ve taken it for about 18 months. I’ll learn if it’s improved my DEXA in 6 months. My rating of 8 is for not knowing about the benefits yet. I have to wonder if there are so many more negative than positive reviews because people who are happy with the medication are less likely to review it. My mom took it for years without any negatives either."

• Shay
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 26, 2019

"My Dr put me on Fosamax back some years ago and it makes me wonder if that isn't the reason I've had the problems now I have. Spinal cord damage due to the point to where I not able to stand but for a short amount of time, I can no longer sit at my desk but for a short amount of time, and I have TMJ. My life has been altered forever..."

• Tess
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 30, 2019

"After taking Fosamax for a couple of years, I developed bizarre heart arrhythmia. Rhythm was good while exercising, but horribly uneven when sitting/resting. Stopped taking Fosamax after seeing attorney's add on TV. Heart rhythm was fine after I stopped taking Fosamax."

• Pen
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 14, 2019

"My bone scan showed severe osteoporosis. I am sensitive to meds. Decided to try Fosamax. Followed directions but I became so tired after taking it, I couldn't do anything. After a couple days it went away. I did have some muscle pain when I woke up in the mornings. The next week I took it I wasn't tired until the next day, but that night I had sharp pain near my heart, had heart flutters and my eye and neck hurt. I stopped taking the Fosamax but am still tired"

• Kitkat
• January 21, 2020

"I started taking Fosamax after I completed some dental work. My dentist refused to do implant if I was on the medication. After several weeks of taking the drug I started having achy joints and difficulty stepping up, headaches and weakness in my legs. Motrin didn't help at all. I didn't correlate the symptoms and the drug. I went to my doctor and requested PT because of returning problems with my sciatica. During this time I stopped the Fosamax for stupid reasons. Sometime later I started taking the drug again. This time it hit me like a brick wall. I was pet sitting for my son and literally had to pull myself up the stairs. Not realizing the drug was causing all these problems I asked for PT for my shoulder and hip. After 5 PT appointments my shoulder was worse and no improvement overall. Had a MRI of my shoulder and now have a torn rotator cuff. Yippee. Been through that before. I believe the Fosamax caused the tear and no clue about the hip."

• Dowanda
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 14, 2021

"I took my first weekly dose of Fosamax on Monday. Eight hours later, diarrhea began, along with a lower backache. On Tuesday morning, I woke up to a severe backache, back and abdominal muscle spasms, and severe pain in my right hand. I am unable to write, pick up a glass, or do even the most minor thing. I can barely get up out of a chair. Now, I'm running a low grade fever and have chills. This is a horrible medication. I will not take a second pill. I can only pray this passes."

• Janet
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• August 3, 2022

"My mom took this for 7 years. Injection at doctors office. I begged her to stop taking it when I saw what the possible side effects were. During treatment starting after less than a year on it she fractured her back multiple times, fractured her pelvis in several places, which had her bedridden for months, broke bones in her wrist, fingers, feet, and tibia. Suffered horrible GERD from it. After all that her doctor still recommended she take it!!!!! Unbelievable!! The icing on the cake was a diagnosis of severe Barrett’s esophagus ! now we’re afraid that may turn cancerous as we cannot seem to get it under control. It wasn’t until that happened that the doctor stopped the fosamax . This drug should have been pulled from the market years ago. DO NOT TAKE IT! It causes more problems than it allegedly cures. I would give this drug a - zero if I could . Too often we trust doctors blindly, you need to do your own research and ask lots of questions."

• Fern
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 26, 2022

"Solgar Advanced Calcium Complex really helped with my horrible side effects of taking this drug. The side effects started on day 2 after my 1st dose. Bone pain (legs and teeth), restless sleep and an overall feeling of ickiness for 2 weeks. It seemed to trigger binge eating of salty carbohydrates. I gained 8 pounds! My registered dietitian daughter recommended I take a calcium supplement that contained vitamin K2. I immediately started to feel better. Over the 3rd week most of my symptoms have resolved. Needless to say, I will NOT TAKE ANOTHER DOSE OF THIS."

• Fred
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 17, 2020

"After taking Fosamax for two months I started experiencing terrible indigestion, GERD, stomach pain and intestinal swelling. It felt like I was 8 months pregnant. My doctor told me to stop. 6 months later the symptoms have eased but still present. I fear it has given me gastric ulcers."

• Fosamax...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 8, 2022

"Thanks for others posting in this website. I’m 59 yo and recently diagnose osteoporosis and injected 1st dose Prolia without any side effects. But after further studies of Prolia, I decide to stop Prolia and switch to Fosamax plus. Now I have taken Fosamax plus nearly six months and also have NO side effects. I wish to share my positive feedback to encourage others to try this medicine."

• Anony...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 22, 2023

"Had DEXA over one year ago which showed borderline osteoporosis. My GP prescribed weekly Fosamax pill and explained that it is a "light" drug with an unwarranted bad reputation. Took one dose at night and woke up at 2am with numbness in my fingers. Tried to rest until the morning and noticed upon looking in the mirror that my under eyelid was twitching. That was followed by what I can only describe as a series of twitches/tremors throughout my body and pain in my jaw and other joints. Most symptoms have gone away but I still have eye twitching after 9 months. I had my GP, cardiologist and a neurologist check out the symptoms. My GP took me off Fosamax due to the severity of symptoms. I am now doing daily weight bearing exercises, using supplements (Vitamin D, K, Calcium) and opted to try low dose hormone replacement to improve bone health. I am doing regular diagnostic tests with my cardiologist and GYN to catch any cardiovascular and other issues that come with taking hormones."

• Oma
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 18, 2018

"I took Fosamax for 5 years after having chemo and radiation for breast cancer with no problems. Now 15 years later I have brittle bone disease. My doctor prescribed Prolia but the side effects turned me off taking that and my pharmacist recommended taking Fosamax again to see if it works. I've only been on it for a month and so far no noticeable side effects that others have felt. I've always tolerated medicine well, I guess. Must be because I grew up in a drug store with the local doctor being best friends with my father!"

• Boodles
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 15, 2022

"I was asymptomatic but deemed high risk for fracture since diagnosed with osteoporosis. I respect some who’ve actually benefited from Fosamax. However, this has been a drug nightmare with symptoms similar to others here on this site. First week taking weekly Fosamax 70 followed next day by non stop diarrhea for remainder of week. Second week dose 2 had ongoing diarrhea, chills, nausea, fatigue and debilitating cramps as if punched repeatedly in stomach. To my FP’s irritation, strongly refused further treatment after 2 weeks stopping prior to 3rd dose. Also declined Prolia injectable as alternative as it must be followed by oral bio phosphates after injections discontinued. I’m still dealing with diarrhea and fatigue impacting quality of life. Please do extensive reading on side effects before pursuing Fosamax or other bone health drugs. I’m now pursuing a more natural option through exercise, nutrition, vitamins D3, calcium, K2 and fish oil."

• Cathy
• May 22, 2021

"I have been taking Fosamax weekly for about 9 months. I have significant hair loss and mild hip pain. If there is no improvement in my DEXA in a few months I will stop taking. I am too concerned about more serious side effects that tend to happen when on this drug for a longer period of time."

• Honey
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 15, 2022

"I am 59 and have osteoporosis in my lumbar spine (T Score -2) and osteopenia in both hips and neck I haven't started taking Fosamax but reading all the complaints scares the hell out of me. I am very healthy and have no other health issues. Why do they sell such a horrible product if it causes these problems and as most have stated didn't improve their score that much."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 18, 2022

"I reluctantly started taking Alendronate on November 6, 2021. In addition, I had a knee injury and had begun physical therapy a few days earlier. My knee hurt when I kneeled or squatted, but I could walk without pain. I did not notice any issues for the first 3 weeks, but had started limping. I attributed the limp to the physical therapy and focusing on the injury, rather than the Alendronate. The pain got worse, and I spent a lot of time elevating the knee and wrapping it in ice. Meanwhile I finally had an MRI that verified tears in the Meniscus. By week 7 I purchased a cane to help me walk. It hurt to roll over in bed. My hips hurt, my leg hurt, everything hurt. I took the 8th dose on Christmas Day. I had suspected the pain might have more to do with the medication than the injury. I went on line and read how others had similar reactions. I decided to stop. Within 2 weeks the pain in my hips was gone, and by the end of January I was no longer limping."

• Bella
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 13, 2021

"I have been on Fosamax for two years with no side effects from it. I've had heartburn only when I didn't follow the directions to not bend over of lie down for at least 30 minutes after taking it. I recently had my second DEX scan in two years but was not sent my score so I can't comment on any improvement but I will ask in three months at my next physical. I will continue to take Fosamax as long as I need to."

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

"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!"

• Toomi
• July 16, 2021

"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."

• Arlo
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 15, 2021

"I took 3 Alendonate pills for my osteoporosis. Three days after my second pill, I began to experience some general pain and flu-like symptoms, but did take the third pill not knowing what was wrong. In a few more days, I literally could not walk because of the severe pain in my right knee and my right hip. I have only mild RA in my right knee, none in my hip. That was 4 months ago. I am currently just beginning to get my mobility back. What a horrid experience this has been. My doc now wants me to try Prolia. What??? Never. I did report my experience to the FDA."