Alendronate for Osteoporosis User Reviews (Page 3)

• Cathy
• May 22, 2021

Fosamax (alendronate) "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."

• Boodles
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 15, 2022

Fosamax (alendronate) "I was asymptomatic but deemed high risk for fracture since diagnosed with osteoporosis. I respect some who’ve actually benefited from Fosamax. However, this has been a drug nightmare with symptoms similar to others here on this site. First week taking weekly Fosamax 70 followed next day by non stop diarrhea for remainder of week. Second week dose 2 had ongoing diarrhea, chills, nausea, fatigue and debilitating cramps as if punched repeatedly in stomach. To my FP’s irritation, strongly refused further treatment after 2 weeks stopping prior to 3rd dose. Also declined Prolia injectable as alternative as it must be followed by oral bio phosphates after injections discontinued. I’m still dealing with diarrhea and fatigue impacting quality of life. Please do extensive reading on side effects before pursuing Fosamax or other bone health drugs. I’m now pursuing a more natural option through exercise, nutrition, vitamins D3, calcium, K2 and fish oil."

• Honey
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 15, 2022

Fosamax (alendronate) "I am 59 and have osteoporosis in my lumbar spine (T Score -2) and osteopenia in both hips and neck I haven't started taking Fosamax but reading all the complaints scares the hell out of me. I am very healthy and have no other health issues. Why do they sell such a horrible product if it causes these problems and as most have stated didn't improve their score that much."

• Breezy
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 26, 2018

"After taking it for seven weeks had to make an appointment with my Dr because I was in so much pain. The first thing my Dr told me. Was to stop taking it. Not realizing the pain was from taking Alendronate. I've been off of it for three months now. Although the pain is better, I'm still in pain. Sometimes I forget about my pain and try to quickly jump up from the sitting position and surprisingly, almost falling down. That's how bad my joints hurt when I move. My fingers and feet are constantly sore. My collar bone, tops of my thighs, and inside of my knees hurt when I move too and sometimes my wrist."

• Bella
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 13, 2021

Fosamax (alendronate) "I have been on Fosamax for two years with no side effects from it. I've had heartburn only when I didn't follow the directions to not bend over of lie down for at least 30 minutes after taking it. I recently had my second DEX scan in two years but was not sent my score so I can't comment on any improvement but I will ask in three months at my next physical. I will continue to take Fosamax as long as I need to."

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

Fosamax (alendronate) "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 on line 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."

• Horri...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 10, 2017

"Nausea... Headaches... Sticks in my throat...and sours in my stomach Cramps with joint pains Carpel tunnel from my shoulders down my arms. Cramps on 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 Dr.s get paid to push this medication on their patients."

• Mary
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 3, 2023

"This is the worst medication I have ever taken! 1 dose of this medication and I feel like I have been in a major automobile accident (this is the only way I know to describe this pain). I took the medication in the morning and by time I was ready to go to bed that night my entire body (joints) were sore. By the middle of the night, I woke up with such pain in the right side of my chest (bone pain) that it hurt to take a deep breath. I am seriously hoping that this is short lived! I have never had a reaction to a medication like this. DO NOT TAKE THIS MEDICATION!!!"

• Just...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 9, 2020

"I took alendronate once a week for osteoporosis! After six weeks I simply had to quit....it was a matter of quality of life! I developed pain in my sciatica that was so severe that I was in pain most of the time! Walking was often impossible! Scale of 1 to 10.... 10 being the worst pain......I hit that most everyday! Would not recommend this to anyone!"

• Ken
• April 2, 2017

"Doctor prescribed 70 MG Alendronate weekly for pre-osteporisis. I also have a compressed disc in my lower back causing chronic back pain for 30 years which was being controlled by Naprosyn (Anti inflamatory). After 3 doses of Alendronate I am bedridden with severe lower back pain. Pain is so bad I am now on morphine. Haven't talked to my doctor yet but the hospital ER Dr / Pharmacist said there aren't indications that Alendronate can cause such severe pain after taking 3 weekly doses. Seems to me there are others having severe side effects like mine within a few days or weeks of starting the medication? Please let me know if you have, thank you."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 6, 2017

"After taking alendronate for 1 year my pelvis fractured suddenly. I was not doing any strenuous activity. Everyone insisted that I must have done something to cause this. The orthopedic surgeon who saw me in the hospital told me it was the alendronate medication and told me not to take it anymore."

• Kiddo
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 23, 2019

"I started this drug Alendronate two weeks ago. I have taken 2 doses I am taking myself off this drug. The first dose I noticed that my lower spine was aching and sore to the touch, it went away after 2 to 3 days. The next time I took it a week apart, I noticed pain in my hips butt and down one side on my right side, by day 2 of taking it the pain was lighting up. I am calling my doctor come Monday I shouldn't be feeling this bad I was fine before I started taking this drug(Alendronate)."

• MamaGro
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 24, 2022

Fosamax (alendronate) "I have been on this drug for over 3 years, once a week, 70mg. I had a kidney stone that was calcific. I’ve never had a stone in 64 years. Then, I have a large Calcific tendonitis from a calcium deposit in my toe. It’s significantly big! These do not go away, so now I have to have the toe injected for pain control. I also have Calcific tendonitis/capsulitis in my shoulder! I had to quit this med. Its benefits do not outweigh the risks. My orthopedic surgeon stated that this does happen in women. The gyn doctors put us on it for osteoporosis hoping that we will get at least to osteopenia, but he stated that he sees the side effects and hairline fractures/stress fractures in women and also has had several femur fractures. Not good!"

• Fed...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 10, 2019

"I took once a week Fosamax for three weeks. Starting after the second dose I developed heart palpitations severe enough to put me in the ER. Also severe back muscle spasms that pain medications could not control. Doctor does not suspect a correlation but after reading reviews and researching in depth, I believe it is more than coincidence and I stopped taking it. If I had known that Fosamax has a half life of TEN YEARS - yes 10 years for half of it to be out of your body!!!! I would not have ever taken it. I thought that I could just try it and stop if I had bad side effects and they would go away but evidently the heart issues and pain issues could continue for months or years."

• DEETS
• June 6, 2019

"My wife started taking alendronate 70mg tablet once a week for four weeks. After one week started having stomach pain. Saw her DR. after fourth week with back pain, stomach pain, leg pain and discomfort in one eye. She is no longer on this drug and I don't think it should be prescribed. There are others products on the market for osteoporosis and will not have her take those either. My wife now uses a walker and was very active before . I wish I had researched this drug prior to her taking it. Lesson learned. Stay away from this drug."

• hev
• May 7, 2020

"I started the alendronic acid 3 weeks ago every Monday 70 mg Reluctantly .. I’ve never had such excruciating pain I feel like screaming at night . My pain was my knee . Now it’s from my hip to my toes in agony . I was used to having days in pain 2/3 days but no were near this agony . It’s took me 3 weeks of research to see it’s this medication .. gone , I’m never taking again ."

• Alijan
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 26, 2016

"Alendronate/death Doctor prescribed this for my 91 year old mother against my objections. My mother was in excellent health until this medication was prescribed. I stated my objections several times regarding this medication. I related recent incidences of falls and no bone breaks. ( She had fallen several times, once off a ladder onto concrete...only bruised. Another time slipped off step, sprained ankle. The er doc said she had great looking bones.)Also, my mother repeatedly told the doctor she had memory/cognition issues which were documented in her chart. The doctor insisted. Ten days later my mother died. She misread the directions and didn't remember the doctors directions. She took one pill daily instead of one weekly."

• Mkano
• September 25, 2019

"I started using these pills 3 months ago, ever since I have unbearable body pain, my neck, arms, hips, legs, lower back hurt so much. I can’t move around , sit or stand up . I wish I’ve read these reviews before . I will stop taking them"

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 17, 2023

"I am 55 and have osteoporosis (in my hip). My doctor pushed me to take alendronate (Fosamax) and within a few hours of taking ONE pill, I had the worst back pain I've ever experienced. The spasms lasted for hours. Over the counter pain meds did nothing. I had to get some prescription drugs. I don't want to try "getting used" to this poison and I refuse to take this again. So now my doctor is pushing Tylmos (daily injection... oh joy!) and I am so afraid to get long-term (and even short term) nasty side effects. I believe the women who write these reviews--why don't the doctors? Reduction in fracture risk has not been shown, with current data on this drug, to even decrease significantly. At my wit's end and looking for non-medical solutions."

• Mary
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 29, 2020

"I had taken 6 doses of Fosamax. Every week intense stomach pain. After 6th dose woke up I’m the middle of the night with vertigo. Paramedics suggested going to the ER to rule out a stoke. I’ve ruled Fosamax out of my life. I subsequently saw orthopedic doc for another issue. I asked him what he thought about Fosamax and what happened to me. He said if I can’t tolerate it stop it. Get back out and run/walk daily. It’s taken me 3 months to see that the stomach pain subsiding. And back out there running up to 4 miles . Never felt better."

• Birdie
• March 18, 2019

"I'm speaking for my mother, she took 3 pills, 1 per week of 70 mg fosmax and now she is experiencing severe hip and groin pain along with some pressure in one of her eyes. She stopped it cold turkey and we are hopeful that there are no long term effects. She wasn't even in this severe pain to begin with!!! My mother is 80 years old and felt way better 3 weeks ago before she started. Now we have to wait to see if things get better!!"

• Toomi
• July 16, 2021

Fosamax (alendronate) "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."

• Ms...
• February 12, 2018

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

• Arlo
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 15, 2021

Fosamax (alendronate) "I took 3 Alendonate pills for my osteoporosis. Three days after my second pill, I began to experience some general pain and flu-like symptoms, but did take the third pill not knowing what was wrong. In a few more days, I literally could not walk because of the severe pain in my right knee and my right hip. I have only mild RA in my right knee, none in my hip. That was 4 months ago. I am currently just beginning to get my mobility back. What a horrid experience this has been. My doc now wants me to try Prolia. What??? Never. I did report my experience to the FDA."

• Shirl
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 19, 2017

"I have osteoporosis in my left hip, My doctor prescribed alendronate I took it 4 weeks the 2nd day I started having and continue to have hip, back, arm and leg pains. I did not have any pain before the meds. I went back to the doctor he said my side effects were not normal and to keep trying for 4 more weeks.. I have not continued it, I see no reason to continue something that has only caused me intense pain. I have a very high tolerance for pain but I hurt all the time now. I exercise by walking 2+ miles every day, it is helping but if I miss a day the pain is twice as bad again. I do not want to see or even think about of what another 4 weeks would do to my body."