Side effects of osteo med

Witchy Woman · ‎03-15-2010

About 4 months ago, I was given Alendronate Sodium tabs 70mg for osteoporosis.

During that time, I've developed severe pain in my right hip which I could not pinpoint to anything I've done. It's been so bad at times, I am limping when I walk!

Sure enough, one of the side effects of this medication is severe muscle and/or joint pain.

I've got a doctor's appointment in the next few weeks, but I've taken my last pill. The pain has been so bad, it wakes me up. Aleve helps, but I cannot continue to take that.

I'm just mad at myself for not identifying the issue before now. Since I'm very healthy, any sort of pain or problem is really out of the ordinary for me.

Not sure what I can take to help the osteo, but it won't be this medication.

KingstonsMom · ‎03-09-2010

@Witchy Woman

While everyone's medical situation is different, I use Prolia for osteoporosis and have seen much improvement on my Dex scans.

It's an injection that I receive every 6 months and I have absolutely no side effects from it.

The manufacturer has a program to assist with co-pays or if you're Medicare eligible, there is a Grant program that can help with the co-pays.

Talk to your Dr. and discuss the alternative treatments with them.

You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have.

jubilant · ‎06-10-2010

Years ago they put me on Fosamax. It really did a number on my stomach. I was in my 50's then. I went off of it. I am now 70 and with exercises known to help osteoporosis, my numbers (last I was checked) have not gotten any worse so I have maintained that same number for 20 yrs. Every case is different but this is what has worked for me.

KACEE1115 · ‎04-05-2018

I was given a medicine once for high cholesterol, I noticed that when I was mowing my lawn my legs felt so weak it was a strange feeling, then I noticed that one of the side effects was weakness in legs etc. So I called the doctor and told them, they said well that's unusual and shouldn't be happening. Although it said on the package that that is one of the side effects. I quit taking it on my own and the weakness in my legs went away

lovesallanimals · ‎03-11-2010

My Dr. wants to put me on meds for osteoporosis but I keep telling him no. I was on Fosomax about 10 years ago. Tried it for about 4 days and could not take the heartburn it was causing. Three out the rest of the pills (safely). Then I read the side affects about this causing jaw problems in the bone, and all kinds of things. My Dr. did suggest I try the injection but I just read up on that and OMG the side affects are horrendous. I don't know what to do but I am deathly afraid of going on these meds.

SilleeMee · ‎05-22-2016

A while back I was diagnosed with osteopor and, according to my rheumy, I needed a bone-building Rx. She had me get the once-a-year IV injection of Zometa. That was given to me at the hospital while I sat in a chair and had an IV drip of the Zometa. Six months later my bone density test came back better but my rheumy suggested I get another dose of Zometa the following year.

About a year after getting the Zometa I started having severe neck pain which lasted for several months. I couldn't function and many days went by laying in bed. I became suicidal b/c the pain was so unbearable that I wanted it to end it all. That's when I went back to my rheumy who sent me to neurosurgeon and the following week I was in surgery having my neck bones removed/replaced b/c of a weird bone tumor which had developed on my cevical spine area. The docs couldn't explain it but my rheumy told me she was not going to prescribe another dose of Zometa. Why? The rheumy said the weird tumor could have been an adverse reaction to the Zometa and combined with my existing scleroderma it could have been that, too. No one knows for sure but I'm glad to still be here pain-free.

What I take now is a healthy dose of vitamin D and a silica (silicon not to be confused with silicone) powder supplement I discovered several years ago. The silica has made my bones healthy and strong. I have Dexa scan results to prove it.

Here's a very interesting (technical) read from the NIH. Scroll down to the "Summary" to get to the gist. I've posted this before and you may have already seen it:

"Silicon: A Review of Its Potential Role in the Prevention and Treatment of Postmenopausal Osteoporosis"

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3671293/#:~:text=Silicon%20improves%20bone%20matrix%20q....

NickNack · ‎03-10-2010

@Witchy Woman I had a similar experience with Fosamax. The joint pain was just awful. I have been getting Prolia injections for several years, and my DexaScans are very good now. It will be something I have to do for life. I just had one this week. Like @IG I get them every six months.

I haven't had any side effects from it, and my doctor said that all of her patients that she's put on it are doing well with it. The side effects for anything sound scary, but I've had none with this.

The Bluebird Carries The Sky On His Back"
-Henry David Thoreau

PamfromCT · ‎05-22-2014

Nobody can tell you what to do, but I have had wonderful results from Prolia injections. And no side effects at all.

I am in my mid-70s and feel so much better about my bone health. Exercise is a must, limited caffeine, and calcium supplement too. The thought nowadays is moderate calcium intake, not as much as some manufacturers may recommend. But the university I go to recommends not timing twice-yearly injections while you are having major dental work. If your dental work is major, it just affects the timing of your next shot.

While I no longer technically have osteoporosis, and am one step down on that, I feel continuing treatment is so beneficial.

I have no crystal ball into the future, but many women in my family live to a ripe old age. It may, or may not, be me. In either case, don’t want a broken hip in my future.

I am sure you will make the right decision for you. Just thought you might benefit from another person’s experience.

I hope you find my experience helpful and wish you the best of luck.

ThinkingOutLoud · ‎05-01-2020

See if there's a naturopath in your area and ask them for recs and/or try Dr. Christopher's Complete Tissue and Bone. You can also read up on what homeopathics might help.

Effie54 · ‎09-08-2010

@jubilant wrote:
Years ago they put me on Fosamax. It really did a number on my stomach. I was in my 50's then. I went off of it. I am now 70 and with exercises known to help osteoporosis, my numbers (last I was checked) have not gotten any worse so I have maintained that same number for 20 yrs. Every case is different but this is what has worked for me.

I agree - Fosamax and that type of drug cause wayyyy too many side-effects. I took Actonel for 2 years and developed permanent reflux (and ulcers). I discontinued it and take magnesium, Vitamin D and calcium; I walk daily and my numbers got better. Never again will I take drugs pushed by MD's that cause those side-effects.