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I agree - having had a spinal fracture - the benefits outweight the slight risk.
But I have another question.
In another health central article I read that Actonel (which I was taking) and Fosamax (which I take now that it is generic and thus more Medicare affordable) have different functions and thus different benefits. So why don't doctors prescribe both and we alternate weekly or monthly?
That's a fascinating question--but one that goes well beyond the scope of my knowledge.
You may want to ask the question of one of the medical experts in our community--as well as, of course, your personal physician.
Best,
Craig
After I took Fosamax, I developed chest pains and heart palpitations. I finally went to my Primary and stopped taking the Fosamax as I couldn't take it anymore. I went through two Holter monitor tests. The chest pain and palpitations slowly subsided, but the chest pains haven't completely faded. That was a year ago. This is probably considered anecdotal information, but it was my experience with this medication.
I took Fosamax for 7 years and I got severe heart rhythm problem which I associated with menopause. I underwnet several tests , several times in last 7 years and the doctor couldn't find anything wrong with my heart. I recently went overseas and ran out of Fosamax and so I stopped for 2 months. Surprisingly, I found out that the scary heart rhythm problem completely dissapeared !! Later, doing some research on the internet, I found out that "Fosamax" could cause such problem!!!!!. My question is why can't the doctors think of the side effects of the medicines patients are taking when they cannot explain certain condition in a patient ? I accidently found out this otherwise I would have been continuing Fosamax and get a scare of my life everytime heart acts up !!!
Dear BR,
You have no idea how much your comments mean to me. An irregular heartbeat was discovered during my annual physical exam. I had taken Fosamax or the generic alendronate for four and a half years. To make a long story short, I am seeing an electrophysiologist as I have atrial fibrillation now, but after very thorough tests, he says that my heart is normal and my stress test was normal. I am perfectly healthy otherwise except for osteoporosis. I have none of the usual causes of atrial fibrillation. I stopped Fosamax just over two months ago and you have given me great hope that my irregular heartbeat will disappear. I want to ask my doctor when I can go off the medicines and see if my heartbeat has returned to normal. Can you give me an update? Thanks so very much.
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Thanks, Mollie. That's just the kind of consideration of risks/benefits people should be making--in close collaboration with thier physicians, of course.
p.s. There is a related study in the same edition of the journal about bisphosphates. We'll write about that one tomorrow. Stay tuned.
Craig