Colleen and jaleen they are all over. And as I mentioned before, I have two personal examples of very bad side effects. I realize there are lesser "side effects" but I don't handle medicine well so I don't plan to find out first hand.

This is from https://www.drugwatch.com/fosamax/side-effects/
Severe Side Effects
According to Merck, a defendant in litigation because of Fosamax, the more severe side effects include broken bones, jawbone deterioration, A probems, low blood calcium, and extreme bone and joint pain.

Femur Fractures
For those taking Fosamax, perhaps the most frustrating side effect is the drug’s propensity to cause fractures of what is one of the strongest bones in the body – the femur. These low-energy fractures, also called stress fractures, often happen when patients least expect it. Some patients reported breaking bones while they were doing normal, everyday tasks such as walking or sitting. Merck said the fractures usually come after weeks or months of groin or hip pain. Researchers are still trying to determine why Fosamax is linked to bone breaks, especially in patients taking the drug for five years or longer. Many scientists theorize the drug shuts down the body’s bone-renewing process and creates more brittle bones.

Dead Jaw Syndrome (Osteonecrosis)
Another alarming side effect of Fosamax is jaw osteonecrosis, also called Dead Jaw Syndrome. This happens when the blood flow to the jawbone, or mandible, is cut off and causes bone death. Usually onset following minor mouth trauma such as dental work, jaw necrosis (cell death) causes an antibiotic-resistant infection and swelling. The infection eventually takes over the tissue and causes bone to die and collapse.

Esophagus Problems
Some Fosamax patients develop irritation, inflammation and bleeding ulcers in the esophagus, which is the tube that connects the mouth to the stomach. In addition, recent studies point to these problems leading to esophageal cancer. Those who have pre-existing known upper gastrointestinal problems, such as Barrett’s esophagus and dysphagia, should not take Fosamax. In some patients, Fosamax leads to esophageal erosion with bleeding and esophageal perforation. Because of these potentially dangerous side effects, Merck recommends that patients sit upright or stand for a full 30 minutes after taking the drug and take it with a full glass of water.

Low Blood Calcium
Also called hypocalcemia, low blood calcium levels can lead to hand and feet spasms, muscle cramps and abdominal cramps. Since bisphosphonates hinder the natural breakdown of bone, less calcium is deposited back into the blood stream. As the tissues and cells get robbed of calcium, patients can suffer from soft bones, nausea, fatigue and muscle weakness. This can also lead to spasmodic movements and seizures.

Musculoskeletal Pain
The FDA has also found that Fosamax patients can develop severe bone, muscle and joint pains within days of starting the drug. For some people, this pain stops almost immediately after discontinuing it. For others, it is ongoing. Even though it is well documented that Fosamax causes pain, some physicians are known to ignore this side effect, instead prescribing painkillers. The FDA has alerted medical professionals about this problem to ensure Fosamax-related pain won’t be overlooked.

Lanadee, It is important to do what is right for you. As the NOF article states "A medicine that is appropriate and effective for one person may not be the best choice for another person. People can respond differently to treatment with the same medicine."

Luckily there are lifestyle choices you can make to help https://www.nof.org/prevention/preventing-fractures/prevention-and-healthy-living/ I bet you look forward to being able to return to adding exercise to your routine. Good luck with the healing of your toe.

@jaleen, Go to Facebook and join some of the Osteoporosis groups. You will see story after story of illnesses, broken and fractured bones, and people so angry they want to start a class action against some of these manufacturers.

I agree. I am trying to decide if I should take fosomax. And the literature I read does list negatives— a jaw problem, atypical fracture of femur, and brittle bones. But they are very small percentages of the whole. They scare me, but if fosomax works for 90percent or more, it may be worth it. Cancer scares me, and it is also a side effect, but again, very small. Now my doc says a holiday is needed— take it for 5 years, take 3 to 5 off, and check bone density. I understand it continues to work for years after, building bones. I want to believe it, but it does scare me a bit.