Alendronate and Headaches: What Users Say

• dja...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 1, 2023

Alendronate for Prevention of Osteoporosis "I started taking Fosamax on November 11, 2022. I have only taken 11 doses and will not be taking any more. I was skeptical about taking this medicine after reading the reviews, but my husband said that people who have positive outcomes normally do not post reviews - only people with issues post reviews, which made a little sense. I wish I had not listened to him and had gone with my gut feeling. After 6 doses, I started having numbness or pain in my teeth. It was such a strange feeling and I could not remember the reviews talking about pain in your teeth, so I continued the medicine, thinking I needed to see my dentist. After seeing my dentist and having no obvious issue, I researched the side effects again and have now discontinued the Fosamax. I am so afraid of how long the pain will last in my mouth and also these horrible headaches! I would never recommend this medicine to anyone!"

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

Alendronate 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."

• 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."

• Tis...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 16, 2019

Alendronate for Prevention of Osteoporosis "I was prescribed Fosamax for osteopenia. I have taken a total of 6 doses. I had no side effects for the first 2 weeks. By the 3rd week, extreme fatigue and headaches. I continued for another 3 weeks hoping symptoms would go away. When they didn't, I discontinued taking it. But a week AFTER I quit, I developed severe bone pain, unbearable pain which is worse at night. I am taking arthritis drug to make the days bearable. SOMEONE PLEASE TELL ME THIS PAIN EVENTUALLY GOES AWAY!! I will be calling my Dr. on Monday."

• sun...
• June 17, 2013

Alendronate for Osteoporosis "I started taking Fosamax for Osteoporosis. I had low back pain and body aches the first week. In the second week, I had severe headaches that lasted over two days. Now it's a dull headache. I'm unsure about this medication and worried about the side effects. I hope the effects get better not worse."

• sun...
• June 17, 2013

Alendronate for Osteoporosis "I started taking Fosamax for Osteoporosis. I had low back pain and body aches the first week. In the second week, I had severe headaches that lasted over two days. Now it's a dull headache. I'm unsure about this medication and worried about the side effects. I hope the effects get better not worse."

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

Alendronate 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."

• Kit...
• January 21, 2020

Alendronate for Osteoporosis "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 with the drug. I went to my doctor and requested physical therapy because of returning problems with my sciatica. During this time, I stopped the Fosamax for silly 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 physical therapy for my shoulder and hip. After 5 physical therapy appointments, my shoulder was worse and no improvement overall. Had an 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."

• 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."

• Anonymous
• February 27, 2021

For Prevention of Osteoporosis "I was taking alendronate for 6 weeks. I started getting headaches the first day I took them, which continued off and on. Lots of stomach and bathroom issues. By 3 weeks, explosive diarrhea, terrible stomach pain. The 4th, 5th, and 6th pill, the joint pains started. Why I stayed on this long still makes me angry. I called my doctor and told him I'm not taking them. Now it has been 4 weeks since my last pill, and I was woken up with jaw pain, and when I got out of bed, I could hardly walk for pain in my left ankle. Why is this stuff not taken off the market? I wish I had never taken it. Hopefully, side effects will stop soon."

• 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?"

• Hor...
• 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. Carpal tunnel from my shoulders down my arms. Cramps in 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 doctors get paid to push this medication on their patients."

• 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."

• Ang...
• 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 taking Fosamax ‘for now.’ If I ever feel better, I’m not interested in going through this again."

• Too...
• July 16, 2021

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."

• Qua...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 3, 2022

For Prevention of Osteoporosis "I have been on alendronate for 3 months for osteopenia. I take 70 mg once a week. The first two weeks were fine, then the side effects came with a vengeance! Severe back pain that lasts for days, ever-present thigh pain, ear pain, dry mouth, eye pain, headaches, and an annoying fatigue. I plan on finishing up the third month, then calling my doctor. Though right now I don't think there's anything she can say that would convince me to continue taking this."

• 123...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 18, 2022

For Osteoporosis "My dose is 70 mg weekly. A 3-year scan helped to confirm improvement in bone density. Increased water intake on the dose day, which helped to prevent headaches. A one-hour period after taking the tablet before food. Didn’t take medication until 2 hours after the dose (especially calcium)."

• joe...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 21, 2021

For Prevention of Osteoporosis "After 6 weeks, have experienced nighttime leg cramps that wake me, vomiting, joint pain, headaches, shaking, vertigo. I don't know how this med will help me not to break any more bones when that is a side effect. What up with that? 1 tab weekly in A.M., 70 mg."

• Kay...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 13, 2021

For Osteoporosis "Do NOT take this drug!!! Alendronate 70 mg once a week. I didn't have any side effects until today. Yesterday, I took my 3rd dose. Today, I can hardly hold this phone. Both my forearms ache, I have a terrible headache, my back and hips hurt so bad I can barely get up, and I am having muscle cramps in both shins and feet. And the tendons behind my knee are so tight I can see them bulging out. Both my shoulders hurt, and I'm having muscle cramps in my sides and abdomen. I'm scared after reading all these reviews and going straight to my doctor in the morning."