Anyone with alendronate side effects?

[ohsuzyq]

I was just diagnosed with osteoporosis in July of this year. My physician immediately started me on alendronate. Approximately two months into treatment I began having severe shoulder joint and muscle pain that is making it too painful to do most exercise I had begun. My physician thinks it is unrelated and wanted me to continue taking the medication. I have chose to discontinue and follow up with her in four weeks. I am wondering if anyone else has had similar side effects from alendronate? I have been off of it for nearly a month and the pain is not getting any better yet.

[Cherub-]

Hi, I was prescribed alendronic acid and I had side effects which included upset stomach, muscle spasm in jaw and tingling in legs, I stopped them immediately and was prescribed Risedronate which I understand is a similar drug and I don’t have any side effects with that, I have been taking them just over a year and my recent DEXA scan showed slight improvement. It may be worth trying a different drug. I wish you well.

[Mr_Glass]

I am now what people would call a rarity. I was in Fosamax or Alondronate for several years. I was in my late 40’s when the doctors scanned my bones and discovered I had osteopenia. I took the drug and I guess fortunately I did not suffer like you did and am sorry you went through that. Through further investigation because we never saw any improvement in my bones actually a whole lot worse, I was then diagnosed with full on osteoporosis and many bone fractures. After more blood testing they learned I have HPP or Hypophosphatasia or soft bone disease, pretty rare 1 in almost 300,000 people get. Was taken off immediately as the drug was actually doing the opposite of its intended purpose and was breaking down my bones. They classify this as me being allergic to Alondronate and says so now in my medic alert. This is probably more info you wanted to know but I do hope they find something that will actually help you and not hurt you and certainly not anything like what happen to me where I suffered so many fractures over the years. Now in my 50’s and being on specialty drugs to treat HPP I have not had a fracture in 14 months.

[MayGodBlessYou in reply to Mr_Glass]

what are the hpp drugs, out of curiosity? thanks. thanks for telling your case story

[Mr_Glass in reply to MayGodBlessYou]

I’m taking Strensiq. It is the only synthetic Alkaline Phosphatase available on the market. It is not shipped through one rare pharmacy in the country and my dosage is roughly $2M a year. It works but don’t know the long term effects of all the Alk Phos being delivered into me.

[Tom2000]

Hi ohsuzyq

I have been on alendronic acid and calcium carbonate with Vit D for about a year now. I am 76 yrs and have not suffered any noticeable side effects. I have what I assume are the usual aches and pains for someone of my age particularly when I get up in the morning. But mild exercising and stretching deals with that.

I take the alendronic acid tablet every Sunday morning first thing with half a pint of water and sit up watching tele for half an hour or more before I eat or drink anything as per instructions. The only time I have had any problem was once when I bent over causing me to feel exceedingly nauseous. I immediately drank another glass full of water to quell my nausea but it was a close thing!

I am waiting for my GP to call me in to have my bone density looked at again. I think I may have to chase them up.

Hope you are feeling better soon.

Tom

[DollieDee]

Hi. I had a similar experience after taking alendronate for just two weeks! No more for me. I'm going to eat a better diet and exercise more, and be careful not to fall! It seems like a lot of these drugs do more harm than good

[ohsuzyq in reply to DollieDee]

Did your symptoms go away after stopping the medication? Mine have not and it has been a month now.

[DollieDee in reply to ohsuzyq]

Yes, I am back to my normal amount of aches and pains! I am used to a certain level of pain as I also suffer from Lyme arthritis, and spinal stenosis. I haven’t been able to exercise properly for about ten months, due to sciatica, and in July I had spine surgery. I think the sitting around and taking lots of meds contributed to my bone density lowering. Now I can restart an exercise program!

[ohsuzyq in reply to DollieDee]

I'm glad your pain was relieved by stopping the medication, and that you're ready to restart an exercise program. I have been able to do leg and core exercise but I tried going back to Silver Sneakers and just movement of my arms without weights or straps started all the pain back up! I've decided I won't go back on the Alendronate and just continue working my legs and core, and hopefully my shoulders will eventually get back to normal. Good luck to you and thanks for sharing your story with me.

[DollieDee]

I think you have made a good choice. Keep going on the exercise, like me, and we will both feel better! Thanks for your sharing

[KiaMarie in reply to DollieDee]

Newly diagnosed a few months ago . Went to Rheumatologist and right away meds. Looking at side affects is scary. I also go to Silver Sneakers to exercise.. Glad I found this group. Thank you for sharing your experience