Actonel: Anyone have input or experiences?

Thank you.

Thank you for this information. I am struggling with taking anything at all. I am afraid of the side effects. My lowest number is in my femur which is-2.3 as of last September but my CTX is getting higher. It’s now 705. I think the hormone blocker I am on is part of the problem. I get off the anastrozole in 8 months. I was hoping to ride it out until then.

It's the side-effects issue that terrifies everyone. What is so interesting/troubling, though, is that a drug and dosage that sends one person to the ER is perfectly tolerated by another who reports they didn't feel a thing. You just have to find the one with the cost-benefit analysis that works for you. If you hate the Actonel pill, you can just stop. That's the nice part about pills. It's the infusions that still scare me-- and that's what comes at the end of Tymlos. So, even though I've done my time with Actonel, I'm still right there with you regarding fear of the unknown.

I sometimes have swallowing issues with this med. Instead of being able to down all the water immediately, it might take up to five minutes of slow sipping between burping. Is there any kind of problem with taking a few minutes to drink the necessary water? Any tricks to not having this happen?

Hi dramagal27! My wife will soon start on a bisphosphonate. She sips water, too. I was concerned about the Actonel harming her esophagus when she drinks water this way. So I asked her doctor to prescribe Atelvia - same active med as Actonel, but is a once-a-week delayed-release coated tablet that is to be taken immediately after breakfast(!) with water. I'm thinking (and hoping) that the outer coating will get the tablet into her stomach without any esophagus problems. Another member of this group says she takes Atelvia "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." She also eats some plantains. Afterwards, she drinks 2 glasses of water. Everyone is different, but in her case, a small breakfast and less water resulted in stomach pain. But her current regimen, she said, gives her no problems at all.
I'm going to try to have my wife follow this plan - hope she has similar results.
So is taking Actonel with sips of water causing any problems with your esophagus? How long have you been taking this med? And is it causing you any noteworthy side effects?
Sorry for the novel-sized comment, and wishing you good health!

Hi there. I have come to realize that any swallowing issues I had appear to be related to allergy issues, excess phlegm in my throat, and some anxiety, so I try to clear out the phlegm before taking the pill. I took Actonel once weekly for 5 years, but I am now on a drug holiday. Btw: I have recently learned that these meds do not reverse the osteopenia/osteoperosis, but instead halt it. We can take drug holidays because the active ingredient remains in our bones for a long time. As for side effects - I didn't have any. In the past, when doctors kept you on these pills for years and years, eventually, people would have issues with bone pain/soreness, but the rules around it have changed and continue to change with updated information. Incidentally, I was initially advised to take it because I had broken two bones in my arm (proximal and distal humerus) within five years. Breaking any bone takes a while to recover. and I didn't want to go through that again.

I took my first Actonel weekly tablet last Monday. I became ill very quickly, aches, pains through the whole body, headaches, freezing cold then boiling hot inside, awfully painful stomach cramps, dizzy, blurred vision, loss of appetite, vomiting, constipation and the list goes on… I’ve never had a reaction to any drug before. I went to the doctors on the Friday, he told me to take it again the following Monday to see if I have the same reaction which I have done. I understand this drug has no affect on some people but for me I will never touch it again, it has been an awful experience. Yesterday I went to a different doctor who has suggested I take the 6 month injection instead. To be honest I am so scared to take anything similar now. I’m a 54 year old woman with a T score 1.9-2.2. Is there anyone out there to give me any advice at all please?

I was on Actonel, 35mg/week/ for seven years and started wondering about the side effects. I was put on it because of a low bone mass density after a wrist fracture. The MD looked at my high blood calcium and high parathyroid hormone (PTH) level, and suggested that a surgeon check my four parathyroids. That was done, and one found to be highly enlarged and it was removed. That was six years ago, and my blood calcium level dropped dramatically over the night after the operation. So I've been wondering if I even needed to continue on Actonel since the high blood calcium was caused by the defective parathyroid. The pamphlet that comes with the drug suggests that it only be taken for five years before taking a ' drug holiday' . My bone mass density tests for the past five years haven't shown any change. I've took myself off Actonel about six months ago and didn't see any change, but in the last few weeks have noticed itching on my legs when I go to bed. Is leg itching a thing that others have experienced as a withdrawal symptom of Actonel. I can see that it might be if my body adapted to the Actonel and the blood calcium level that resulted from it, and now is reacting perhaps to a slight increase in the calcium level in the blood. Thanks for any thoughts.

I was given a prolia shot January 2024- and suffered terrible side effects- including bleeding gums, aches and pains and flu like symptoms. Furthermore my Dr. never informed me you cannot go off Prolia cold turkey which is really bad. After 6 months she put me on actonel 35 mg weekly. The past few months when I eat something bulky i.e. hamburger or pasta I have difficulty swallowing and food feels like it is backing up. I am also constipated. Since this drug affects the espohagus I am not happy and would like to go off it. My Gastroenterologist has prescribed a barium swallowing videography. I am 76 in great shape do weight bearing exercises and do aerobic activity about 10 hours a week. Also eat a lot of calcium producing foods. Also I hear if there are disc issues in the back that could affect the dexa score.