Ibandronate and Flu-Like Symptoms: What Users Say

• Ima...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 14, 2013

Ibandronate for Prevention of Osteoporosis "I took my first dose of Boniva 150 mg and woke up the next day with a severe headache and abdominal spasms. I feel exhausted, almost flu-like. I'm checking with my doctor now since today is the second day of the same symptoms."

• Kan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 4, 2018

Ibandronate for Osteoporosis "I can’t say how effective it is. I've just taken my first pill yesterday. Started with lack of appetite, then a day later, back pain, joint pain, chills, and a temp of 100 with flu-like symptoms. Been in bed most of the day. I don’t think it’s worth feeling this bad. The other meds for osteoporosis all have the same side effects. For anyone that has experienced these side effects, how long does it last?"

• laf...
• December 18, 2012

Ibandronate for Osteoporosis "I tried weekly Boniva and had severe flu symptoms each time, and I had to stop taking it. That was approximately 1 year ago. Now, I'm taking it once monthly. I thought it was okay, no flu, but I'm having diarrhea and pain in my upper thigh after taking it twice. I just had the 3rd one yesterday, and the diarrhea is bad."

• mot...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 30, 2022

Ibandronate for Osteoporosis "One year of taking it. First, loss of appetite. Then, a few months later, back pain at night. Leg cramps. Then, some throat/esophagus pain. Feeling of food getting stuck. Worsening insomnia. 24.09 Gastroscope for diagnosis. 04.10 Boniva. A few days later, 0 appetite, trouble swallowing. Everything is worsening with each day. Ar. 20.10 flu-like symptoms. Fever. 30.10 still horrible pain swallowing and vomiting, only blended food goes through. On fluid IV now. We might end up in the hospital."

• Lca...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• January 5, 2020

For Prevention of Osteoporosis "Took Boniva for 5+ years. Had flu-like symptoms, joint and bone pain, and my teeth would feel loose. Did not associate it with the Boniva. I then developed thigh pain and wound up with two fractured femurs requiring surgery. The orthopedic surgeon confirmed it was due to Boniva. Bone density tests measure quantity, not quality of bone, so are not accurate. This drug is poison, and I do not understand why it is still on the market."

• hat...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 17, 2016

For Osteoporosis "I've been on Boniva for 3 months so far. Took the 4th pill yesterday and thought nothing of it, then the flu-like symptoms started the next day: headache, severe fatigue, chills, muscle and bone pain, especially in my hips. Thought I had the flu or some awful virus, then thought that it was strange to have pain in my hips. Then the light bulb in my head went off and I researched the side effects of Boniva. Very enlightening. I will call my doctor on Monday for sure and discuss other options."

• hur...
• February 8, 2020

For Osteoporosis "Have taken alendronate on and off for 5 yrs. Had stomach upset. So I started taking ibandronate. No stomach upset. But one year later, flu-like symptoms and worst all-over muscle and joint pains I have ever experienced. I can barely get out of bed and have to take 1000 mg of Tylenol to help ease some of the pain. I went from dancing and exercising and having a great life to severe pain all day. I did not realize this as a side effect. I told my doctor I thought it was infection or hemochromatosis or related to the flu I had. Blood tests are being done. But now I am sure it's ibandronate, which is generic Boniva. I am praying my pain goes away so I can live pain-free again."

• Lea...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 1, 2021

Ibandronate for Osteoporosis "My osteopenia worsened to osteoporosis after taking Tamoxifen for my breast cancer { hx of breast cancer since 2008 }. I was prescribed by my MD to take Boniva due to my B/L hip osteoporosis since last year. It's only this month that I had the courage to take it. I took it last Sunday at 6 AM, and after dinner on the same day, I felt terribly sick: flu-like symptoms with low-grade fever that started at 8 pm. I thought I got COVID. Monday came, and the chills were gone, but I still had a 100.6 fever and body aches, plus GI upset. My abdominal pain was terrible, like sharp pain (terrible spasms that come and go every 10 minutes), either when I was at rest or moving. Today is the 4th day, but no improvement with my GI symptoms. An additional side effect today is a bloated stomach now. I reached out for the help of my GI doctor, and he prescribed me an anti-spasmodic tablet which has helped a little bit. True enough, after reading all these comments, that Boniva is awful to the body. One dose is enough for me."

• sni...
• December 29, 2009

Ibandronate for Osteoporosis "I have experienced flu symptoms within the first 48 hours, and severe joint and bone pain. I feel much worse than before I started taking Boniva."

• Anonymous
• August 3, 2010

For Osteoporosis "After 24 hours of taking Boniva 150 mg, I started experiencing severe flu-like symptoms with fever and extreme pain in my bones and joints."