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Alendronic Acid and side effects - useful reading

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Thought it may be of help to get matters in perspective. Do look at the site at **** on bonehealth and osteoporosis. Wish I had read more before I started taking the drug. I have now stopped it, convinced that my joint and tendon problems, racing heart and general and increasing awful feelings of fatigue and illness are linked to the start of taking alendronic acid. I understand now why my GP was a bit reluctant to prescribe it in the first place but I trusted my hospital consultant and believed he would be looking after me for the good. Maybe this trust was a bit misplaced?

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  • geraldine75805
    geraldine75805 Guest

    Posted

    Thank you all for your interesting stories.  I have been on AA for about 6 months now.  Was prescribed it after a bad fall which necessitated a hip replacement, and as have degree of osteoporosis.  All okay for first few months but increasingly getting more and more joint pain to extent have difficulty walking much of the time now.  Got no useful advice from doctor but guess they don't know, and everyones experience different.   With so much contrary evidence and reading other patients experiences, I am stopping it right now, and will just take recommended vitamins.  But wondering how long it stays in the system?  
    • kathleen65757
      kathleen65757 geraldine75805

      Posted

      As you have only been taking it for six months hopefully not too long. Apparently, it can stay for ten years or more. Do you know your t score?

      That would be good to know for your own information and strategies.

      If the only reason you were prescribed AA was because you had a fall but no bone density test was done you might be pleasantly surprised at your t score result.

  • geraldine75805
    geraldine75805 Guest

    Posted

    Thank you Kathleen . My t score is -2.5 and I broke the neck of the femur and my wrist, but it was an unfortunate bad fall over a missing step on to concrete, so might have broken things anyway.  So many interesting posts on this forum and will be following with interest, and your post on side effects.  In the meantime am abandoning the AA and hope this will help  with the constant joint pain.  Thank you for sharing and best of luck with your problems.
    • Aristotle13
      Aristotle13 geraldine75805

      Posted

      Hi Geraldine

      Your T score is definitely low/marginal and with breaks as you have described it is rather doubtful whether you should be on AA.  It doesn't work properly on low T-score bones but you will still end up with side effects, particularly the brittle bones that occur after a long time on AA.  Suggest that you are cautious and research all of the AA and osteoporosis blogs and posts for yourself. There are lots of things about AA that need more clarification. Happy research.

    • kathleen65757
      kathleen65757 geraldine75805

      Posted

      Thanks Geraldine. I have been reading some interesting stuff which states that more than half the broken bones happen to people with no osteoporosis or osteopenia. Yours is barely into the osteoporosis range anyway.

      I have started another thread about myths and misconceptions about osteoporosis and osteopenia. 

      Women's Health have stated that biphosphonates are neither safe nor effective. I was amazed that they went this far. 

      We all need to keep reading and researching to find the best and safest ways to help our bones.

       

    • Soozib
      Soozib kathleen65757

      Posted

      Thanks for this information, Kathleen. I have been steadfastly resisting bisphosphonates but have again recently been pressured to take them by an orthopaedic surgeon. He assured me that his mother takes them and has no side effects! After an awkward fall, I was diagnosed with an intercondylar fracture of the femur but the OS missed the tibial plateau fracture which has caused problems with my gait. I am exercising in the gym and walking in the pool. I have done a lot of research as well and am amazed at the way people are pressurized into taking medication that is now very suspect indeed.
    • kathleen65757
      kathleen65757 Soozib

      Posted

      Good for you Soozib. We should be in charge of our own decisions after consulting with our doctors and reading for ourselves. 

      A good doctor respects this. I said to my lovely GP that she might be mad at me as I had decided not to take AA and she responded by assuring me that it was my right to choose after careful consideration.

  • david465
    david465 Guest

    Posted

    Hello Aristotle13,

    Sorry about the delay.

    My father-in-law never fully recovered from the effects and died in the December of that year. 

    It was fragile to see such a wonderful man decline as rapidly as he did.

    The family still believe that, but for the Alendronic Acid he would still be with us today.

    After reading all the other posts I believe his GP should never have prescribed the horrible drug.

    Thank you for your concerns.

    David

    • Anhaga
      Anhaga david465

      Posted

      I am sorry for your loss.  It would not surprise me if in a few years all these bisphosphonates are off the market and their current use viewed as a terrible error, if not a scandal.
    • Aristotle13
      Aristotle13 david465

      Posted

      Dear David,

      There is nothing that can atone for the loss of a loved one through medication that goes wrong. You have my deepest sympathy. There are too many virtually casual prescriptions for this poison.

      Regards

      Aristotle13

       

    • Aristotle13
      Aristotle13 Anhaga

      Posted

      Hi Anhaga,

      You were correct & found what I was seeking. Thankyou lots for your pointers. I need to take more notice.

       

    • Anhaga
      Anhaga Aristotle13

      Posted

      You're welcome.  I worked for years in a library so I still enjoy the thrill of finding information! 
  • elizabeth00122
    elizabeth00122 Guest

    Posted

    í have taken alandronic tablets twice a and my hip joints are in agony also lower back and stomac feels like cramp cant n move need help too get up wasnt like that 2weeks ago on it for oesterporosis

    • Mayebi
      Mayebi elizabeth00122

      Posted

      I was prescribed alandronic acid but never took them. The reviews were all very bad on the Internet. My herbalist said they are not good and best not to take them. She suggested Osteo-B Plus tablets and I have been taking them as they have good reviews - hence worth looking into it. Though I have recently doubted the Calcium citrate it contains and need to check the difference between that and Calcium carbonate. At the end of the day it is best to eat lots of natural Calcium such as Chia Seeds (very good), Bone broth soup or green leavy vegetables or sardines.  
    • kathleen65757
      kathleen65757 Mayebi

      Posted

      Same here, I even picked up the script but finally tossed them out!
    • elizabeth00122
      elizabeth00122

      Posted

      yes kathleen thats my last one will start eating good that is good for bones and going into helstu shop and see what can help me there doctor tomorrow wondering what he will say
    • elizabeth00122
      elizabeth00122

      Posted

      doctor not happy says hes rún out of different pain killers but i said whats the point if they font work says i should tske aa is there a private clinic or something i can go to

    • Anhaga
      Anhaga elizabeth00122

      Posted

      One thing AA won't do is help with pain.  I think when you first posted I tried to suggest some other things you might do but I got moderated.  Another post of mine has just been moderated.  I am feeling soooo frustrated because I'm not trying to promote anything questionable or advertise or anything.  This site is supposed to be a place where we can share our experiences but....

    • Ellie1943
      Ellie1943 Anhaga

      Posted

      You can send a private message to any of us on this site if you see the envelope under their name. That won't get moderated. We're not allowed to advertise anything really so it's the best way of communicating your suggestions. rolleyes

    • Ellie1943
      Ellie1943 Anhaga

      Posted

      Just click on the envelope and the rest will happen!twisted

    • Anhaga
      Anhaga Ellie1943

      Posted

      I know that.  Most of what I post I would like everyone to see.  If I want to suggest a link or other reading I private message, or if it is a personal sort of story which one would discuss privately, something very specific to an individual.
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