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Bone pain with Alendronic acid

Posted , 6 users are following.

jobeim
jobeim

Hi. I have noticed a lot of discussion on this drug over the last 6 months. Due to my having been diagnosed with Osteoporosis. I have always been a very very active person as well as a fitness instructor so came as a surprise. Anyway after a fracture of the femur done during an ice skating session I got the diagnosis.

To the point .I was prescribed Alendronic acid. Progressively since taking it back in January I have been getting worse and worse joint, neck, and hip pain. My mood changes after taking it. The last dose left me so debilitated I could not walk up the stairs properly. I have just returned from GP where it was decided I would have a break from as I could not face another dose. I was surprised when she said that she had never come accross such side effects. Am I just imagining all this. And if not does anyone know if this going to be permenant or will the effects wear off in time. The osteoporosis diagnosis is bad enough but the thought of having the side effects of this drug for years to come are even worse.

0 likes, 6 replies

6 Replies

  • kathleen65757
    kathleen65757 jobeim

    Posted

    Those are side effects that have been advised. Also, people are reporting the same kind of stuff on other sites. I have purchased the drug but not begun to take it. Were you prescribed a generic or original drug? 
  • Vee2
    Vee2 jobeim

    Posted

    Hi jobeim, I've heard of people having those side affects when on Alendronic acid, and I have also heard that the pains do pass after a while, a couple of months improving as time passes.

    I didn't last longer than a week on AA terrible digestive problems.  

    Currently I am trying Risedronate Sodium which is half the dose of AA.  I've had some mild side affects so far but I am tolerating this much better.

    I hope after your rest you can find another drug which is more user friendly for you.  Its a real problem with these drugs. 

    Hope the aches and pains leave you quickly.

     

  • Juno-Irl-Dub
    Juno-Irl-Dub jobeim

    Posted

    Hi, have just looked at the leaflet that comes with Actonel (a similiar OP drug) and listed under "common side-effects" is "pain in bones muscles or joints" . . . I don't know how your doc. had never heard of it. Maybe she never treated a patient with OP before!!  Check your own leaflet. I do know that AA is not as well tolerated as Actonel, but some people just never get used to bisphosphonates. I think you've been on this one for long enough to have had a decent "run in' time and you should have settled in to it by now. Talk it over again with your doc and ask about alternatives. And NEVER  think that you're imagining it !! Maybe ask her has she ever taken it herself !!  (Joke).  Keep in touch. J
  • patricia48825
    patricia48825 jobeim

    Posted

    How interesting to hear your story.  I was on a weekly dose of Alendronic Acid and for three days and nights after each dose I had the most terrible pains.  I could not bend down to put the gas fire on, could hardly walk with the hip and thigh pains.  I have had to give up on it for now as life was certainly not worth living with that amount of pain.  My consultant has said I should persevere with it and to take Paracetamol for the pains.  He said some people have found after SIX MONTHS the pain became less.  I really cannot bear the thought of that pain for six months in the hope it would improve.  My consultant also said this is a very common side effect of the drug but that there was nothing other than a Bisphosphonate to treat osteoporosis.

    Hope this answer is helpful to you.

  • Trevenwith
    Trevenwith jobeim

    Posted

    I have had a very similar problem, see my earlier posting.  Also noted in common s/e with generic Alendronic Acid, although GP said not aware of this!  Switched to Risedronate - tolerating this very well.  Good Luck.
  • donna04274
    donna04274 jobeim

    Posted

    Hi

    I have just seeen my GP re side effects of alendronic acid. I was taking it for 6 months and found I had severe lower back pain plus general neck/shoulder pain. He has advisied me to stop it for 4 weeks and return to see him to prescribe an alternative if my aches and pains have setttled. I just wondered what other drugs people are taking and have they had the same side-effects. Thanks

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