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Share your experience: submit a drug review
Below are Fosamax (Alendronate) reviews, ratings, comments submitted by patients and caregivers. This information is not vetted and should not be cosidered as clinical evidence. | | Fosamax review by 59 year old female patient | | | Rating |
| Overall rating: | |   |
| Effectiveness: | | Ineffective |
| Side effects: | | Severe Side Effects | | |
Treatment Info |
| Condition / reason: | | Early onset osteoporosis |
| Dosage & duration: | | 1 tablet per week in the morning taken 1 per week for the period of 4 months |
| Other conditions: | | None |
| Other drugs taken: | | None | | |
Reported Results |
| Benefits: | | I was led to believe my bone density would improve with this drug and it would only need to be administered once a week. |
| Side effects: | | After two months, leg pain and weakness throughout body. I was an avid camper and hiker, and I lost a considerable amount of endurance and strength in my whole body. Leg pain woke me up several times during the night. The leg pain was not like cramping, but more like general dull aching, only sometimes severe. By the third month I could not lie on my side (one side was worse than the other), because the pain was so intense. I felt it resonating from my hip joint and going down my legs. When I awoke in the morning, my usual sprint to the bathroom was replaced by tiny hobbling steps; I was extremely weak in the morning. |
| Comments: | | I elected to stop taking Fosamax because of side effects (above). My physician is concerned and wants me to try a different osteoporosis medication, but I am afraid to take anything like that again. I have elected to self medicate with liquid calcium citrate/magnesium formula, and other vitamin and mineral therapy. |
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| | Fosamax review by 75 year old female patient | | | Rating |
| Overall rating: | | |
| Effectiveness: | | Marginally Effective |
| Side effects: | | Mild Side Effects | | |
Treatment Info |
| Condition / reason: | | Osteoporosis |
| Dosage & duration: | | 10 g (dosage frequency: daily) for the period of about 12 years |
| Other conditions: | | none |
| Other drugs taken: | | none | | |
Reported Results |
| Benefits: | | Fosamax tended to hold the line, i.e., my bone density did not progress rapidly.
It never increased the density. The density decreased gradually. |
| Side effects: | | Some stomach discomfort. |
| Comments: | | I took one tablet each morning on an empty stomach and waited a minimum of
one hour before eating or lying down. I tried the weekly dose, but this
did not work and my bone density increased. For me, this represented a
difference between the daily and weekly versions. I never took the
generic version released recently.
Three years ago, I replaced Fosamax with Strontium and for the first time,
my bone density increased 3%. |
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| | Fosamax review by 52 year old female patient | | | Rating |
| Overall rating: | | |
| Effectiveness: | | Considerably Effective |
| Side effects: | | No Side Effects | | |
Treatment Info |
| Condition / reason: | | bone loss |
| Dosage & duration: | | 70mg taken weekly for the period of 7 years |
| Other conditions: | | none |
| Other drugs taken: | | multi vitamins | | |
Reported Results |
| Benefits: | | Helped build bone loss. Osteoporsis runs in my family. We are thin. Two of my sisters were diagnosed with osteoporsis in their early 40s. One sister fractured her pelvic bone at 40 from bone loss. |
| Side effects: | | I had no side effects. I always followed the directions - take it with water. No other foods or drinks for an hour afterward. Don't ly down. |
| Comments: | | I took the drug weekly for about 8 years. During that time I have had 3 bone scans. My bone loss subsided. I also drink a lot of diet soda though, and that can effect calcium intake. In the last year I have increased exercising with weights. I am due for another bone scan in the fall. |
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| | Fosamax review by 41 year old female patient | | | Rating |
| Overall rating: | | |
| Effectiveness: | | Marginally Effective |
| Side effects: | | Moderate Side Effects | | |
Treatment Info |
| Condition / reason: | | osteoporosis |
| Dosage & duration: | | 70 mg taken once per week for the period of 6 months |
| Other conditions: | | early menopause and small stature leading to early osteoporosis |
| Other drugs taken: | | only vitamin supplements | | |
Reported Results |
| Benefits: | | marginal increase in bone density |
| Side effects: | | joint pain in neck, back, hips, and jaw in addition to constant heartburn despite following dosage instructions accurately. |
| Comments: | | Because side affects were so severe (I am 41 and felt like 80) I researched alternate remedies and began a program of weight-bearing exercise, calcium and magnesium supplements and natural hormone creams. |
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| | Fosamax review by 41 year old female patient | | | Rating |
| Overall rating: | | |
| Effectiveness: | | Marginally Effective |
| Side effects: | | Moderate Side Effects | | |
Treatment Info |
| Condition / reason: | | osteoporosis |
| Dosage & duration: | | 70 mg taken once per week for the period of 6 months |
| Other conditions: | | early menopause and small stature leading to early osteoporosis |
| Other drugs taken: | | only vitamin supplements | | |
Reported Results |
| Benefits: | | marginal increase in bone density, however I stopped using it before maximum benefit could be acheived due to adverse side affects. |
| Side effects: | | severe heartburn all week even though I followed dosing instructions accurately. Joint aches, including hips, back, neck and jaw. |
| Comments: | | I stopped taking Fosamax against my doctor's wishes due to the side affects. I am only 41 and it made me feel like I was 80 years old. After conducting my own research I opted for weight-bearing exercise, strength training, natural hormone supplements, and calcium and magnesium supplements. |
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| | Fosamax review by care giver of 81 year old female patient | | | Rating |
| Overall rating: | | |
| Effectiveness: | | Ineffective |
| Side effects: | | Moderate Side Effects | | |
Treatment Info |
| Condition / reason: | | osteroporosis |
| Dosage & duration: | | 10mg? taken once per day for the period of 5 yrs. |
| Other conditions: | | pain in stomach area after eating |
| Other drugs taken: | | lipitor, synthroid | | |
Reported Results |
| Benefits: | | there were none that I know. Still has osteroposis. Had to stop because of the stomacjh effect. |
| Side effects: | | Developed atrial fibrillation of the heart. going to shock heart into proper rhythm. Looked down her throat with a camera to see if there was any blood clots around her heart. Ruptured her esophagus. Never did find out what caused this but i figure the fosamax caused a very very small hole in the esophagus, weakened the side and the camera scope tore a hole. When fixed, there was no more pain in the stomach. She is alright now--but almost died from this |
| Comments: | | See above for treatment details as I don't know what more I could say. She is healthy now from this. Fosamax and this type of drugs are not very good for some people. |
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