Alendronate and Bloating: What Users Say

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

Alendronate 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."

• Tay...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 31, 2014

Alendronate for Osteoporosis "I was on Daily Fosamax about 5 years ago. I had severe GERD and stopped taking it. I used calcium supplements, and in those years, I didn't have much change. Recently, after a scan, it showed that I had bone loss, so I went to the weekly Fosamax. I took it in the morning, and by that evening, I had severe backache and muscle ache that got worse. Then I had horrible bloating. I could hardly walk with the pain. I called my pharmacist, and they told me that I need to contact my doctor and to stop taking the medication. They told me that the side effect symptoms might take up to 7 months to go away. I cannot function. I will contact my doctor to see what he has planned. I would like to just take calcium and vitamin D regularly."

• Nit...
• June 10, 2015

Alendronate for Osteoporosis "MD prescribed Fosamax. Took first dose and two days later woke up with a severe headache, bloating, gas, and terrible nausea. By the time I got home from work, I had severe back pain, joint pain, and a headache. The bloating was almost intolerable. The next day, nausea was worse and the headache continued with no relief even after OTC pain meds. I will take Calcium and Vitamin D instead."

• Sus...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 30, 2019

Alendronate for Osteoporosis "I’ve been on Fosamax for 3 weeks, taking it once a week, on a Sunday. The first week I was constipated and bloated. That lasted most of the week. I started my second round on Sunday. By Monday afternoon, I started having joint and muscle pain. By late in the afternoon, my knees were swollen, and I had difficulty walking and climbing stairs. By Thursday, I was feeling back to normal. This past Sunday, I took my third pill. The next day, I had joint and muscle pain, flu-like symptoms, headache, nausea, fever, and chills. I’ve decided to stop the medication and take coral calcium and a vitamin D supplement."

• Anonymous
• August 17, 2019

For Osteoporosis "I have been having the worst abdominal pain/bloating/constipation for the last week after just taking one 70mg Fosamax. Also, muscle aches, chills, and the worst headache ever. I am 66, a retired RN, and know a bit about medications. I took the pill Monday morning following all the directions and restrictions. After 24 hours and no side effects, I thought, 'hey, I am one of the lucky ones,' and put it out of my mind. Tuesday afternoon I started having severe bloating and nausea. That night proceeded in a nightmare. I had horrible cramping, body aches, headache, vomiting. It is now Saturday, 5 days after taking the pill and I have finally made the connection. I still am suffering from horrible bloating, stomach cramps, body aches, and severe headache. I've gone from thinking it was food poisoning, to a blockage, to a parasite, to finally putting the pieces together and realizing it's this awful medication."

• Pat...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 27, 2019

For Osteoporosis "I took alendronate once a week for seven weeks for osteoporosis. I discontinued taking alendronate because I had every side effect listed on the drug interactions. I went to the doctor for severe upper back pain that radiated to my chest muscles. It felt like pleurisy. An EKG was negative. Then, a few weeks later, I developed a UTI. I haven’t had one in over 20 years. For the past three weeks, I have had intermittent diarrhea with bloating, heartburn, and an upset stomach. I read that the half-life is as long as you take the medication. I’m hoping I will start feeling better soon. I will never take this drug again."

• Ry1...
• May 13, 2016

For Osteoporosis "Alendronate 70mg once a week for 5 weeks. Started feeling very sick. Bad abdominal pain, heartburn, extreme nausea, feel like vomiting. Horrible pains in left thigh. Weird feeling in throat. Headaches daily. Bloated feeling. Abdominal pains every time I eat and hunger pains extreme. Just total overall sick feeling. Went to ER. Ultrasound fine. Gastro set up appointment for upper GI. Hoping ulcer wasn't formed or any other damage. Hoping this pill will get out of system soon. Cannot handle feeling nauseous all the time. Will never take this pill again. Input?"

• Pen...
• November 21, 2019

For Prevention of Osteoporosis "I took 1 pill. I followed the instructions. It has been 10 days after 1 pill that I am STILL throwing up. My esophagus is raw. My stomach pain and bloating are horrible. Nothing helps. Severe headaches too. I wonder if my stomach is bleeding. I am at risk for that since bleeding ulcers at 19. I also have horrible back pain and pain in the hip bone. I wonder who would make a medicine so awful that not living just to get away from the side effects would be a relief! Never ever again."

• 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 16 lbs, I get random jolts of pain in my head, knees, and hands. Sometimes light-sensitive and have a thickness in my throat. My fingernails 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."

• Wag...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 28, 2020

For Osteoporosis "Take 70 mg once weekly, but have bloating and acid reflux, which I didn't make the connection to until reading the reviews. Recently have knee pain and stiffness and extremely tender bumps on my lower extremities. Not sure if I should continue taking this medication, but would like to see if my next bone scan improves."

• Ros...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 20, 2019

For Prevention of Osteoporosis "After my second stress fracture in a foot, I started taking this, 70 mg a week. Initially, I had some issues with restless legs, but that went away. After about 3 weeks, I started to get some bloating. The bloating is now worse than before I stopped eating gluten. I took it for 7 weeks, but now I'm done."

• Mal...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 12, 2016

For Osteoporosis "My husband is on alendronate (Fosamax), expensive. Severe low back pain, bloating and gas, and ankle pain did not connect the dots. Pain goes on since last April, now I have asked him to stop. Since today, I have to wait and see. I myself have severe jaw pain, took Fosamax in those days. Heartburn continues, though I stopped a long time ago. I take chondroitin sodium. My bone reading is from osteoporosis to osteopenia now."

• Ann...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 17, 2023

For Prevention of Osteoporosis "I took my first 70 mg yesterday morning. I didn't want to start this medicine, but I got scared when I woke up, and my neck felt like it shattered like a branch breaking off, I could hear it and feel it. I already had a neck plate at C5 and C6. Since taking just one pill yesterday morning, I am miserable. I have had severe nausea since, and I'm so bloated even at 106 pounds. I'm so fatigued and have always had severe bone pain because I was recently diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. I'm not going to take it anymore after reading all the reviews. I'm scared that more side effects will show up after taking one pill. I'm going to start back at the gym, using the treadmill and light weights. I'm 63, and I'm pretty mobile considering all my health issues. Also, I think I have long COVID. During my second COVID, I could barely walk because of severe joint pain from it, or it's possible I'm doomed from one Moderna vaccine. I never finished my vaccines and won't."