Fosamax Side Effects
Filed under: Fosamax
We've talked a lot about the link between Fosamax (alendronate) and jaw osteonecrosis, but what about the other side effects of Fosamax? From what I've heard, bone pain is a common side effect of this drug. In fact, many women report such severe bone pain that they are hardly able to function. If this drug is supposed to make women (and men) stronger, why is it making so many weaker? The company lists the following as possible side effects: worsening heartburn, difficult or painful swallowing, chest pain, and severe bone, joint, and/or muscle pain. It says that "severe bone, joint and/or muscle pain" has been reported but is "rare." And does the official Fosamax site say anything about jaw osteonecrosis? Here's what it says, buried deep in the document:
"Rarely, patients have had jaw problems associated with delayed healing and infection, often following tooth extraction."
There's a big difference between "delayed healing and infection" and osteonecrosis of the jaw. The vagueness of the phrase "jaw problems" would be amusing if so many people weren't suffering from these "problems."
What about the woman who ended up with her jaw bone in a bucket?
We'd like you to post your Fosamax side effects here. Just click on the "comments" link and let us know what your experiences have been. This page will be a spot where people can share their experiences, both good and bad, so others can decide if they want to take this drug and other bisphosphonates. If you've had no side effects we'd like to hear from you, too.
Posted by Tracy on July 17, 2006 10:55 PM
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I have been taking Fosamax for 2 years. I was diagnosed with osteoperosis and prescribed Fosamax. After the first year a bone scan showed a reverse in bone mass and I was no longer considered as having osteoperosis. I read about the side effect of mandibular necrosis with Fosamax in Dr Gott's column and am concerned. I was told to take a calcium supplemant daily when I started to take Fosamax which I have done religiously. I have wondered if the calcium was actually what caused the improvement. Because of this horrible side effect I think I will stop the fosamax and continue the clacium and see what the bone scan shows next year. Maggie so sorry to hear about your results.
My wife has been on Fosamax since at least 7/1/01. We are checking with the pharmacy to research their records to see if she started earlier than that date.
Around late 2002 she started having bone pain of 5 on a scale of 0-10. Also terrible head aches.
Up to that time I can't remember when she had a headache.
She also has terrible jaw and eye socket pain.
She wanted to stop Fosamax in September 2005 but her doctor insisted that a "future back fracture would be far worse pain".
A recent cat scan indicates she now has osteo arthritis in every joint of her body.This, even though she has no swelling in any joint that is typical of osteo arthritis. And she never had the slow leadup joint to joint pain that is the usual way osteo arthritis progresses.
She had no progression. Suddenly it was osteo arthritis over her entire body. Is that believable?
She saw a rheumatologist who pronounced it Osteo arthritis and offered to prescribe pain killers but showed no interest in researching the possible cause of the disease or further narrowing down the specific type of arthritis.
Last week my wife at my request stopped Fosamax.
Info on the internet suggests that the possible side effects could last 10-12 years. She is 73 years old. So she must bear this pain, possibly until she is 85.
We need more sites on the internet to warn poeople of possible dire unlisted side effects of drugs.
And what about doctors who when told of their patients side effects from the drug insist they continue on the drug.
The "tear sheet" on the drug says that the patient should contact their doctor if they experience side effects. But what protects the patient from the doctor who insists that the patient continue on with use of the drug regardless of the side
effect.
Any suggestions would be appreciated
Richard B
I have been taking Fosamax for about three years. In the beginning it seemed to have helped. But my bone scan worsened and she put me on another medication. It made me feel like I was having a heart attack. My doctor said it was my esophagus. My doctor took me off of it and put me back on Fosamax. I am only now realizing that this medication is making me feel terrible. This past year my chest hurt so bad that I could not wear a bra. The pressure was terrible. I also have frequent heart flutterings. My bones also hurt especially in my elbows, ankles and hips. I have frequent pain in my right back under my ribs. I finally had enought sense not to take it any more. My question is how long do I have to be off of it to start feeling good enough or have I already done some damage to my body by taking this drug. I'd rather have a broken bone than to feel this way.
I had a bone density test that resulted in an "at risk" assessment. My doctor prescribed Fosamax. Within 12 hours of taking my first dose, I was completely debilitated with hip pain, but thought it might be a fluke. Took it again the second week and could barely move. Felt like I needed a hip replacement. That's it for me. I won't be taking Fosamax.
Richard & Nancy
It took me about 2 months to realize that I felt better after I stopped taking Fosamax. I'm still not 100% but I do not have the pain that I did have. Hang in there...it will get better. My Aunt was on Fosamax and having the same problems as me...I urged her to stop taking it (she has) and after one month of not taking it, she's feeling better. The improvement will be gradual.
I took fosamax for 1 year. During that year I had 2 tooth fractures that were a mystery. I take religous care of my teeth and couldn't understand how this could happen. After the second fracture I mentioned the fact that I was on this drug to my dentist. He said he knew of no issues with this drug and teeth. I am now convinced that the drug caused these teeth problems. I was told my bone scan was fine and to discont
I've had severe muscle / bone pain, lost muscle in my legs so much so that if I dropped anything when I tried to pick it up I'd need to crawl over to a chair or table and pull myself up...no leg muscles at all. So, if you loose muscle while taking Fosamax, what is it doing to your heart (muscle)? And, yes, lost jaw bone too.