just started Alendronic Acid tablets

[Padster60]

I was recently diagnosed with osteoporosis and given alendonic accid tablets to try. The day after I took them my teeth on one side felt weird, more prominent somehow. I'm wondering if this is normal or a problem. Have asked my dentist for advice but wondered if anyone else experienced this?

[Hidden]

Maybe you should ask your doctor or a pharmacist. They might be able to tell you more.

I hope you will be ok.

[MWZ3]

Do you know your tscores? Have you broken any bones?

[Padster60 in reply to MWZ3]

Thank you, I haven't been given any scores, i've never had a break. I had quite a fall a few weeks ago but only bruised.

[MWZ3 in reply to Padster60]

You need your scores. I agree with t1gernidster re investigation into causes and natural treatment. Vitamin K2 is essential to keep the calcium in the bones and out of your arteries. Yoghurt, leafy greens, salmon, all fruit and veggies are very helpful. Check your vitamin D levels and calcium levels in your blood tests.

[Padster60 in reply to MWZ3]

Thanks I'll get my scores from the nurse.

[MWZ3 in reply to Padster60]

Around -2.5 is pretty good. The lowest score is the state of your bones not the worst. So if one area is only -1, then take that as all.

[Padster60 in reply to MWZ3]

In 2019 my spinal t-score was -2.6 and hip -2.6.In June 2021 evidence of bone loss at spine of 4.6% but stable at hip.

Not sure what all that means. Due another DEXA in December.

[MWZ3 in reply to Padster60]

That’s barely osteoporosis more in the osteopenia range. Are you trying the natural route? Diet plus k2 and others needed? I’ve noticed that people with those scores have better prospects to pull it back the next time. Walk or do other weight bearing exercises if able.

[Padster60 in reply to MWZ3]

Yes I think you're right. I have high strength vit D every day and spray K2 3 x a day. I'm walking every day too.

[Met00 in reply to Padster60]

If you're in the UK, you have a right to know your scores and can ask your GP receptionist to print out the DEXA report for you.

[t1gernidster]

Hello Padster60

There is a lot of info out there about AA and other meds for osteoporosis which you should investigate fully prior to taking any of them. Depending on your scores you may wish to opt for diet and supplements as a way to controlling the situation as many of us have. Have you been tested for hyperparathyroidism? That’s essential before embarking on any treatment for osteoporosis.

parathyroid.com/

[Padster60 in reply to t1gernidster]

Thank you, no I've never knowingly been tested for hyperparathyroidism. I have underactive thyroid for about 15 years.

[elaine2447 in reply to Padster60]

On the dexa scan results, there should have been a whole list of blood tests recommended included the parathyroid, which incidentally has nothing to do with the thyroid, it's just called that because the four little glands sit behind (or are supposed to but one can get rogue glands) behind the thyroid.

[CDreamer]

That sounds as though your experience could have been a manifestation of your concerns about taking this drug as I doubt the drug could have possibly have caused that sensation, that quickly. However, I certainly had strong reservations about taking the drug.

I was prescribed AA and took them for about 4 months. Then I started getting mouth ulcers and we moved house and I forgot to take them with everything that went on and haven’t restarted. I was advised to see my dentist and have work done prior to starting which I did and my dentist was most thorough. Have to say she was not a fan of AA and was concerned as I have implants and said I must be very attentive to dental care. Of course it’s now really difficult to get onto another dental list and they seem to be completely overworked and couldn’t offer me hygiene appointment every 3 months, as I was advised I needed.

I am now looking at diet and exercise treatment plan and have just placed an order for the Marodyne LiV - low intensity vibration machine. I used to see a neuro physio for another condition who was very enthusiastic about LiV - he had a professional machine which I used and which helped me a lot as I have muscle weakness so walking any distance is impossible for me most days.

[Padster60 in reply to CDreamer]

Hi I walk fairly briskly twice a day for around 45 minutes each walk. I've never had a break/fracture and recently had a fall from which I had a few bruises, no breaks. I take vit d every day. I'm starting to think my AA prescription is a bit premature. I will look at my t-scores which are likely on my letters.

[CDreamer in reply to Padster60]

I can’t walk that far most days - hence thinking the Marodyne LiV would help me.

[elaine2447 in reply to CDreamer]

I am in a similar situation regards walking having developed peripheral neuropathy and I have had the LivMD since 2017.

[CDreamer in reply to elaine2447]

How have you experienced it? Has it been helpful for you?

[elaine2447 in reply to CDreamer]

It's fine, I stand for 10 mins in the morning eating my breakfast. Has it been helpful, I don't know as I was messed around for nearly 5 years by the NHS for hyperparathyroidism and had to pay for the operation privately in March 2020. So the dexa results were worse in 2019.

[CDreamer in reply to elaine2447]

Oh dear, sorry to her that. I've only ever seen a GP and then we moved out of area so I've yet to bring this subject up with my new surgery.

[elaine2447 in reply to CDreamer]

If you had a dexa scan then on the bottom it should have given a list of the blood tests one should have to determine any cause of osteoporosis.

[Fruitandnutcase]

I slept all day after my first tablet (and after every tablet after that) and had serious muscle and bone pains right from the beginning. Like you I had constant problems with my teeth, mouth, sinuses, ears, blurred vision pretty much right from my very first tablet.You really should have had your DEXA results explained to you and you should have been tested for things like vitamin D, calcium levels, parathyroid problems etc - basically things that are fixable - before you start on alendronic acid.

If you’ve had a serious fall and not broken anything then unless your doctor can give you a really good reason for starting treatment I would think twice about it.

I took alendronic for four months and steadily felt more and more ill until I stopped, I’m definitely no wimp but I just couldn’t take it any longer, I’d say the only side effect I didn’t have was gut problems which I was half expecting - I certainly wasn’t expecting the side effects I got - so I decided to concentrate on diet and weight bearing exercise and to take my chances.

[Padster60 in reply to Fruitandnutcase]

I've just found some results, it would be helpful to get your views.

In 2019 spine t score -2.6, total

hip -2.6

It says the trigger for this was long term suppression of TSH, I have underactive thyroid & feel just human with lower TSH.

In June 2021 scan there was evidence of bone loss at spine of 4.6% but stable at hip.

I'm due another DEXA in December this year.

Any views would be helpful.

[Cappuccinobaby]

The leaflet suggests you get your dentist to check your teeth before starting on alendronic acid as it could cause jaw damage. There has also been a study by imperial college London ( in 2017 its called " Drug used to treat weak bones associated with micro cracks " imperial.ac.uk ) that concluded that bisphosphanates can cause micro fractures in the bone. Please research these things as Alendronic acid may not be right for you. Has your GP ruled out parathyroid disease as the cause of your osteoporosis? As this can be cured and your bone density improved..........

[Padster60 in reply to Cappuccinobaby]

Hi I did ask my dentist before taking AA and he said they were fine. Said I potentially needed a cap doing but wouldn't expect any issues re teeth.

[Cappuccinobaby in reply to Padster60]

That's good then. Just make sure you have regular check ups

[elaine2447]

I personally wouldn't touch AA with a 10 ft barge pole. You should have been told to speak with your dentist before taking this drug as some dentists refuse to treat patients. Gp's are all too fond of just pushing the prescription over to you with no concern of the side effects, current and future. Bisphosphonates harden old bone and this causing them to become brittle and eventually snap. They also are fond of given out Adcal D, another cheap calcium carbonate with a small amount of vitamin D. You need to have a healthy diet, preferably calcium rich unless you cannot tolerate dairy like me and so look for other things that contain calcium. I take a good calcium supplement, you also need to take vitamin K2 mk7 is the most popular although there is a mk4 but harder to obtain. Magnesium is also important and often forgotten.Please research everything that your Gp gives as they seem to know very little about osteoporosis. This study was done a couple of years ago cappuccinobaby's link above did not work for me regarding the microcracks, try this one imperial.ac.uk/news/177851/...

Might I suggest you join a decent Osteoporosis group if you are on Facebook facebook.com/groups/7286270...

Osteoporosis UK - Friendly Support & Natural Options

[Sowen59]

Hi, this happened to me…..please seek help from your dentist and GP. Do not let them fob you off, they did with me and not only did I have trouble with my teeth I lost 2, but worse then that my jaw started locking and coming loose, couldn’t eat or chew and had difficulty speaking. By the time 2 months had gone by I couldn’t stand straight nor walk properly….. I was told eventually I had had a severe allergic reaction to the AA.

[Fruitandnutcase in reply to Sowen59]

That was just like me - I had to hold on to my husband to walk, I felt wobbly and like I was falling over and I was like a seriously old geriatric lady. I went from someone really active who could do 10000k steps a day to being a sad shadow of my former self. I found it really dreadful yet I still tried to carry on, eventually I just couldn’t do it. I got back to my former self very quickly thank goodness and so far today I’ve done 11500k steps today.

[Sowen59 in reply to Fruitandnutcase]

Hi It is so strange, I was in so much pain everywhere, my reaction happened in Covid so it was so difficult to see a GP. It took my husband having a fit at the surgery to get me in and never once did they say I was having a reaction to AA. They only said it was upsetting my stomach so best not take it for a while. Very slowly I started to recover, but it left me totally drained for months, I still have trouble with my jaw, as it still slips out of it socket, and trouble with the bones in my feet. Even though it’s been 12 months .But I keep on walking everyday and eating a good diet. I found out I was allergic to biphosphates by accident, when I was on my NHS app, it came up as a warning flag…..Nice of my GP to tell me!! Nor was offered any alternative to AA, but to be honest after my horrible experience with AA I do not want to take anything else. Diet vitamins and exercise is the way I am going.

[Fruitandnutcase in reply to Sowen59]

That’s pretty much exactly the same with me except it all happened after I broke my wrist just before the start of the first lockdown, then when I developed CRPS in my hand and really needed help our GP surgery was locked down like Fort Knox and it was pretty near impossible to get them to answer the phone.

It doesn’t surprise me that your doctor didn’t tell you you were allergic to the AA. On the other hand our GP told my husband repeatedly that he was having an ‘allergic reaction’ to his covid virus - that was shortly before he eventually had a blood test - ordered after a telephone consultation with by an out of hours doctor at a different surgery thank goodness - and his ‘allergy’ was a massive infection in his pancreas, liver and gall bladder and he ended up on an IV drip in hospital for the best part of two weeks.

Over the last ten or so years I have had Graves’ disease, inflammatory arthritis, I had been prescribed steroids for the arthritis, in the past another GP had prescribed PPIs, until I completely altered my diet and weaned myself off them, I also have a family history of osteoporosis yet the possibility of all of those conditions being triggers for osteoporosis was never ever mentioned. I no longer have faith in the medical profession these days.

So I feel like you - my experience with bisphosphonates was so horrendous I just couldn’t face taking anything else. Good luck with what you are doing.

[Sowen59 in reply to Fruitandnutcase]

Good luck to you too. I am sure we may speak again…. The NHS sadly is broken, the doctors and nurses are under pressure the government needs to start putting thing right quickly. I have my first rheumatoid arthritis appointment next month only waited 15 months 🤨

[Fruitandnutcase in reply to Sowen59]

Gosh, you’ve got RA too! I sometimes wonder how many people with RA and even overactive thyroids have got osteoporosis lurking away in the background and don’t realise it. Hope when the big day finally arrives your appointment is a success. 😊

[dog45678 in reply to Sowen59]

Just seen this on the Marodyne FB private page. Interesting to hear what he has to say ...... us06web.zoom.us/webinar/reg...

[nottowell]

I took Aldronic Acid for a while mist people who take it have jaw problems i now have to have a tooth out in Maxifacial clinic as a dentist can't treat it. I know have injections twice a year