I have tried Actonel, and now risedronate sodium dr, 35mg and am suffering from side effects. I now have joint pain, muscle aches, heartburn, stomache pain, ringing in my ears, and a general feeling of malaise. I am fatigued. This was NOT the case before the meds….my question is, how long can I expect these symptoms to last?

After enduring one year of extreme thigh pain and not being able to sleep, I was diagnosed with Paget’s disease of the hip. I had been diagnosed with osteoporosis three years previously and tried to treat the osteoporosis naturally & not use a bisphosphonate. An endocrinologist prescribed Atelvia and I don’t have the pain anymore. I hate taking it but what can I do? The pain was horrible.

I took actinol two days ago for the first time. It was a once a month pill. Ten hours later I developed an extreme coldness in my hands and feet. Then a half hour later I began vomiting. This was so severe I kept thinking I was going to need am ambulance. I passed out around 6 am only to wake up and vomit some more. It’s now been two days and while I’m not vomiting, my stomach still aches and I have had some terrible diarreah this morning. I would like to know if anyone knows how long it will be before I am back to myself again. This drug is poison!!!!

Craig: The flying nun aside, the diefnrfeces in efficacy between the bisphosphonates at various locations is far from clear. You are correct, the initial studies only showed a reduction in spine fracture reduction with Boniva, but there have been no head-to-head studies of any of these drugs, so which is better at which location is unclear. Per FDA recommendations all three require the patient to take the medicine with water on an empty stomach and not eat or lie down for at least 30 minutes. DrP.

It just goes to show how different we all are. I have been unable to take fosamax and actonel, and actually failed several other medications due to reflux. I have been on atelvia for three months and have had absolutely no side effects at all ever, wouldn’t really know I have actually taken anything. I am sorry that it has not worked for so many of you, but for me it has been ideal.

I was diagnosed with Osteoporosis last year and was prescribed Fosamax by my OB/GYN. I filled the prescription but when I read all the warnings, I didn’t take it because I was dealing with bad acid reflux at the time and didn’t want to aggravate it. My primary doctor suggested I wait until my reflux was better before taking it and that took almost 6 months. I decided to wait until my next OB/GYN appointment and ask him for alternatives. He sent me to a rheumatologist to try Reclast. That doctor wanted me to try Atelvia first and gave me three samples to try. He told me that there had been fewer complaints with this than with Fosamax. I took the first pill two days ago and all was fine until yesterday around noon. I started having chest pains. I thought maybe it was irritating my esophagus like the warnings said but it didn’t feel like reflux normally does. I called the doctor and he suggested I take a Tums and if it got worse to go to the ER. As the afternoon progressed I started getting chilled, and began hurting from my hips to my jaw, but most intensely in my chest. I was shaking and convinced that I was having a heart attack by the time I went to the ER. They did an EKG and it was normal and did other tests but said all was normal. I was thankful for that but still in agony. They gave me pain meds and told me that this medicine could be the cause. Today I felt a little better but still achy and have the chest pain especially when I move or breathe deeply. I did a search and found this site. Now I’m wondering how long this will last. I saw where some said they have had symptoms for many months. I don’t know what to do now. I don’t trust the doctor to try anything else.

I admire you for writing this book. I am sure that it is packed with good information and is a worthwhile read. Do you know if it is in the Library in Canada?. I am a senior and in very bad pain. But I cannot afford to purchase the book. However, if it in the libraries in Ontario Canada, I may be able to borrow and read it.
Thank You again.
God Bless
Catherine

My doctor just prescribed Atelvia and I’m VERY hesitant to start taking it. I’ve had bad reactions to several other medications and after researching this drug, I’m terribly anxious about it. The information about the dentist is even scarier. Thanks for the updates.

I have taken Atelvia for two weeks. I am 53 and now I feel 75. I have severe neck pain, nausea, and chronic fatigue. I felt fabulous two weeks ago. Needless to say, I will cease the treatment. My hip bone density was -1.9. I will supplement with Vitamin D and more Calcium. Enough. I feel like these pills are the twenty-first century equivalent of medieval leech therapy, where the cure is worse than the disease. NO THANKS!

My gyn just told me I have to start on Osteo Med since my dexa scan showed a bone decrease in the spine of 6.6% since last test in 2008. Even though my hip showed improvement. I take 1 calcium pill (osseoapatite plus) and 1 bone pill (ipriflavone) each day. I get these supplements from my chiro who is also a licensed nutrionist and who strongly disagrees with taking osteo meds like fosomax, boniva and now atelvia which is currently recommeded by gyn. My question is does anyone know if ipriflavone for bones has any of the bisphosphanates noted in the osteo meds that is so dangerous. I’m wondering if I increase my doses of my current supplements if that will be as good as staring the seemingly harmful atelvia. Any thoughts? Thx.

Vivian,

I know that you are trying to throw out information to patients and be informative, your information is not unbiased or TRUE! Maybe all of these people should go see their DOCTOR who actually knows what is involved particularly with their health, instead of taking the advice of an Medical Assistant!

Patients should know that each of these drugs are VERY different. When you know one, you only know one. And worse case scenario- if a patient experiences some side effects (which I know isn’t fun)there is always an alternative to try. Each body takes to a drug differently.

I tell patients: no matter the case, we are trying to prevent them from fractures which are debilitating and leads to patient death. For this reason, it is best for patients to be ON an osteoporosis medication! I, for one, am excited about the improvement that Atelvia has brought to the market for patient bones.

While I do not suffer from any bone disorders, and do not take any medication in this category, I do myself suffer from a physical disorder involving the degradation of essential function and composition of a key system in my body, not too unlike how osteoporosis and osteoarthritis affect bone density, growth, etc.; and I do take medication daily (3 actually) daily for my condition. My medication has some pretty significant side effects, and has fallen under fire recently on a nationally publicized level. I am also a plaintiff’s attorney practicing personal injury, medical malpractice, products liability, wrongful death, etc. I have handled everything from lead poisoning to soft tissue car crash neck and back, to municipal and state liability for sexual assault in school, and wrongful death/bystander emotional distress. I can honestly say I have handled, personally as managing partner, 5 cases where an elder woman with osteoporosis, not medicated with any drug like ATELVIA, fell due to negligence on a premises (currently a church and a hospital case are pending), broke her hip (all-out, multiple breaks…equivilent to what I would call “shattered”) and died as a result of said break. The defense is disputing the causal relationship between the break and the death, which has to be their position, as there is nothing else to reasonably contest (since the dangerous condition which caused the fall is ALWAYS so flagrant), and regardless of the actual death, what always seems to happen related to damages and is also irrefutable is the decline in quality of life following “repair” of the hip and physical therapy, as opposed to how each woman was living before the fall and break. Each lived alone, was self-reliant, still operated a motor vehicle, cooked and cleaned their own homes they owned, etc. Prior to death, these women were “healed” but wheelchair bound, in elder care facilities, unable to tend to their own simplest hygiene, and usually (and strangely) also experienced almost immediate degradation of mental function, even to the point of total onset dementia less than 2 months post-op repair of the hip. My point: the medication on the market in the USA is the best available in the world (I’m FOR socialized medicine, but can’t deny these facts) a statement I will qualify with: 99.9% of the time, has gone through the most rigorous screening ANY drug(s) in the world face (at the hands of the FDA), and represent the best available pharmacological treatment of whatever condition it was designed to treat (plus usually some off-label conditions as well) one can acquire at that given time. Are they ever perfect “cures”? No, or I should say, very rarely. Side effects, risks, ineffectiveness, and a host of other issues will vary from patient to patient, and may even result in a recall (a la “Vioxx”). But the point is, the people suffering the condition somehow ALWAYS want to complain about these (we will call them “shortcomings”) of the drug(s), when without said drugs, same patients would be much worse off, and possibly dead. The POSSIBILITY OF hairline femoral fractures, “the trots”, irregular heart beat (which I was born with and hasn’t affected me for my 33 years of life thus far), migraines, blurred vision, dizziness, etc. (I’ve seen meds with POTENTIAL side effects like blindness, suicide, night terrors, and death…and some of these are for smoking cessation meds that MIGHT effectively end smoking, and were STILL approved by the FDA). For example, did it occur to u that 291 of 300 on these meds mite experience femoral fracture because THEIR CONDITION increases the liklihood of same? That’s like a lung cancer patient complaining chemo leaves them feeling short of breath. The point is, hosting a website titled “Save Our Bones” and using it for criticizing the only people truly attempting to do so pharmacologically because they haven’t found a 100% cure, with no side effects, seems like…well…the ultimate case of misplaced aggression, and lack of gratitude. Especially when no one has forced any woman to take these meds, and they can easily refuse and take their chances untreated; they just better hope every place they visit has well-shoveled walkways. As someone who suffers from a condition which has causes me to take “imperfect” medication, I just wanted to explain that I find the premise of “Save Our Bones” criticism of these meds, and the people who make them (who are trying much harder than anyone I’ve found on “Save Our Bones” to actually “save your bones) offensive, petty, misguided, and counter-productive. If you want to spend your time and money wisely, instead of criticizing these companies…donate $$$ to their R & D depts. That mite be a more productive step toward saving bones. Just a thought.

Doc Vivian,
Your article made sense.
At 53 I have worked out vigorously all my adult life. Weight lifting is a passion of mine. In fact, I have a full gym in my garage rather than my car. For instance, I still run and bench press 300 for starters. I had a back injury in the military, but ironically, working out keeps me pain-free. I warm-up and proceed cautiously. Never any pain or problems.
Recently, during an annual physical, I was given a bone density scan. Surprisingly, the pharmacy called me to pick up an Atelva prescription called in by the doctor. As ALWAYS I read up on this med before blindfully taking it. After my readings, including your info, I absolutely will not even start this stuff. Now, while I read that we naturally begin a bone-loss progression after a certain age or event, I also read that certain measures may mitigate the loss such as frequent exercise, calcium-sufficient diet, etc. As I mentioned, I have a weight-bearing exercise regime. I am determining for myself that I do not need this and will return it to the pharmacy along with informing my doctor that I decline the prescription.
The thought of any or all of the side-affects is more scary than the thought of developing osteoporosis.
I’ll take my chances with nature, or perhaps even better, take a look at the options in your book.

Now that actors such as Sally Field and Dee Wallace are hyping treatment for Osteoporosis I am looking forward to Jack Nicholson being hired to hype Viagra. That would really sell a lot. LOL.

Vivian: I have 100% faith in the information you have supplied your readers. My doctor has just recently asked me to have Prolia injections which are given twice a year. When I read the possible side effects, I do not feel this is what I want in my body. Do you have any feedback on this product? I would appreciate a quick reply because he plans to give it to me April 14th. Thank you for all your good advice.

In 2008, I was lucky to go to an oral surgeon who was smart on osteoporosis and would not work on my teeth until I stopped taking Actonel. I had been taking it for eighteen months. I have since bought nearly all of your offered books, and have learned a lot. The reason for writing is that I want to list the symptons that I have experienced. I have had severe anemia (6.6 bloodcount), two broken femurs (2008 and 2010), trouble swallowing, aches, and probably more symptoms. I am now on the way to getting better. My doctor was going to try and give me another prescription for Actonel, but decided I was more osteopenia than osteiporosis. I was never going to take it.

Thank you Vivien, your advice re:-my wife,s mother being prescribed Actonel by a doctor in the Philippines, as a treatment for Osteo,your advice saved her from a life of pain and misery. We printed out a copy of your response to our questions for her personal information and she took it to the doctor. He apologised profusely and said he “Had no Idea as to the ‘Other’ effects of the drug” He also said he would NEVER prescribe it again.

If you paid by credit card, they may be able to help you. I would check to see. Good luck.