Hi @ryman, glad to see you back. I'm interested in your experience for a couple of reasons: First, my wife took alendronate (Fosomax) for nearly 10 years, but her doctor took her off that drug two years ago because of research showing that long-term use of bisphosphonates (for more than 5 years) presents unnecessary risks. Second, Aredia is a bisphosphonate, a class of drugs known for slowing or preventing the loss of bone mass (see drugs.com) but not for rebuilding bones damaged by osteopenia and osteoporosis. She is now taking no such medication, only limited calcium supplements, subject to regular lab tests for calcium and parathyroid gland performance; she no longer presents the kind of bone densities that led to an initial diagnosis of osteoporosis and a later update of osteopenia. That's why I'm interested in the questions raised by @sandytoes14 and 2 other questions: How long have you been taking Aredia? What do your tests show about how well the Aredia is working? Your experience certainly is meaningful for the many Connect members interested in this subject. Thanks for any information you can lend us for our use in making good decisions.