Would like to know people's experience using Fosamax

Posted by dschiff @dschiff, Mar 30, 2016

Would like to know people's experience using Fosamax.

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@evieinnz

My Mum was on fosamax. She was the healthiest lady I knew aged 89! Running with the Grandies, walked for miles up hills, swam, and many voluntary jobs. She got extremely tired for about 3 months then had a wee stroke. Bloods weren’t good and she had to have bone marrow check. Hardly any Red cells! Leukaemia! We read up on fosamax and it wasn’t good. Kills bones!??? So maybe started that process of killing bone marrow?? Think it caused all this 😞

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Hi....wow, this scared me.....and oh my goodness, your poor mom!! I have some people telling me how 'good' Fosamax is.....how 'bad' it is....and SOME, that I'm just not very 'smart' for not taking it. That's all o.k.! To be honest, I am so confused about it....all I have READ in medical reviews on it is that it IS bad....sure, your next scan may show an improvement (or not), the 'number' may be a better one, but what I read was that your bones are not actually more dense....or stronger, but that they are made harder and more brittle with Fosamax, and the article also stated that after being on Fosamax, a person's bones were MORE likely to break or fracture, than NOT taking it. So.....I am still just putting it off. Am I taking my chances? I guess I am....I look at those boxes of Fosamax every night, sitting on my dresser, before I go to bed. I don't want to worry. I am now waiting to be scheduled for another open-heart surgery...to repair a leaky valve. I've had to do my OWN research on that, too....they wanted me to go to The Cleveland Heart Institute in Ohio or Northwestern Hospital in Chicago at FIRST....then mentioned Mayo Clinic in Rochester....for a 'full-on' open heart....I finally asked why I could not have a mitral clip instead, to stop the leaking blood...minimally invasive, so now I am waiting to hear from another hospital...he kind of 'frowned' on that one, University of Iowa Hospital, Iowa...I have researched them ALL & the Drs. they mentioned....I'm not sure if I should go there (it's only about 60 miles from here)....but he did as I asked, sent my medical records to them. They ARE the first hospital in Iowa that started using mitral clips...and for decades it stated....so I hope I am a 'candidate' & can have it done & over with. Didn't mean to get on THIS subject. Just seems like life is always throwing SOMETHING at us lol! Seems like we are always having to make one kind of medical decision or another....and hoping that our decision is wise. Well, I have my 18 yr. old Cocker Spaniel to carry outside, to see if she'll 'do anything'.....you all have a nice evening now....stay safe and hopefully happy! < 3

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@leomom2

I started taking Fosamax weekly about three and a half mos ago. About three weeks ago, I noticed that my food was racing through my bowels, and it has been really loose when going to the bathroom. I checked with my doctor, and he told me to discontinue for a month which I just did this week. If it is the Fosamax, I wonder how long it will take for me to be back to normal. I am getting tired of the BRAT diet.

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I know this comment was almost a year ago but did the diarrhea finally clear up? I only took 2 doses of fosamax but got diarrhea so stopped. Imodium AD helps and watching what I eat but as soon as I eat anything "normal" the diarrhea comes back. Did yours finally stop? How long did it take?

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Fosamax (alendronate) is commonly used to treat and prevent osteoporosis, with many users reporting improved bone density and the convenience of a once-weekly dose. However, it can cause gastrointestinal issues like stomach pain and heartburn, as well as bone, joint, or muscle pain in some cases. Rare side effects include osteonecrosis of the jaw and atypical femur fractures. It's crucial to follow dosing instructions carefully and consult with a healthcare provider about any side effects to maximize the benefits and minimize risks.

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I was very afraid to start this but of all the options I finally decided to go with it. Because fractures are not something I want to get!

It has been 6 months and -- virtually no side effects. My doctor did recommend taking something like Pepsid a bit more often to reduce the possible digestive upsets. I do take one the night before and occasionally some other stomach soothing over-the-counter product.....have no idea if it helps but I have been ok.....and although I have no idea if Fosamax is doing anything positive,at least it hasn't been a negative.....

Understand and appreciate your concern...

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@cbeasley

I took Fosomax for 2 years knowing a big fusion of my back was in my future. I had no symptoms taking it.

Now, 5 years post surgery, I have a lot of pain from it.

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How are you doing since your comment here from Nov 2023, has your pain level improved? Do you think your pain is from Fosamax, or your back surgery? I was just prescribed Fosamax but haven't started taking it yet, kind of scared to. Thanks.

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@greenlilac

Hello everyone. After 8 years of no drugs, after losing most of my hair (all over body) on forteo and then getting LERD on fosamax, I got a dexa scan and ofcourse am back in osteoporosis range. Hip is -3.7 I wasnt ready to do a long term injection so started weekly Fosamax. Last week was pill #2. 24 hours later, I became so incapacitated with pain in both knees and back, I could hardly get home. The previous night I had horrible spasms that woke me out of sleep all up my legs and back. I realized this was Fosamax! Weds is my 3rd pill. I hope I can last 6 months on it. I know some have no side effects but this happened to me. If anyone had similar, what did you do? I read this can last a long time-- scary.

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Can you provide an update from your Jan 2023 post? Did you continue taking Fosamax for 6 months?

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@ripley

How are you doing since your comment here from Nov 2023, has your pain level improved? Do you think your pain is from Fosamax, or your back surgery? I was just prescribed Fosamax but haven't started taking it yet, kind of scared to. Thanks.

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never had problems with Fosamax ….. wish 5 years after surgery did as well as I’d hoped.

Still in a lot of pain as pelvis to above shoulder blades is as far as they got in 8.5 hrs. tailbone & neck really hurts now. No pain meds either, so try to sleep with ice where it hurts.

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@nwyatt

I know this comment was almost a year ago but did the diarrhea finally clear up? I only took 2 doses of fosamax but got diarrhea so stopped. Imodium AD helps and watching what I eat but as soon as I eat anything "normal" the diarrhea comes back. Did yours finally stop? How long did it take?

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Did the side effects from Fosamax finally clear up, such as the diarrhea? I was prescribed this med but am afraid to start taking it. Thanks.

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@ripley

Did the side effects from Fosamax finally clear up, such as the diarrhea? I was prescribed this med but am afraid to start taking it. Thanks.

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I stopped after 2 doses. Bad diarrhea and back pain. Now I'm on Forteo. I've had 9 doses so far and no problems. Not everyone has side effects. I'm just an unlucky one.

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@ripley

Did the side effects from Fosamax finally clear up, such as the diarrhea? I was prescribed this med but am afraid to start taking it. Thanks.

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Also, still having bouts of heartburn and diarrhea. Not sure what's going on.

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