I think I took it for 4-5 years before the one-year holiday. The brand name Atelvia (35 mg), a weekly pill, does not hurt my stomach for three reasons:

1) It is enteric-coated, 2) I am supposed to take it right after eating a meal (breakfast, I think) and 3) I take it after having "solid but spongy food" like pancakes, rather than something like hot or cold cereal or toast and eggs. I find pancakes provide a great cushion for the pill.

After taking Atelvia, one cannot lay down for 30 minutes afterwards (sitting is fine).

Also (and unfortunately), the generic version I tried once had a different adjuvant than the brand name (adjuvants are used to increase the efficacy or potency of a drug) and I could not tolerate it at all, even on top of pancakes. My doctors had said as much, but I wanted to try the generic as the brand name Atelvia 35 mg is very expensive. That was long ago and whoever is making the generic may have improved it.

Atelvia is the only osteo med I take. I also walk a lot, use 8 lb weights for arm exercises and recently started drinking Lactaid cow's milk. My doctor has said that calcium in food is better absorbed than calcium in pill form.