Alendronic Acid and side effects - useful reading

I am a (just) 70 year old woman and had been taking AA for eight years and read that you shouldn't take it for more than five years (after years of being told that I needed to be on it for life)   I did a lot of research and was horrified to find out the affects of taking it so told my doctor I wanted to come off it but the doctor was reluctant because I had been diagnosed with osteoporosis in my spine several years before by the Twin Research Unit in London that I go to.   It was eventually agreed that I should stop for a while, mainly because I had been getting lots of pain in my thighs and a weakness whenever I lifted anything heavy one of my legs would give way. I found out later, whether true or not, that AA stays in your system for TEN YEARS after you stop taking it. 

By the way, I had been on the tablets for a couple of years or more when my doctor read in the notes that I had been prescribed calcium D3 tablets but had never been told or given a prescription for them so I'm on them as well.  Unfortunately there are problems with calcium as that can build up in your body and interact with other medication.

It wasn't long after stopping the AA tablets that I slipped in the garden and broke my femur clean in half.   Apparently a study was done in another country and it was found that of all the people on the study who had fractured their femurs from minor falls etc. 90% of them had been on AA!  The stuff doesn't strengthen the bones by making them denser it just hardens what's already there, making them not strong but brittle.  This, as well as causing your jaw to crumble away (osteonecrosis of the jaw) was another reason for me giving it up.   Unfortunately, after my break I was told that as it was two years since I came off them the "holiday" was over and I should start taking them again.  I am reluctant to as my thought is that what's the point if I can break the strongest bone in my body by a simple fall when I'm on the tablets so why take them.

One interesting thing I found out after a CT scan for an abdominal pain was that I had sustained a compressed fracture of one of my vertebrae some time previously.  I hadn't known this but put it down to when I slipped on the stairs and went down a few on my bottom, this was a couple of years before I broke my femur.  Painful at the time but wore off.  What's the point of taking the tablets if they don't seem to protect you from broken bones?  I wonder if the doctors get paid for every person they prescribe the AA to? 

Very interesting discussion.  These posts should be read by anyone considering taking AA on the off chance they might get an osteoporotic fracture.

I am sure the doctor should send one for the bone density scan and blood test for vit D insufficiency before he should prescript the AA and adcal. The only downfall is they forget to follow up the cases and patients just taking drug wishfully hoping for the recovery. This is a wake up call. And thanks to Anhaga

My doctor insisted I take this after a DEXA which stated I had mild osteopenia normal for my age.

The first time I took it resulted in projectile vomitting. Thought I may have a bug but the same thing happened the following week. I cannot tolerate this stuff so do not take it. I lost two teeth (crowned roots) because of prednisolone. The first one was difficult as half way through the extraction the dentist found the tooth had fused into my jawbone. She asked if I would like to go to have an emererncy surgury at the hospital or would I allow her to saw through my jawbone to release it. I told her to carry on. I think she was really scared. However it was successful and she told me she had never seen such dense bones in any age person before. She asked if I had ever taken AA and I told her what happened. She is always willing to see me now and is a very nice dentist. I think I gave her an experience she'll never forget. I have stopped prednisolone and at the last recent checkup have very healthy teeth and gums.