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!