Risedronate and Fatigue: What Users Say

• Jan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 16, 2021

Risedronate for Osteoporosis "I took 1 monthly dose of Actonel. By that afternoon, I was very tired, heavy in my body. The next day, I experienced a loss of appetite, diarrhea, and after 5 days, severe inflammation and extreme pain all over my body. Then, I suffered from 3 months of fatigue, muscle weakness, pins and needles in my face and arms, blurry vision, and 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. Medications I used to be able to take now trigger headaches, fatigue, and pins and needles in my face, hands, and arms. I would like to know how long these symptoms will last, but nobody knows. This drug should be taken off the market."

• Sho...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 27, 2021

For Osteoporosis "I commented in January of 2021 after taking risedronate once weekly for 3 weeks. I wanted to update that post. It has now been 3 months since I discontinued this drug, and I am still not back to where I was before. Fatigue, bone and muscle pain continue. Walking is difficult some days, painful most days. The muscle pain in my legs keeps me awake at night, and I am exhausted. Not sure how much longer till this resolves, but hope it will be soon. I was an active person before this and had made a good recovery from a leg fracture. I feel worse now than I did during my recovery process."

• Eli...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 17, 2018

For Osteoporosis "This drug has caused me so much back and leg pain. I actually have pain throughout my body. My mouth is painful. Lots of tremors. I am so very nauseous, my feet and ankles are numb. I have no energy and just want to sleep all the time. I am extremely depressed. I took the 150 mg in July and again last week. It scares me to think I will have to wait another three weeks to get it out of my system, if it does go away and hopefully I will feel better. It sure has put a dampener on my life at the moment and brought my happy lifestyle to a halt. I will never take this medication again."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 30, 2022

For Osteoporosis "My doctor pushed risedronate on me without telling me the risks. After 4 months of hesitation on my part, I finally gave in and took it for over a year. I became very ill, my energy was drained, and I lost an incredible amount of weight I can't put back on. I was thin to begin with. My jaw was painful, and a perfectly good tooth fell out. My other teeth became loose. I went off it on my own, but I still can't gain any weight back. I am very angry with myself for giving in to the doctor and taking this dangerous pill."

• Nev...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 30, 2022

For Osteoporosis "I was on 150 mg monthly. After the first pill, I began hurting so bad moving was a challenge. Dry eyes were unbearable. Swollen, depressed, fatigue continuously got worse. After 6 months, I was done—acid reflux is horrid, jaw pain, chest pain, thighs felt like they were breaking, wrists and elbows to the point I was unable to work out like I always have. Less than 2 months off and no more dry eyes, wrists and elbows are now pain-free. Acid reflux is still bad, as is chest pain. Never, ever again!"

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

Risedronate 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."

• DMN...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 26, 2022

For Osteoporosis "I was prescribed 35 mg once weekly. First dose: extreme fatigue and nausea. Second dose: body pain, severe stomach pain, debilitating nausea, horrible headaches, and still in bed after 4 days. I would rather suffer a fracture than ever take this medication again. I’m 66 and in great physical condition, have not been able to do a single activity since starting this drug."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 14, 2022

For Osteoporosis "I took two monthly doses of this awful poison, risedronate. I immediately felt nausea, burning in the stomach, horrible heartburn (never had heartburn before), severe bloating, gagging, and extreme fatigue. This lasted 25 days, then I felt good for five days and took the second dose. Again, an awful experience. It has been 8 months, and I still have extreme fatigue, and my stomach is nauseous all the time. Some days, I lay on the couch all day. I didn't have any medical problems before taking this, no other health conditions, I was a healthy, active 60-year-old! This drug is awful, and I can't believe the FDA gets away with this! I am now under the care of a naturopath who is trying to repair my gut. By the way, I got blood work before I took this drug and again after the two months, and my ferritin level went from 49 to 29, and I became anemic. The FDA knows it's a bad drug, but they make money off of it at our expense. No thank you. It should be taken off the market."