Iāve been taking these for a few months and understand that they have to be swallowed properly, and whilst upright, as they can cause problems in the oesophagus.
Does anyone one else struggle with these blooming things, even with loads of water etc.
Why oh why do they have to be the size of a horse pill - Iām really struggling recentlyā¦ā¦ā¦canāt they make them smaller and you just take more of them?
The ones theyāve supplied recently are huge and a strange shape, with angular sides, like a flat oval.
No matter what I do they āfeelā stuck in my throat and youāre also not supposed to take with anything else and on an empty stomachā¦ā¦.
Iāve drunk so much water Iām fit to burst!
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Cfmad298601
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Just say no!!! There are alternatives - not that the risendronate tablet sounds any better at 13 by 6mm which is the same size as your oval AA. Even I would struggle with those,
There are other options that don't require swallowing horse pills - you can have an annual infusion.
Unfortunately the tablets cannot be cut, perhaps you could get a different brandā¦but if they really are an issue maybe discuss infusions rather than tablets with your doctor.
I mentioned a dexa scan a few weeks ago to my Rheumy but it was just sort of dismissed, by saying the AA would make sure I wasnāt lacking, I even offered to pay for the scan!
That is terrible. I was given AA at the start of PMR as "this is what we do" said the GP. When I realised that this actually wasn't the case from this wonderful forum i requested a Dexascan through my GP. The results were good and I immediately stopped the AA and on my recent second scan 2 years later my results are still good. So, ask your GP to refer you ? Good luck.
Why wonāt they listen ? Refuse to take them until you have had a scan. If your Rheumy wonāt authorise one can you ask your GP instead ? I requested one with an only a phone call from my GP. Good luck.
Thought a point of the DEXA was making sure AA doing itās job after the first scan. I refused AA and was given a DEXA . My results no change from the last DEXA and only taken AA for a few weeks. So AA not really proof of anything
If you are able to pay for a Dexascan then you don't need a referral for it from rheumy or GP. I have just booked one at The Nuffield Hospital without a referral cost is Ā£215. I guess this may vary where ever you go.
I was given a prescription out of the blue for AA and calcium supplements - different GP (my GP gave me a diet sheet on sources of calcium). Decided to have a DEXA scan first (waiting results). Paid for it myself at a Nuffield Hospital. It was Ā£165 but they did request a GP referral first.
I take an Apo-Risedronate Delayed-Release Tablet (35 mg) once a week and take it in the morning after breakfast with a large glass of water. The tablets aren't that large at all.
"The 35 mg once-a-week enteric-coated tablet delivers risedronate to sites beyond the stomach where concentrations of substances that interfere with its absorption are lower. In addition, a chelating agent included in the formulation competitively binds cations such as calcium that may be present in the area of absorption. This new DR formulation eliminates the restriction to take risedronate prior to the first food or drink in the morning and ensures adequate bioavailability and pharmacological availability of risedronate."
Tell your doc youāre having problems with these. I never got on with them and had stomach issues as well. If you need one the annual infusion is less intrusive to your life.
If the tablets are cut or crushed it puts the patient at risk of the adverse effects to taking protocol is designed to avoid. All leaflets say "Never chew, crush or suck the tablet as this can cause side effects such as mouth ulcers and heartburn."
I too was prescribed these st the start of my diagnosis and totally agree with what you have said about them! I havenāt been offered any scans so have no idea what my bones are like!
You have my sympathy as I struggle to swallow any large pill. I refused to take bisphonates even though my GP automatically tried to push them onto me once I started steroids for PMR. I have a poor result from my DEXA scan but now take vit D3 with K2 daily, Mg once a week and eat loads of Ca rich food. I jog around the house, walk, play a bit of tennis dig, do yoga and generally try to keep fit. I'm 74. I do not like the way the medics here push these pills on to us. Good luck
Hi Lonsdalelass. Yes, magnesium. I've reduced it from daily just because I've now been given methotrexate and folic acid (both weekly doses) and I felt my poor body had enough to cope with!!!! Irrational? Well, I'm allowed that I'm old š š
Great! I do the same. I fell off my bike about 6 months ago and didn't break anything....so hoping my bones are OK!I've read a lot about taking calcium isnt good for you - can't remember exactly why....but D3 and k2 plus weight bearing exercise are good.
I only have calcium 8n my diet - lots of fat free natural yoghurt and skinny lattes. I think that's ok, it's the Ca tablets that can be tricky - I hope!!!
I have noticed that it depends on what brand you get. For example, at the moment Iāve got Accord, which are a bit like flattened rugby balls and they take a bit of swallowing, but Teva brand are smaller and are easier. Iāve tried asking the pharmacist if I can have smaller ones, but it depends on what supplies they can get. We had a shortage in 2022 and I ended up with the ones that you dissolve in water. Maybe you can have a word with your pharmacist and see if they can help.
I changed to Ibandronic acid which you take once a month, rather than weekly Alendronic acid which I found intrusive and annoying! The capsule is a bit bulky as you describe but the shape is simple! Hope this helps š
I had ibandrolic for a while but made me very depressed. Hopefully will be off steroids in a few weeks . Only on .5 but taking very slowly. Sure my GP will say just stop ā¦ā¦
I was unable to swallow the tablets when I was prescribed them. I agree with your description of 'horse pills'. I was given Zolendronate infusions instead. These were given in hospital once a year and I had no problem with them at all. Hope this is helpful.
I don't know whether or not this will help until such time as you get an alternative, but I take my alendronic acid tablets using a tip I learned here on the forum. I take a large sip of water, keep it in my mouth, then add the tablet and a further large sip of water and the whole lot goes down together. Seems to work for me. I also use it for my prednisolone tablets so I don't get the horrible taste. Good Luck!
I was taking AA a few years ago as I have PMR and the doctors definitely throw all these at you whether youāve had a bone scan or notā¦. I totally agree with you how difficult they were to take but I was very studious in how I took them until about 18 months in I had a terrible episode with themā¦actually thought I was dying/having a heart attack the pain was unbelievableš¢ I immediately stopped taking them and got to see a consultant who did a gastroscopy and told me the tablet had burnt a hole in my oesophagusā¦ I now have a hiatus hernia for the rest of my life unless I have surgery which isnāt guaranteed to work š¢ be aware what it can do to youā¦.and I absolutely followed the directions to the letterā¦
Which is why we always say, donāt take them unless you know you need them. Many doctors hand them out all too readily, and only read the first part of the paragraph.
I had GCA, so much higher doses, and because Iād had a hysterectomy aged 37 more prone to osteoporosis so I took them for 4 years with no issues. But they do need to be prescribed on an individual basis - not a blanket one.
I hate my AA tablets. I don't like cold water and I'm convinced that the tablet will stick in my oesophagus and do harm. Friday is ff day for me and I'm so glad that it's done for this week.
My cousin ( who has osteoporosis) had the same problem you have. Her endocrinologist told her to take the horse pill with a small amount of applesauce. Then, drink at least 10 ounces of water ( all done while standing or sitting up).
Hi - I had some very small tablets originally from the hospital which were easy to swallow. Since then my GP has been prescribing "Alendronic acid 70mg effervescent tablets sugar free" which dissolve in water so are also easy to take. Not sure whether you can get these but worth asking. I agree that the process is daunting when you think you might add to your problems by damaging your oesophagus. My Sunday mornings start with me drinking the AA and then trying to find things to do for half an hour... the house is tidier!
AA didnāt agree with me, so I stopped them and the hospital prescribed Binosto (dissolved in water) tastes like a fizzy drink. No problems and Iāve been taking them for nearly a year. You canāt eat before or for half hour after.
Are the Drs (and hence you) absolutely sure you need AA? Did you have a thorough dental check up prior?
I was put on AA and swallowed the tablet for 3 years as I was completely ignorant to the downsides. I simply thought it was part of the treatment. The wise ones here tell us to have a DEXA scan before agreeing to AA, or one of itās stable mates, eg Risedronate.
I was prescribed alendronate, medium, flat, football shaped tablets. I took one but after reading the side effects decided I really didn't want to take them at all. I had some pretty major dental work, implants so was told not to take them. I was glad that I didn't have to argue the point. I had been taking a calcium, magnesium, zinc supplement, with all 3, along with vitamin D3, I learned from here I should be taking Vitamin K2 as well, so I did. Then just before my last rheumatologist appt I upped my vitamin D3 and found that I was taking the wrong Vit K2. I was taking MK4 instead of MK7. My rheumy approved since I was having a mild breakout of psoriasis. She never asked how much I was taking. Sooo....a couple of months later and recent, I had an appt with my Bone Dr. about the dexa scan and she called and said she had some concerns about the Vit D test, it was quite high. Well, I had been feeling pretty good! Close to how I felt when I first started on the Pred! I had done more research, finding that several Dr.s were recommending higher doses for autoimmune diseases due to the studies showing great improvement notably for MS but others as well! The recommendation is 10,000 to 40,000 IUs. I was only taking 7000 IUs. My test showed my levels were over 120 ng/mL. OK but the University of California is doing a study that suggests the normal levels should be bumped up to 150 ng/mL. She only cut my dose down to 5000 IU what I was taking that included the Vit K2 MK7. She had heard about the results on MS. The reasoning behind the higher doses being necessary is that because people with AD show that they may have VDR Resistance therefore they need the higher dose to push the levels. Of course they also recommend Mag and Zinc as well. Also, yet another interesting fact, Vitamin D3 is not actually a vitamin but a hormone, technically a steroid! The studies and other information I came across were from University of CA, University of Conn, Mayo Clinic and the Dr who was predominant in this field was Dr. Michael F. Holick, University of Boston. I currently have a diagnosis of Osteopenia that was Osteoperosis with improvement in my hips, no change in my spine but could be due to the reduction in the estrogen portion of the HRT. She is planning testing my Vit D3 levels in a few months & checking to see if she can test for the VDR resistance. I have also been told to take the calcium supplement of 1200mg daily as well. I'm wondering if anyone else has seen anything on these studies or anything at all about higher doses of Vit D3? Yes there is a risk factor of hypercalcemia but according to the studies, the only people that ended up with that or any other issues were taking 100,000 IUs for 6 months or more and it was just a few people out of thousands. I'm not a Dr nor am I recommending anyone try this without consulting your Dr first and getting your Vitamin D levels checked to see if you even need this.
Ohh i feel your pain...ive been taking them for over 5 years...i was told that after 5 years we must have a break from them....so i got excited on my visit to the doctor to hopefully be told alendroniv tablet was finishing......BUT NO.....its now advised we carry on taking them....ggrrrr....YES i so agree the shape is so unnecessarily made...i dread fridays when i take them....and more importantly NO MORNING CUPPA.....š¤Ø
I refused to take the AA tablets - such a faf! I pushed for a yearly zolendronic acid infusion- Iāve just had my second and no ill effects. My consultant tried to put me off but all I thought was that they wanted to save money and were not thinking about my needs. If you need to take AA itās definitely preferable.
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