Actonel - side effects

Hi:  Thanks for sharing your story, and I'm so sorry you are having such a hard time.

Unfortunately some people have bad reactions to some of these meds, but there's no way of knowing ahead of time if you'll be one of those.

I took Actonel and didn't have the troubles you are having so it just depends on how your system reacts to it.  It would be nice if we could know ahead of time if these drugs will cause problems, but we are all so very different.

Have you looked into Fosteum, as an alternative?  Only you and your Dr can decide this, but you could read about it if you want to at this link.  Fosteum has soy (genistein), vitamin D and zinc, so it's a different type of osteo med than the bisphosphonates.  Some people can't take soy, if they've had cancer or some thyroid problems, but it's another option for treatment that's approved by the FDA.

I hope the symptoms go away soon and your able to return to work.  Hang in there!!!

Good luck...

Pam

I developed severe muscle pain with actonel in the right upper quadrant of my back.  I thought that by having a fusion of my c5-6 on my spine would help, since a bone spur was also removed but it has not.  I tried taking the actonel again and the muscle pain seems to increase and not go away for over about 2 months.  I am now trying to find out what else to take for my osteoporosis that will not cause muscle pain.  Any suggestions?  You may report side effects of a drug to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

I have been diagnosed with osteopenia. 70 years old. My doctor also gave me a sample pill of Actonel. Took it exactly as told. During that night I woke up with shakes and spasms, I could not hold a glass of water to my mouth. That was one week ago. I have pain in my spine, hips and hands that keeps coming and going since I took the drug. Also in other bones. I keep getting a low grade fever also. At times my wrist or thumbs feel like they are sprained. I keep asking myself if this could all be from the Actonel. Did not have any of this before I took it.  

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I was diagnosed almost anywhere with osteoporosis or bad osteopenia. My doctor prescribed Forteo, that is a daily injection. It is very expensive, about $900 per month. I measured my bone density before and after one year. I failed miserable with Fosamax and Boniva. From -1.4 when I started Fosamax, became -2.5 or -2.8 when I strted Forteo.

First of all, my bone density incresed considerable, almost anywere now I have low ospeopenia, or entered in normal, no more osteoporosis. But most importantly all of my pain almost disipeared. I couldn't sleep before, I could not turn from one side to another and so on. Now I am back on almost normal life except I need a total hip replacement since I have ostheoartritis. But, I really feel well, unbelievable well. My insurance did not pay for about 6 month, saying that they pay only for bad osteoporoosis,  starting with -3. Now even I have proof that it did work my doctor discontinued Forteo, because of the safety (usually it's for 12-19 month treatment, more tahn that it is not recommanded). He wants to put me back on Fosamax or Boniva and I refused both. I experienced pain and other sides effects and no increase in bone density at all, but decrease. I said to him that I would like to try Actonel and this is how I started reading about it. Of course I'm still taking 1200 mg Ca and Vit D, OsCal.

Thank you to all of you for your comments.