Boniva, Fosamax, Actonel: Which One is Right for You?

i took my first and last does of actonel several weeks agol. I experienced fatigue, a little nausea at first. Then muscle and joint pain. My lower back ached and my joints in my fingers burned. I am experiencing muscle weakness now and mouth sores. It was the one time a month actonel I took and I am concerned on how long it will take to get it out of my system.

I agree with your analysis that Actonel does sound like the best choice but I tried it and had gastrointestinal side effects so I quit.  I am now on Fosavance (Fosamax with Vitamin D added) and it has been uneventful though in fact my bone density has improved  by 11%.  Exercise, diet and calcium and vitamin D, as well as estrogen did not help me at all.  The year I tried that route the loss accelerated

Anet

This article has come at the right time for me.  I must decide soon which of these medications

I will take.  I have put it off now for six months pondering and reading everything I can to

help me decide.  I take nexium everyday for my stomach problems otherwise I have no other

health concerns.  I am 60 years old.  After reading your piece on Actonel it looks like it might

be the better choice for me.  Can this drug be taken by intervenus?  For those of us who

experience abdominal problems, this seems like it could cut down on discomfort.

What do you think?

Thanks for sharing your ideas and opinions!

I'll have a new DEXA next week. Hoping the regimen I chose after careful study will indicate improvement.  I'm a young 59, life-time athlete/marathoner, with a prolactin-secreting pituitary microadenoma that has suppressed estrogen production since I was 30 years old.  Low estrogen led to low bone density in this otherwise extremely healthy woman. After DEXA indicated low T & Z scores,  I read up on  and started using daily  900mg Strontium (NOT Strontium 90/no relationship) used in Europe as Strontium Renalate and available in US as Strontium Citrate (absorption not reliant upon the form). In addition, I supplement with calcium -taken separately as each competes wth the other for absorption,- Vitamin D 3,  Ipriflavone to enhance calcium absorption, proper magnesium ratio, and adequate bioidentical estrogen/progesterone , good diet & exercise regimen -even vibration exercise therapy. I feel great, looking fw to a  positive result! MD prescribed FORTEO-- without telling me about any  side effects or the bone cancer studies-- I doubt I'll use it. Good luck to all.

Do you have any knowledge of Fosteum?  It is a relatively new RX on the market. All natural, and hopefully less side effects. I am also trying to decide which drug to take for osteoporosis. It is difficult to make a choice with so much negative publiciity about the available drugs. Where did you get your info that it takes 2 years for Fosomax and Boniva to work? Thanks for your research and information for those of us trying to make an informed decisiion.

I do have postmenopausal osteoporosis but I am considered to be in poor health as I need to take certain medications, e.g.: prednisone and conditions, e.g.: GERD, COPD,

insulin dependant diabetes. My physician said Boniva 3mg IV every 3 months is the only medication available that comes in IV form.

Is this true that there is only one drug available in IV form?

Although joint pain may not be listed as a side effect of Fosamax, I had severe pain in my shoulders and hips after the second week of Fosamax. My doctor took me off of it, had me increase my calcium supplement to 2 grams a day for a month, now I am on Boniva, don't seem to be having any problems. However, I think I may ask my doctor about Actonel since it apparently does a better job of growing bone all over.