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From: Gail on 20 Jun 2006 06:25
I am a 55 year old woman whose bone density test results just came back
at -2.3. The results were -2.1 last year. I was taking Actonel for 8 months
and started getting terrible side effects (pains in bones, terrible gas,
sores in mouth). I discontinued the Actonel and my MD wants to start me on
another meds. I feel afraid because it was taken me months to get rid of the
side effects from Actonel and I think I will have the same problems with the
other bispohosphonates. I am also afraid (from my reading) of Forteo. I am
taking hormone replacement (the patch) since I had a hysterectomy and
removal of my ovaries in 1996. Any thoughts or feedback? (I run almost 4
miles per day and taking calcium and vitamin D). Thanks in advance.
Gail


From: Shirley ann on 20 Jun 2006 06:35
Gail when my MD suggested that I take Fosamax i was afraid too as I have
acid reflux and my stomach would not tolerate it.He said I had enough
calcium in my blood.

There some ladies here on this site that take their bone density Meds
other times of the day, as long as you have not had any food for 4 hours
before taking it.

shirleyann

From: Larry on 20 Jun 2006 12:58
Gail wrote:
> I am a 55 year old woman whose bone density test results just came back
> at -2.3. The results were -2.1 last year. I was taking Actonel for 8 months
> and started getting terrible side effects (pains in bones, terrible gas,
> sores in mouth). I discontinued the Actonel and my MD wants to start me on
> another meds. I feel afraid because it was taken me months to get rid of the
> side effects from Actonel and I think I will have the same problems with the
> other bispohosphonates. I am also afraid (from my reading) of Forteo. I am
> taking hormone replacement (the patch) since I had a hysterectomy and
> removal of my ovaries in 1996. Any thoughts or feedback? (I run almost 4
> miles per day and taking calcium and vitamin D). Thanks in advance.
> Gail
>
>
Gail,

First of all, not all bisphosphonates have the same side effects ... you
may be lucky.

Secondly, the bone pain is a perfectly "normal" side effect. Not sure
about gas. I've never heard of sores in the mouth from bisphosphonates.
Typically, the bone pain does not last for more than a few days or weeks
and (at least for me) it lessened in severity as I had more treatment.

The way it was explained to me is that the side effects mean that the
drug is doing its work. Because when we first begin treatment, the drug
has to work harder ... that is why they are more prevalent when you
first start.

Another option is iv bisphosphonates: advantages - less frequent
administrations and bypasses digestive tract; disadvantages: you will
probably still have the bone pain and you are more vulnerable to
osteonecrosis as a side effect (although I don't think the osteonecrosis
likelihood is very high).

I think that some drugs just have side effects that you may have to
tolerate if you want to make a dent in your osteopenia. I know it sounds
unfortunate, but it is true.

Larry
From: Gail on 20 Jun 2006 20:30
The bone pain did not lessen over time. Even when I discontinued the
Actonel, I had bone pain (diminishing) for the next 7 weeks.
Gail
"Larry" <Larry(a)nospam.net> wrote in message news:3PVlg.15$mE6.5(a)fe12.lga...
> Gail wrote:
>> I am a 55 year old woman whose bone density test results just came back
>> at -2.3. The results were -2.1 last year. I was taking Actonel for 8
>> months and started getting terrible side effects (pains in bones,
>> terrible gas, sores in mouth). I discontinued the Actonel and my MD wants
>> to start me on another meds. I feel afraid because it was taken me months
>> to get rid of the side effects from Actonel and I think I will have the
>> same problems with the other bispohosphonates. I am also afraid (from my
>> reading) of Forteo. I am taking hormone replacement (the patch) since I
>> had a hysterectomy and removal of my ovaries in 1996. Any thoughts or
>> feedback? (I run almost 4 miles per day and taking calcium and vitamin
>> D). Thanks in advance.
>> Gail
> Gail,
>
> First of all, not all bisphosphonates have the same side effects ... you
> may be lucky.
>
> Secondly, the bone pain is a perfectly "normal" side effect. Not sure
> about gas. I've never heard of sores in the mouth from bisphosphonates.
> Typically, the bone pain does not last for more than a few days or weeks
> and (at least for me) it lessened in severity as I had more treatment.
>
> The way it was explained to me is that the side effects mean that the drug
> is doing its work. Because when we first begin treatment, the drug has to
> work harder ... that is why they are more prevalent when you first start.
>
> Another option is iv bisphosphonates: advantages - less frequent
> administrations and bypasses digestive tract; disadvantages: you will
> probably still have the bone pain and you are more vulnerable to
> osteonecrosis as a side effect (although I don't think the osteonecrosis
> likelihood is very high).
>
> I think that some drugs just have side effects that you may have to
> tolerate if you want to make a dent in your osteopenia. I know it sounds
> unfortunate, but it is true.
>
> Larry


From: Larry on 20 Jun 2006 22:39
Gail wrote:
> The bone pain did not lessen over time. Even when I discontinued the
> Actonel, I had bone pain (diminishing) for the next 7 weeks.
> Gail
> "Larry" <Larry(a)nospam.net> wrote in message news:3PVlg.15$mE6.5(a)fe12.lga...
>
>>Gail wrote:
>>
>>>I am a 55 year old woman whose bone density test results just came back
>>>at -2.3. The results were -2.1 last year. I was taking Actonel for 8
>>>months and started getting terrible side effects (pains in bones,
>>>terrible gas, sores in mouth). I discontinued the Actonel and my MD wants
>>>to start me on another meds. I feel afraid because it was taken me months
>>>to get rid of the side effects from Actonel and I think I will have the
>>>same problems with the other bispohosphonates. I am also afraid (from my
>>>reading) of Forteo. I am taking hormone replacement (the patch) since I
>>>had a hysterectomy and removal of my ovaries in 1996. Any thoughts or
>>>feedback? (I run almost 4 miles per day and taking calcium and vitamin
>>>D). Thanks in advance.
>>>Gail
>>
>>Gail,
>>
>>First of all, not all bisphosphonates have the same side effects ... you
>>may be lucky.
>>
>>Secondly, the bone pain is a perfectly "normal" side effect. Not sure
>>about gas. I've never heard of sores in the mouth from bisphosphonates.
>>Typically, the bone pain does not last for more than a few days or weeks
>>and (at least for me) it lessened in severity as I had more treatment.
>>
>>The way it was explained to me is that the side effects mean that the drug
>>is doing its work. Because when we first begin treatment, the drug has to
>>work harder ... that is why they are more prevalent when you first start.
>>
>>Another option is iv bisphosphonates: advantages - less frequent
>>administrations and bypasses digestive tract; disadvantages: you will
>>probably still have the bone pain and you are more vulnerable to
>>osteonecrosis as a side effect (although I don't think the osteonecrosis
>>likelihood is very high).
>>
>>I think that some drugs just have side effects that you may have to
>>tolerate if you want to make a dent in your osteopenia. I know it sounds
>>unfortunate, but it is true.
>>
>>Larry
>
>
>
All I can say is (others please chime in if your experience has been
different) this is not typical. Are you sure it was bone pain and are
you sure it was associated with the Actonel? My Mom has been on Actonel
for years ... she had much worse bone density than you ... and didn't
have that much bone pain.

Larry
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