1. < Osteoporosis & Bone Health

Anyone on Alendronate?

Posted by 12jo @12jo, Apr 5, 2023

I have been on Alendronate since May 2017. If I don't have osteoporosis, but some osteopenia, how long is it safe to take a 'vacation' from the drug? Does it do any good to take it every other week? My internist wants me to switch to Prolia, which I will not do. I don't know if I would have any side effects from it and it is not a drug that can be stopped w/o possible problems. I am 78 years old and my only health condition is RA, which is under control and has not affected my day-to-day life. I have read that alendronate can affect your esophagus and occasionally, over the years, I have had times where I feel like food gets stuck and it takes anywhere from 3 - 30 minutes for this uncomfortable feeling to go away. I have had my esophagus stretched via an endoscopy several times.
Re Prolia, I have read : People with weakened immune systems are advised not to use to denosumab because it can lead to serious infections that require hospitalization (such as heart infections). It can also cause disintegration of the jaw, called osteonecrosis, and atypical femur fractures. Recent studies have shown that people who stop taking denosumab experience bone loss within the first year if they do not start taking a new osteoporosis treatment. In clinical trials, results also suggest that people who stop taking denosumab and did not start another treatment experienced more vertebral fractures (fractures in your spine) in the 10 months after treatment than people who had been taking a placebo.
I am interested in hearing thoughts about 'vacationing' from alendronate.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Osteoporosis & Bone Health Support Group.

hrd | @hrd | Apr 9, 2023

I am new to the Mayo Support groups and was very excited to see a post titled "ALENDRONATE." I was diagnosed with osteoporosis (doc said I am in the bottom .5%) July 2022. I had a TKR replacement scheduled for the end of August 2022, so I was instructed to wait until at least 6 months post op to begin any treatment. The surgeon who did my knee replacement replacement said my bones were mush and crumbling, indicating if I had another waited another 2 weeks, the part in my knee would have come through my shin. I had no idea osteoporosis was so dibilating. I have had so many health issues since recovering from late stage 3 breast cancer 10 years ago, now I see they can be attributed to osteo.
But back to the Alendonate. I began the medication first week of February this year. I got so sick I was bedridden. It was just like having Chemo again. I felt like I was dying. I called my Internal Medicine doctor who gave me the RX, and he said to take it for a month to get acclimated to it. Horrible. I was in bed for 5 weeks. Not until the 6th week was I able to get up and about and join the living. I'm still getting my strength back. I've been wanting to post here, but for some reason have hesitated. I am hoping to hear if anyone else has had this type of allergic reaction to Alendronate.
I understand this doesn't help you and doesn't anwer your question about Alendronate, sorry.
FYI I am a 65 year old female breast cancer survivor, a recovering alcoholic (16 years!), an ex-smoker with an assortment of health problems. Thanks for listening to anyone reading.

REPLY
1 reply
12jo | @12jo | Apr 9, 2023
In reply to @hrd "I am new to the Mayo Support groups and was very excited to see a post..." + (show)
@hrd

I am new to the Mayo Support groups and was very excited to see a post titled "ALENDRONATE." I was diagnosed with osteoporosis (doc said I am in the bottom .5%) July 2022. I had a TKR replacement scheduled for the end of August 2022, so I was instructed to wait until at least 6 months post op to begin any treatment. The surgeon who did my knee replacement replacement said my bones were mush and crumbling, indicating if I had another waited another 2 weeks, the part in my knee would have come through my shin. I had no idea osteoporosis was so dibilating. I have had so many health issues since recovering from late stage 3 breast cancer 10 years ago, now I see they can be attributed to osteo.
But back to the Alendonate. I began the medication first week of February this year. I got so sick I was bedridden. It was just like having Chemo again. I felt like I was dying. I called my Internal Medicine doctor who gave me the RX, and he said to take it for a month to get acclimated to it. Horrible. I was in bed for 5 weeks. Not until the 6th week was I able to get up and about and join the living. I'm still getting my strength back. I've been wanting to post here, but for some reason have hesitated. I am hoping to hear if anyone else has had this type of allergic reaction to Alendronate.
I understand this doesn't help you and doesn't anwer your question about Alendronate, sorry.
FYI I am a 65 year old female breast cancer survivor, a recovering alcoholic (16 years!), an ex-smoker with an assortment of health problems. Thanks for listening to anyone reading.

Jump to this post

hrd, I am sorry you had such a bad experience while on alendronate. Fortunately I have never had any problems with it. It was just recently that I read about the possibility it can affect your esophagus or I would have discussed it with my doctor sooner. Now that I think about it, I wonder why the gastroenterologist who did my endoscopies never said anything, as all doctors ask for a list of medications their patients are on.
As we all know, there is the possibility of side effects with any medication we take - be it prescription or otc. I hope you can find something else that won't have such terrible side effects.

REPLY
plunky | @plunky | May 14, 2023

I take one 70 mg Alendronate tablet per week on Sunday. Is it okay to take one 250 mg tablet of Aleve on Tuesday and one 250 mg tablet of Aleve on Thursday ? I always take it with plenty of water and some food in my stomach. It's the only thing that reduces my inflammatory arthritis. I can barely walk or move without taking Aleve. I take as little as possible just so I have 2 or 3 days a week that I'm able to walk a bit and get things done.

REPLY
1 reply
Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | May 27, 2023
In reply to @plunky "I take one 70 mg Alendronate tablet per week on Sunday. Is it okay to take..." + (show)
@plunky

I take one 70 mg Alendronate tablet per week on Sunday. Is it okay to take one 250 mg tablet of Aleve on Tuesday and one 250 mg tablet of Aleve on Thursday ? I always take it with plenty of water and some food in my stomach. It's the only thing that reduces my inflammatory arthritis. I can barely walk or move without taking Aleve. I take as little as possible just so I have 2 or 3 days a week that I'm able to walk a bit and get things done.

Jump to this post

@plunky, that is a good question to ask your pharmacist. They are most knowledgeable about possible drug interactions and very accessible to ask questions.

@12jo, I added your discussion to the Osteoporosis & Bone Health Support Group. You may also be interested in this related discussion started by @artscaping
- Need an osteoporosis drug vacation? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/need-an-osteoporosis-drug-vacation/

REPLY
1 reply
12jo | @12jo | May 27, 2023
In reply to @colleenyoung "@plunky, that is a good question to ask your pharmacist. They are most knowledgeable about possible..." + (show)
@colleenyoung

@plunky, that is a good question to ask your pharmacist. They are most knowledgeable about possible drug interactions and very accessible to ask questions.

@12jo, I added your discussion to the Osteoporosis & Bone Health Support Group. You may also be interested in this related discussion started by @artscaping
- Need an osteoporosis drug vacation? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/need-an-osteoporosis-drug-vacation/

Jump to this post

I have asked a pharmacist - she gave me good information, but mentioned to discuss with my doctor (which I always do) My doctor wants me to continue on fosamax at least into 2024 and maybe 2025 . May 2024 will be 7 years.
Thank you for adding my discussion to the other group.

REPLY
lbrinin1701 | @lbrinin1701 | May 28, 2023

I have been taking it for four years and I am unimpressed. I never felt it was actually doing me any good . At best it may have kept some of bones from dissolving into fine dust but lately I have had a couple of negative things even though I am careful and follow the instructions religiously. I read a pamphlet published by Terry naturals that said osteoporosis medications frequently cause pressure fractured more often than they help you avoid them and I too want either a different treatment or long vacation from this potential harmful drug. The literature itself said this drug does not actually build bone or increase density only helps things big deteriorate. That anc osteonecrosis does not fill me with hope. There's GOT to be something better

REPLY
Please sign in or register to post a reply.