I have been taking "Alendronic Acid 70mg" once a week for the last year -
I started to have a burning sensation in my esophagus, -
so went to check it out and have been told,
I may have "erosion of my esophagus" -
and it is common in people who take Alendronic tablets!
Why was I not told this before I started to take it?
Did they tell you that you have to take it first thing in the morning, on an empty stomach, standing up and stay completely upright for at least half an hour? You also have to take it with a big drink of tap water. I used to take mine with a big glass of water on a Sunday, set my watch and go out for a half hour walk and then come home and make breakfast.
Have a look at this link - it explains all the osteoporosis treatments. I don’t know for sure but I would imagine if you are having problems with your espphagu then your doctors may well change you onto something other than the alendronic acid tablets.
theros.org.uk/information-a.....
Yes I do all of the above, drink a whole cup of water & stay upright for at least one hour !
Have been on Alandronic acid for a year with no problem up to about two months ago - didnt connect what was happening to the tabs,. till I went to see the doctor about what was happening to me.
Doctor has said I need blood test to be sure and has taken me off AA for three weeks but will maybe have to have weekly injections instead.
Good luck with it all, I’m sure they will get things sorted for you, very annoying that it started after all that time isn’t it.
There are no bone drugs that are taken weekly only daily, 6 monthly or iv annually.
If it’s 5ge daily one then make sure they check your calcium, vit d and parathyroid bloods at same blood draw to check their relationships (not just whether they are raised, to check for hyperparathyroidism (faulty calcium regulating parathyroid glands - not same as the thyroid).
This treatable/curable condition is very under diagnosed but must be correctly ruled out before as high calcium and any history or suspected parathyroid disease is a contraindication.
Indeed these bloods should be checked be fore ant bone drug but it and other secondary causes are so often overlooked.
Thank you I will ask my doctor when I next see her.
what symptoms did you have? I’m also taking that but only for 4 months. I occasionally get reflux.
Hi
Yes it started like that - then "wind" - and burning sensation down my windpipe and chest pain.
Just wish they had told my to look out for this and maybe I wouldnt be faced with the damage to my esophgus.
Appreciate your reply as will listen carefully to my body! I had a bad reaction to just 1 prolia injection. I’m only in osteopenic range and have stayed pretty much the same for about 20 years so don’t feel it’s essential to take meds! I do weights program and exercise plus supplements!
OK I also try to listen to my body after all we live with it and know how it works best - thank you.
Hi, it is a common problem and you should have been told about it by the person who prescribed it to you, also it will be included in the list of list side effects given in the patient information leaflet.
Because of the problems you are now having you should be eligible to have the yearly infusion of Zoledronic Acid. This of course bypasses the esophogus and resolves the issues the tablets cause.
Your best way forward would in my view be to make an appointment with your doctor to request changing to the yearly.
Anyone else reading this needs to do the same because you have a right to change if you are having or have had issues with reflux.
Hope this helps answer your question x
What is the difference between Zoledronic acid and prolia injection?
Zoledronic acid is a Bisphosphonate given in yearly injections, it is absorbed into the bones to reduce the breakdown of the bones ( resorption) as bone building continues you get an increase in density. Usually after 3 years of treatment a patient has a drug holiday.
Prolia is a 6 monthly injection and a completely different treatment. It has the same effect i.e. reducing the breakdown of bone but is NOT absorbed into the bones.
It is soon lost from the body after stopping treatment and MUST be followed on with another treatment to prevent what is known as rebound fractures.
Both can have some serious but rare side effects. X
Hi,
Thank you, Yes I wish they had told me when I started to take them.
I did read the instructions and did everything it suggested.
Doctor has taken me off the tabs for three weeks to see if it helps - but also suggested I may have weekly jabs .
I have never heard of weekly jabs of any treatment for Osteoporosis. Did you meant yearly?? x
Yes I think that you are right.
Hi Soaylady74The same thing happened to me, not so much with the burning sensation, I only took the tablet for 4-5 months, and I went to the doctors, and told him that I was burping all the time, he said to stop the Alendronlic Acid and also the Adcal-D3, after the camera down my throat, they said I had errosives, when you read up on them it says they can be caused by medication, I was taking nothing else,Other than the two meds mentioned above,
Doctors said I had low density in my spine, After taking the Alendronlic Acid for a short time the doctor said it had improved, Wow I thought I had hardly took the tablet only for a few months, After another bone density scan I now have osteoporosis in my hips, So because I can't take the Alendronlic Acid I was offered the bone building drugs which you have by injection, I have refused them,
Reading about others taking these drugs on this site has helped me a lot, I was a carer for my mum and dad for many years, and I couldn't risk anything with side affects.
And also Dentists are not a fan of these drugs even on the injections, she told me that she would have to extract some of my good teeth before treatment.
We all have choices in life whether they are right or wrong time will tell.
Hi
Thank you for your input I shall have a lot to think about here.
I am unable to have any of the treatments for Osteoporosis because of severe side effects.
I would gladly try anything that may improve my bone density and prevent fractures. ( I have tried everything that has been offered to me) if tolerated I would have definitely stayed on them as long as needed.
As a result of not being able to take them I now have a total of 15 Spinal fractures and 2 rib fracture’s. I am severely disabled, reliant on others and in a wheelchair.
As a result of my own experience living with Osteoporosis I would highly recommend at the very least trying the treatments and finding out for oneself if they are tolerated or not. X
I will be trying the treatment anything that might help - so sorry to hear of your suffering x
I started to have the same problem, stopped and now have an annual infusion of zolendronic acid. That doesn’t go near your throat.
Hi
I think this is what my doctor has in mind for me when I go back in three weeks time.
Thank You
Hi Soaylady74 ,
Welcome to our community, thank you for sharing with us here 
As considering our next steps can bring up confusion and worry, we wanted to drop by and share some info to help you feel informed in your decisions. We have lots of information on our website that has already very kindly been included on this thread. Also, we have videos that discuss common topics. This is our session that covers medication in detail:
youtube.com/watch?v=aeOODwY...
It's great to see the support that's already been shared here, and we hope that you feel able to continue to connect with our wonderful members
Wishing you the very best,
Lulu
ROS Moderator
Thank you. I am so happy we have somewhere to turn to for some help.
Probably because we aren’t told a lot about the meds we take. We have to be our own advocates and research ourselfs. Sad but True.
So true.
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