Actonel User Reviews & Ratings

• Disco...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 30, 2014

For Osteoporosis "Knowing I am very reluctant to pill taking in general, my doctor pushed Actonel on me saying ''now don't give it up after a few months !" I persevered for 10 months. I used to be very active, exercising everyday, talking long walks, realizing I have aged 10 years in those ten months. I did some research on the net and understood where my problems came from. Aching everywhere, stiff, tired ... I stopped."

• Toni
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 12, 2023

For Osteoporosis "I have taken Prolia where I have 2 injections 6 months apart. I had severe side effects & gave up as I couldn’t tolerate the drug. My doctor & later specialist put me reluctantly in Actonal. I was taking one tablet a week & this seemed OK but after that, I had all the symptoms the others comment on. I have been a very active person but now I don’t feel like getting up in the mornings let alone exercising. The stomach pain & bowel problems are really bad. At that point, I stopped taking the tablet & almost immediately felt better. On my doctors advice I went to an endocrinologist for help. She was no help & said unless I took the recommended dose or Prolia I would probably end up in hospital with non-reparable broken bones. The saga goes on. I then thought I would try Actonel again but at this point I can no longer take this drug. It is awful for my system. What do I do now? Thank you I hope my story helps you in some way"

• annal...
• December 15, 2015

For Osteoporosis "I was on Actonel for five years. I did not relate the problem I was having to the drug until after I stopped taking Actonel. I developed dry eyes. They were so bad, they would wake me up every night five or six times and I would have to put eye drops in so I could go back to sleep. During the day, I would have to excuse myself from meetings, etc. to leave the room to put eye drops in my eyes. I went to several eye doctors and all they could do was say I had dry eye syndrome and wanted me to start Restasis. I had read that you have to use this forever and I was reluctant to start it. I put up with the dry eye problem for years. My doctor took me off Actonel after the five years and after a few months, my dry eye problem completely went away!! I was so surprised and appreciative! Even while I was on Actonel, I read the side effects and nothing was ever mentioned about dry eyes. That is the reason I am writing this review so that others may have some hope that this problem may be caused by Actonel and is reversible once the drug is stopped."

• Essa
• May 7, 2021

For Osteoporosis "I took Actenol on Monday on weekly dosage. I have been so sick for 3 days, with stomach ache, headache, sore back vomited once. I will not continue. How long does it take to get better. I have been off work."

• Dano
• November 1, 2018

For Prevention of Osteoporosis "Stay away from any of these listed! I took Actonel for a couple of years and had severe joint and bone pain, that continued for over 10 years! I kept reporting the side effects to my primary MD, he finally told me to quit after his MD wife could not get out of bed because of the effects on her. She gave up her practice. After much discussion and putting off, I agreed to try Prolea ( the injectable), same symptoms, but worse. Talk to a knowledge yoga or holistic practioner for safe resolutions. Don't be blinded by what the drug companies push, take care of yourself"

• Bob
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 22, 2018

For Osteoporosis "1st dose made me vomit within 30 minutes. I lost the weekly pill into the toilet when up chucking. Called the pharmacist and she said take another. I did and lost that too the same way Called the doctor and he said take another with food and sit upright for at least 30 minutes. He said that if I vomited that one as well, just stop. I did and vomited that one out as well. I stopped taking it. I continued to vomit and felt nauseated for over a month, then I started to get a deep pain in my groin at the top of my legs and upper thighs. It's now 4 months later and my deep groin and upper thigh pain continue but are finally easing. I'm never touching these bisphosphonates again. Awful stuff!"

• Lynne...
• September 3, 2013

For Osteoporosis "I took Actonel, as directed, for four months. Each time, my body ached so badly that I could barely walk and had to take time off from work. I took myself off the medication because I just couldn't function. I go back to my doctor tomorrow. I'm sure I'll be scolded."

• Jane
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 16, 2021

For Osteoporosis "I took 1 monthly dose of Actonel. By that afternoon I was very tired, heavy in my body, next day loss of appetite, diarrhoea and after 5 days severe inflammation and extreme pain all over my body. Then 3 months of fatigue, muscle weakness, pins and needles in face and arms, blurry vision, loss of voice volume. After 12 months my strength is slowly returning but I still fatigue easily and regularly experience pins and needles in my face, and medications I used to be able to take now trigger headaches, fatigue and pins and needles in face, hands and arms. I would like to know how long before these symptoms pass but nobody knows. This drug should be taken off the market."

• honest
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• May 4, 2021

For Osteoporosis "I am a 66 year old man who after 5 years showed NO improvement in the hip area with Oral Bisphosphanates (I took them religiously the way you are supposed to and did not have any digestive issues). With the Oral Bisphosphanate my hip BMD degraded. The spine only showed minimal improvement. Two years ago (2018) I had a fragility fracture walking down the sidewalk & broke my hip! After that I was on Forteo which gave a 21% increase in BMD of hip! I am disappointed in what Actonel did not do for me. Maybe the FOSMAX name brand is better because of better manufacturing standards. That is something I do not know."

• Jack
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 9, 2020

For Prevention of Osteoporosis "Had one tablet . The worst ever indigestion I've ever had after a couple of days, then a week later really bad lower back pain and pain in the stomach. First and last tablet, I'll just go the natural way. Can't put up with that. Ridiculous."

• Julie
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 26, 2023

For Osteoporosis "I have been taking Actonel once a week for the past 4 years and I have absolutely no side effects. My last dexa scan showed much improvement. I usually drink almost a whole bottle of water with the weekly pill, and I stay upright until I eat something - at least 30 minutes before eating. It has worked for me and no side effects."

• Anonymous
• November 24, 2012

For Osteoporosis "Had terrible vomiting and diarrhea, that took two weeks to recover from this occurred every month after the first four months! Stopped taking it and have since started to recover and regain a little weight"

• Minn
• June 22, 2009

For Osteoporosis "By the end of the first day I was very lethargic and had abdominal cramps and bloating, followed by diarrhea. Throughout the night and all through the second day, I experienced flu-like symptoms, relieved slightly with aspirin, but continued with abdominal tenderness and discomfort as well as very lethargic. By the third day, the muscle aches were gone, but the abdominal tenderness continued. Appetite did go down. Hopefully, there is truth to the first dose being the most difficult in regards to side effects."

• Lucy
• November 15, 2020

For Prevention of Osteoporosis "With beginning of osteoporosis I was prescribed actenol. Took 1st tablet as instructed, next day I started with diarrhoea, then aching all over like bad flu, then a fever, couldn't eat anything. No way in the world I would take this drug again!! 4 days later still not right."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 16, 2023

For Osteoporosis "I took Actonel for one month and experienced severe hip, back, and neck pain. I have gone from being fit and active to not being able to move around without pain. I am unable to go to work. I will definitely seek out an alternative."

• anony...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 19, 2018

For Osteoporosis "I had an over active parathyroid. It was sucking the calcium out of my bones. It affected me in my hips to where I could hardly walk. My doctor finally put me on Actonel before I was supposed to have surgery to remove the parathyroid. Within a couple of weeks, my hips stopped hurting. I was taking the dosage of once a week. My one frustration was the doctor not putting me on it sooner when I was starting to hurt."

• Anonymous
• August 25, 2022

For Osteoporosis "Horrible! Terrible abdominal pain for 2 days followed by altered taste in food (after 1 dose). This was followed by muscle spasm and difficulty starting urination. The worst side effect was full body severe joint pain lasting for a week (I had to rock and grab surfaces to stand from sitting. I almost fell several times.) I was active independent before taking this drug. I won't continue. In a 2 week period this drug gave me a taste of what it will be like when I need supportive care."

• sharon
• May 9, 2015

For Prevention of Osteoporosis "I have been taking actonel for several years and as far as I know have never had a side affect. I feel like it is helping me from all kinds of problems that most women by this age.(78) have. I have recently heard that you shouldn't take it for years, is that true?"

• STAY...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 14, 2022

For Prevention of Osteoporosis "Was 49 year old with osteopenia. Took 1 pill Mon am. Woke up in middle of night, could barely walk I was in so much pain. Tired, I didn't put it together yet. Woke up in morning & I was in excruciating pain. I've had Fibro for 25 years & never had pain like this. I had pain in every bone in my body. Could literally feel every inch of every rib. Felt like I'd been in a car crash. Had to call for help to get out of bed. As my husband pulled me out he felt like he was going to break me. The noises that came out of me that day were awful. Bearing weight felt like my skeleton would collapse. Dr. said it's an allergic reaction. Took Benadryl and Tyl/Advil to help but by day 4 I still hurt but now my stomach was so big, it looked like it could pop. All I could do was groan in pain. Dr. said to go to ER. I was admitted. The pain was so intense, my system shut down and my bowels stopped. I had a bowel obstruction from Actonel!! No doctor had heard of these reactions. I've never been the same since."

• Taffy
• August 6, 2021

For Prevention of Osteoporosis "My pain started approximately 6 weeks into taking the actonel 1 a week. I had read side effects and was careful of taking this drug the proper way, after approximately 4 weeks started having pain in my upper left leg muscle or bone (so bad I couldn't walk on that leg). Two weeks later always taking the drug my pain was unbearable, my doctor scheduled me for MRI, ultrasound etc..and nothing was found as per the results...but my pain was still there. My doctor probably thought it was all in my head but she continued to try anything such as pain medicine (which didn't help) I decided finally that the only drug that I was taking different than my prednisone was Actonel so I decided to stop it. I will see what will happen, within 1 week my pain was reducing, within 1 month of not taking Actonel my pain was completely gone. I love sports so I am active ..back to golf, pickleball, walk daily 3-5 miles..my age 72!! I get a monthly blood test so far so good!"

• mikew...
• November 22, 2009

For Paget's Disease "Thank GOD for this drug. Busted my leg and ankle, diagnosed PAGETS, tried myacalcin and FOSAMAX. Leg pain minimal now. I do take 30mg daily! It has been over 12 months of treatment now. I ran out once for 5 days and pain was intolerable...resumed ACTONEL and pain gone in 2 days."

• Anne
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 4, 2023

For Paget's Disease "Started taking weekly Actonel in May 2023 for borderline osteoporosis. Had flu-like symptoms which soon stopped. But I quickly developed pain in my left quadriceps muscle, then pain in left knee joint and groin—these continue. Now having muscle stiffness in both quads, and I experience fatigue that limits walking. Prior to starting Actonel, I had no other medical issues, not even arthritis. I take no other medication—except for ibuprofen now, which doesn't control the pain. If no improvement in bone density score this coming May, I will stop taking Actonel."

• Anonymous
• May 2, 2008

For Osteoporosis "I was diagnosed with osteoporosis and after 6 years of taking this drug my last bone density showed no osteoporosis!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 21, 2012

For Osteoporosis "The first few months I experienced flu-like symptoms. Then joint and muscle pain followed. I couldn't even walk or climb stairs without pain. I am only 52! After 10 months on it I gave up."

• Momrn
• December 7, 2014

For Osteoporosis "Took this medication for 5 months. From the start I had problems tolerating the medicine. It made me nauseous. The worst side effect was the bone pain."