Fosamax and Pain: What Users Say

• Anj...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 18, 2020

For Osteoporosis "I reluctantly began Fosamax due to my worsening osteopenia. I was fine after the first dose last week, no side effects at all. However, after this week's dose, I’ve had SEVERE pain in my chest. It’s been 4 days since I’ve taken it, and I still can’t eat because it hurts so much to swallow. Not to mention the nausea. I can only sip water, and even that hurts going down. I’m taking a generic Pepcid and Rolaids to help with this unbearable indigestion. I’m praying this drug hasn’t done permanent damage to my esophagus. This drug should be taken off the market."

• Ost...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 13, 2022

For Prevention of Osteoporosis "I started having a lot of soreness and pain in my right and left shoulders and forearms. It was terrible!! After reading all the horror stories, I was very concerned. I stopped taking the drug immediately (was taking 1 pill every week). Started reading reviews from all you good people, started taking 1 Aleve and 1 Advil (minigels) in the morning and before going to sleep. After a few days, the pain started to subside. Feeling almost back to my normal self again! Never taking that stuff again. Taking calcium and D3. Hope this helps someone!"

• Sij...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 16, 2013

For Osteoporosis "When I first started this, there were little small side effects. I figured over time I would get used to the side effects and thus deal with them. Instead, the side effects became intolerable. I would test the med by taking it while I was feeling well. I still had several side effects. Finally, the last time I took this, the side effects made me sick for two full days. Terrible upset stomach, extreme gas and bloating. Worse aches and pains, unable to sleep even with sleep medication. On the verge of vomiting at any moment, very dizzy. Extreme bone pain. Several other situations happened with the last dose."

• Bit...
• March 6, 2017

For Prevention of Osteoporosis "Honestly, the worst medicine ever. People who invented it should be sued. I mean, what were they thinking? It sent my mom to the ER after 3 days, and she was admitted for 8 days in the hospital. She is still recovering. It will give you tons of pain all over your body, head, jaw, and more. It will make you unstable. I mean, seriously, the inventor of this medicine should be cursed for the rest of his or her life."

• No ...
• February 21, 2017

For Osteoporosis "I agree all drugs have side effects, but Fosamax is dangerous. My mom has been taking it for the last 2 weeks, and since then she has been having all sorts of pain and discomfort that she never had before. The doctor said they would eventually go away, but she ended up hospitalized with severe pain in her jaw, chest, neck, and basically everywhere. I don't know why this medicine is even in the market."

• Pea...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 29, 2013

For Prevention of Osteoporosis "Started taking June 2013, once a week. Four weeks into taking, started having headaches but didn't connect the dots. Then started having severe sharp pain in back and upper right behind rib cage. Pain was so severe, went to ER, where they didn't know the cause (had my gallbladder removed 18 years ago). Finally spoke to my primary and the connection was made."

• don...
• July 11, 2018

For Osteoporosis "I was put on Fosamax, a once-a-week pill. The doctor said it would take 2 years to find out whether it was working or not. I stopped taking it after almost 1 full year. I would take it on Wednesdays and my legs would ache so bad that I could hardly walk the stairs. Those aches would last just about the whole time before the next pill. I couldn't take it anymore."

• Kel...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 30, 2017

For Osteoporosis "This medication created a terrible fracture to my femur after 4 years of taking it. I am a relatively healthy 75-year-old female. I am now in a great deal of pain and in rehab after having a rod placed in my shattered femur. I am sorry I ever took this medication, and have stopped taking it."

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

For Osteoporosis "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!"

• Nur...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 15, 2019

For Osteoporosis "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."

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

For Osteoporosis "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 grandson's Desitin. Every time I get up to go to the bathroom, I feel really dizzy, and my knees are a little painful. I can only be thankful that I started this on my day off of work. Hopefully, this diarrhea stops by tomorrow. For one, I will NOT BE TAKING A SECOND DOSE OF THIS. I am done with Fosamax."

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

For Osteoporosis "Had DEXA over one year ago which showed borderline osteoporosis. My GP prescribed a 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 2 a.m. 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."

• Cat...
• May 22, 2021

For Osteoporosis "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."

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

For Osteoporosis "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 online 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."

• Mid...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 6, 2019

For Prevention of Osteoporosis "This medication, Fosamax, caused me so much pain! I couldn't walk, if I tried, I would scream from the pain."

• Too...
• March 3, 2021

For Osteoporosis "I was put on this med, and within one month, my teeth started to fall out in a slow, sad way. My pain became worse, as well as my body muscles deteriorated, but I kept taking this medication, why?"

• wor...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 28, 2021

For Osteoporosis "My doctor put me on Fosamax and reported to her my bones were hurting taking it. She wants me to continue, but I stopped. I'm tired of the hurting from it."