How big are AA tablets

[Jubux]

I am considering trying weekly alendronic acid tablets but am worried they will be too big for me to swallow since I have dysphagia (difficulty swallowing). Please, what shape and how long/wide are the tablets people take?

Note that there are good reasons why I should not have infusions. Meds involving oestrogen are also out because I had breast cancer 4 years ago. My T scores are -3.3 lumbar, -4.5 neck of femur and -5.1 hip, caused mostly by a spinal cord injury 45 years ago (hence why lowest in my body has the worst score) but also sarcoidosis and post-cancer drugs. My 1.25 vitamin D and calcium levels are fine, but I cannot take vitamin D supplements because of the danger of hypercalcaemia due to the sarcoidosis. I only was on steroids for about month, immediately post-injury.

I have never had a fracture, but many of my spinal injured friends have broken their legs and clearly at least some of my bones are very fragile. Any thoughts would be appreciated, but particularly any advice to do with the size and easy of swallowing anti-osteoporosis tablets.

[Met00]

As you have difficulty swallowing, your doctor should be willing to prescribe Bonisto instead, which is an effervescent Alendronic Acid.

[Jubux in reply to Met00]

Thank you. I hadn't heard of Bonisto and will investigate. I hope it tastes nicer than another "nasty medicine" I have!

[Met00 in reply to Jubux]

Oops, it's Binosto, not Bonisto, sorry!

[Cheeseand]

I too cannot swallow very well and through speaking to a pharmacist my Alendronic Acid tablets are now water soluble. Good luck

[josephinius1]

Wow, you've had a rough time of it. So sorry!

My tablets are pretty tiny, sort of a pointed oval, about the size of an orzo...pasta pellet. (??) That noted, though I have the gullet of a whale (I can swallow 10-12 large solid capsules at once--I know, probably stupid,) and rarely do I ever get that "stuck in my esophagus" feeling, I HAVE had it with the Fosamax, and sometimes the burn has been pretty significant. I've always made sure to take it with plenty of water and sit up, but the last couple of times I've done better when I stand. I haven't even taken 12 doses yet, so no idea if...anything. if it's helping, why I can "feel it" sometimes and not others, if it has done some damage or it's just in my head, if damage heals, why it does damage to begin with (except, it's poison?)

🤔