Fosamax

@cloud60 I took Fosamax for 5 years. I took it as directed every Sunday morning. I took it when I got up in the morning with plenty of water and then sat up and read until I was "allowed" to eat or drink anything else. I never read and my doctor did not tell me that I should avoid dairy products for up to two hours after taking the Fosamax. I usually made coffee for myself with some 2% milk after the time I was allowed to do that. I'm curious. Where did you read about no dairy products or calcium after taking Fosamax?

I don’t know where I read it but I called my pharmacist today and asked him if that’s true and he said yes that if you have a consultation with the pharmacist when you get your fosamax they tell you no milk or calcium products two hours before or two hours after. I said to him that’s very difficult everyone wants their coffee with milk after 30 minutes or an hour after the fosamax and he said it’s not difficult at all , it’s once a week. You just do it because the milk or calcium decreases the absorption of the fosamax . I actually looked up the research on all of this and it said -.20 or 20% of the medicine is not absorbed if you have cheese or milk

That's true with a lot of medications. Even with other supplements, calcium may block absorption. Can you try a plant milk with your coffee on the day you take the med? I use walnut or soy milk and enjoy them. You just have to keep stirring it in as you drink because it doesn't stay blended all that well.

@cloud60 Thank you. I think pharmacists are often a really helpful source of information. I just did not know of these recommendations when I was taking Fosamax.

Yet another thing to attend to. I just checked the information sheet that comes with our prescription of alendronate (the generic Fosamax). It just says don't eat anything for half an hour after taking the pill. No mention of calcium. I always have milk in coffee and have started cooking oatmeal in nonfat milk to boost the calcium.
My husband also has osteoporosis and takes alendronate. He has Alzheimer's Disease, gets up before I do and prowls the kitchen for food. So the night before we take our pills, I tape the refrigerator door shut, put signs up telling him not to eat anything, and hide the banannas and the papayas, which are on the counter top. Will switch to an egg for breakfast, buy an alternative milk for coffee once a week.
Thanks for the information!

I have been on Fosomax for 4 years and have seen some improvement. But when the question of when to eat or drink after taking the tablet, my doctor strongly advised to wait 1 hour and to take the tablet with 8 oz. of water, no more and no less. She was concerned that more water might dilute the medication too much. There was no mention of when to take the calcium. The treatments for osteoporosis are so varied and confusing and don't get me started with the blood tests that measure bone turnover. To fast or not to fast? To exercise before the test or not? I'm thinking that there is no consensus. I guess, I'll stay with my doctor and follow her suggestions because why would I stay if I'm going to do what I want and not follow her advice.