Sore throat, congestion, tinnitus for 4 weeks on alendronate

Thank you. That is good to know that your friend improved with weight bearing exercises... I've upped my walking since the diagnosis. I'm taking weekly doses so I'll skip this next one and see what happens. Thanks again. Karen

Thank you Victoria -- How long did it take your symptoms to improve once off AA?  Kind regards Karen

Hi Karen, well it's March now, so I guess I stopped it around Christmastime.  The fatigue, pain etc were put down to fibromyalgia, and all those indicators have gone, I do tire easily - that's prob age and other things.  The frightener for me was when my hair fell out, and then I read about the effect it can have on your jaws, leading to tooth loss.  Further reading revealed AA stops the natural bone renewing, which slows as we age, but does not cease.  I just thought to myself, if young, superbly fit people break bones on ski slopes and falling off horses, as long as I am careful, it isn't certain I will.  You could talk to your doctor, or the Society, It's a decision only you can take.  

Thanks.  Yeah I've been reading some of the recent articles about making micro cracks in the bones.  You have given me something to think about.  My plan is to skip this next dose and see how I go -- if better perhaps take the next dose and see if symptoms return.  Although I have heard that it is possible to build bone without the AA ...... hmmmm. 

Good luck Karen.  Keep us all posted. Not sure that stopping / starting will prove anything.  I just feel better, I swapped dairy milk for Alpro.  It has been horrid weather here for days but every single day I have to thoroughly vacuum front room as my lovely rabbit Albert is shedding fur and scattering hay!  He is my reason to keep going. I was on 70mg of AA, orally, once a week, it was tedious, and hair might not seem like a big thing compared to what people go through, but mine was long, thick and red and it was a terrible experience.

I'll keep you posted.  take care. karen

Hi Jennifer --  I haven't had the Alendronate for 2 weeks now and am beginning to feel better but I'm not convinced that I didn't have this winter virus that is going around with similary symptoms.  My plan is to stop the Alendronate until I feel completely better and then try taking the tablets again to see if I get the symptoms back so that I know for sure if it is the Alendronate.  I'm also going to ask the GP to refer me to a Orthopaedic consultant who specialises in osteoporosis to ask about being able to build bones by weight bearing exercises, etc.  I have started walking 10,000 steps a day and upping my vitamin D as it was very low when tested.  There are lots of conflicting reports these days about Alendronate (see Victoria's reply) so it would be nice to get some definitive answers.   My GP didn't really explain about my results and after requesting the report it was very sketchy -- only about two sentences.  So not sure if that was helpful but I'll keep you posted.  (If I find out the Alendronate is the cause of my symptoms I will go off it as I don't think I could go on feeling like that forever -- but  a consultant should have other options.)

Hi Victoria

It's good that the OS don't push people to take the drugs but, unfortunately, some GPs do. There are a lot of people who believe what their GP tells them and start taking bisphosphonates. I spent a lot of time reading about the various drugs, how osteoblasts form new bone and how these drugs can impede that new growth. The numerous side effects of the drugs worried me too. When I asked around, I found friends who were taking them and suffering from sore throats, digestion problems and more. Against the advice of my GP, I refused to take them. Since breaking my leg about 18 months ago, I have paid great attention to diet, followed weight-bearing programmes at the gym and, most importantly, in the fresh air. Blood tests show I don't need any supplements. My leg feels strong and I now have no joint pain - just a little stiffness. I am afraid that the preponderance of bisphosphonates is down to cynical marketing and the unethical practices of the pharmaceutical companies. Their principle aims seem to be about making money. I know that I am fortunate in that I have been able to heal myself naturally. A couple of friends I spoke to have seen their doctors again and have ceased the medication. They say that they feel better for it. Happy gardening, Victoria. I'm off outside too to top up my Vitamin D. Good luck.

I've embarked on some Freedom of Information work - cost to NHS, effectivemess, of people admitted with fractures how many were on some form of biosphonate.  The GP who prescribed this, did so following DEX and recommendations of the doctor at bath Royal Minerla Hospital.  GPs get 10 mins, and mine was worried. In this climate of costs to NHS, this has to be addressed.  I like your " I am afraid that the preponderance of bisphosphonates is down to cynical marketing and the unethical practices of the pharmaceutical companies. Their principle aims seem to be about making money."  I am not sure I will ever be 'healed naturally', but psychologically I feel tons better.  The GP who prescribed was not my registered GP, my registered GP has acknowledged my concerns. 

PS - I wish it was possible to edit posts, I don't always review mine and they are often full of typos.

PPS - did you break your leg before or after i.e after the break was that when your doctor urged the biosophonate upon you? 

Nice to hear about someone who is doing some research. Well done! 

I wouldn't worry about typos - everyone understands what we are saying and thanks for sharing your experiences. 

It was following the break that I had a DEXA scan that showed some osteopenia and a little osteoporosis but at the age of 70 I think I might expect that. I have always been very active and have no joint problems at all. If I had not tripped up, I would never have known anything about osteoporosis.  In the follow-up visit to my doctor, he was keen to show me the online explanation of the extent of my problem and tried to get me to agree to take AA. I resisted because I had read about side effects. I know that you cannot believe everything you read online but, if true, there is a something sinister about the indication in an article I read that DEXA scan machines in hospitals were funded by drug companies.

Thanks Victoria -- I was just going to reply to Jennifer and saw your note as I was going to say something kind of similar.  It is a conundrum -- I watched my mom and grandma be so terribly hunched over with osteoporosis -- Actually my mom was on Alendronate but not my grandmother -- neither of them had any broken bones.  I've decided to wait until all my nasally throat symptoms are gone before taking another dose of Alendronate to confirm that it is the alendronate (or not) -- I still think my symptoms may be this winter virus that's going around -- it supposedly takes 4- 6 weeks to get better from the virus -- and I am beginning to feel better.  I have also read about fractures and  microfractures with people taking Alendronate and it is scary.  I am going to ask my GP to refer me to a consultant so I can ask all of the above questions -- my physiotherapist seems confident that we can rebuild bones naturally (my osteoporosis is in the spine -- but no fractures) -- and my vitamin D was very low when tested, so hoping that upping the Vitamin D and Calcium will make a difference.  I'll keep you posted.  I guess the only way to really tell is get another Dexascan and my GP says that osteoporosis is so slow growing that they won't test for another three years -- I'll have to do some research to see how accurate that information is.  

Hi Karen

That is interesting. I understand what you are saying about your mom and grandmother. My mum did not get hunched but she lost a lot of height. I think I am going that way too! I am definitely going to ask for another scan because, when I explained my reluctance to take medication to the bone doctor at the hospital, she said that she understood and recommended another scan if I wanted one in 2 years. I suppose it depends on the doctor and the cost to them!

https://nos.org.uk/

Dear Karen, you might have to wait for a consultant appt and that is IF your doctor agrees, Have therefore posted contact details for the Society - nurse available today 9 to 5.  Soozib has articulated my thoughts far better than I did, and long term AA does 'appear' to have other side.  Your doctor should NOT have been showing you on-line information, that is terrible - but demands on time etc etc.  The virally thing that has been going round has been a kind of 21st century plague, much younger, healthier friends have developed pneumonia. 

thanks for the info, I seem to have missed this post.  I'll contact them next week.