Is Risedronate easier on stomach than Alendronate?

[PatriMac]

I've avoided taking alendronate due to being high risk of stomach and throat cancer. My doctor wants me to try risedronate. Has anyone any experience of taking this?

[PMRpro Ambassador]

There is an even better option - an annual infusion of zolendronate.

[PatriMac in reply to PMRpro]

Sounds good PMRpro - thanks for the tip off.

[diana1998]

I was advised to take this by the fracture clinic after getting knocked over by a big dog and breaking my humerus. Just started with Emeprazole too. So far so good but might ask for the infusion.

[PatriMac in reply to diana1998]

I just can't stand Omeprazole so may give the whole thing a miss. Tell me if you get the infusion and how you get on with it. Cheers

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to PatriMac]

There are alternatives to omeprazole - lots of people don't get on with it.

[PatriMac in reply to PMRpro]

Interesting, tell me more ...

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to PatriMac]

Omeprazole is just one of a whole class of drugs called PPIs. Not all have the same side effects. Omeprazole seems to be the go-to in the UK, more than likely because it is the cheapest. Here in Italy the usual offering is pantoprozole - which is listed as the one with the least likelihood of adverse effects. But there are others - scroll down here for the list

medicinenet.com/proton-pump...

The PPIs have, to a great extent, replaced their predecessors, the H2 antagonists, as much as anything due to superior marketing of the "new kid on the block". They do much the same by a different mechanism so the adverse effects are also mostly different. But PPIs were presented as being far more effective - though actually, not that much of the truth were told.

In the meantime, as the downsides of PPIs are seen, H2 antagonists are coming back into favour. Ranitidine was the most famous, or maybe notorious, when there was a recall a few years ago because of contamination in the manufacturing process - but there are others:

medlineplus.gov/ency/patien...

[Pixix]

Yes. I was unable to tolerate alendronate, & my Dr changed me onto Risedronate. I was fine after the changeover, & tolerated it very well.

[PatriMac in reply to Pixix]

Thanks for that Pixix

[Cocopopslover]

I was put on Alendronic and had pains in my bones round my neck and jaw also had trouble turning my neck. Was on it for 4 weeks. My stiff neck stayed for 6 weeks. Doctor has suggested risondrate instead but I had a fall and broke two bones in my foot so haven’t bothered starting them. My dentist did say I should have had my teeth checked first as you can get problems with jaw. He said to follow doctors advice but he wouldn’t recommend it from a dental point of view.

[PatriMac in reply to Cocopopslover]

Thanks for that Cocopopslover. I'm inclined to say no to all of it for now as I'm being offered free homeopathic treatment which seems to be helping (of course I don't know for sure till I have another nuclear scan). I have a complicated tooth problem which is waiting to be operated on & my dentist has agreed I could end up with necrosis etc.

I appreciate the info you've shared.

[Cocopopslover in reply to PatriMac]

Necrosis is what worried me too, especially now I’m 76 and more likely to have teeth problems. Also they say you could still get fractures even when on it. Good luck.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Cocopopslover]

It IS very very rare. And yes, you can still have fractures but the risk is greatly reduced.