Does anyone take Alendronic Acid? Any side effects?

My osteoporosis was diagnosed last November. I have had a phone call with the hospital but, over 6 months later, I have been vaguely promised medication but so far none has been given.

I have another telephone appointment at the end of August. Is this the normal procedure?

RedRidingHood Diagnosed with osteoporosis after a dexa scan a year ago.

I have severe osteoporosis. I also have achiness at night (knees).

I was on Alendronic Acid, causing me much nausea. I was switched to Denosumab injections 2x a year. I tolerate that well.

DENOSUMAB is a newer (better?) and more expensive treatment. You might ask for it, but you may have to pay privately as I do.

I took it for 5 years then stopped and just take Calcium and Vitamin D now. No side effects until about 6 months before I stopped mainly concerning my throat and digestion. I was told 5 years was the standard time but that was a few years ago now so advice may have changed.

luluaugust

I took it for 5 years then stopped and just take Calcium and Vitamin D now. No side effects until about 6 months before I stopped mainly concerning my throat and digestion. I was told 5 years was the standard time but that was a few years ago now so advice may have changed.

luluaugust I took it for 5 years then stopped and just take Calcium and Vitamin D

I forgot. I'm also on Calcium and Vit D3 (for 20+ years).

Mallin

I’ve just been prescribed this but have not started to take it. The thought of having to sit upright or stand for half an hour afterwards and the type of problems it might throw up, horrify me.
I’ve been given a four week “try it and see” dose but am going to see what alternative treatment I can find on line.

Why is sitting upright for 30mins a problem? I don’t understand.

Monica from my experience, osteoporosis isn’t an urgent problem and a few months here and there won’t make much, if any, difference. Provided you don’t break a bone in that time, of course. I was told that it doesn’t so much rebuild bone as stop the deterioration so it’s a long process that takes years to improve.

Having said that, I hope you get your meds soon. It’s hard to understand why there’s such a delay if it’s been prescribed.

I couldn’t tolerate the tablets due to stomach issues but have been having yearly infusions. I’m currently on a years break. I’ve had no side effects at all and believe me I get side effects with most things!! My last Dexa scan showed an improvement in my osteoporosis in my spine & hips.

The tablets made me ill but not a tenth as bad as the infusion. Aching body, which only improved very slowly over months and stopped me getting a good night's sleep and the whole top half of my body itched. I really saw very little point in living. I refused a second infusion and was then offered the Denosumab injections. I now, touch wood, have had five with no problems and feel more or less like a human again.

M0nica

My osteoporosis was diagnosed last November. I have had a phone call with the hospital but, over 6 months later, I have been vaguely promised medication but so far none has been given.

I have another telephone appointment at the end of August. Is this the normal procedure?

Mine was diagnosed at 62, as I recall. It was worse at every scan. I was prescribed and taking the tablets, now the shots. Also Calcium and D3.

I had an un-diagnosed other illness that was causing calcium 'shedding' and bone loss. Now, I'm stabilized - not growing bone, but protected (maybe?) from fracture. Important, to us, for skiing and dog walking.

Time is on your side, I'd guess, as you're closer to 80 than 62. You may consider protecting yourself, as possible, from falls and taking Cal+D3.

My opinions. ^ I've been to many places to find causes&solutions.

I take Vit D supplements and have always eaten a lot of cheese and brassicas, the main calcium containing foods. In fact all my blood tests showed my calcium levels at the high end of normal.

I fall quite often as I am dyspraxic, and tripping over my feet is frequent, yet I have never in my whole life broken a bone. It is all most odd.

M0nica

I take Vit D supplements and have always eaten a lot of cheese and brassicas, the main calcium containing foods. In fact all my blood tests showed my calcium levels at the high end of normal.

I fall quite often as I am dyspraxic, and tripping over my feet is frequent, yet I have never in my whole life broken a bone. It is all most odd.

Even as an omnivore I detested most cheese, but drank milk, ate yoghurt and all the brassicas in abundance. I've taken calcium and D3 since age 62. Didn't appear to help. I fall some, skiing, no fractures.

I'd an un-detected serious illness. Now, with that solved 5 years ago and two Denosumab shots yearly, the bone loss has stopped.

I was diagnosed with Osteoporosis over 60 years ago but they did not know a great deal about it then.
I had my first Dexa scan in 1987 and I was put on AA and took it for six years but it was stopped after my second dexa scan.
Over the years I have broken my wrist, ankle, cracked ribs. broke my right hip and left arm in 2004. Since 2015 at the age of 85 I broke my left hip in 3 places but it never healed so now I have lost four inches on my left side and have had to have a special shoe to help lift me up. I was told my bones were SO porous now that if they replaced my hip they could not guarantee that it would take. During 2019 I broke three vertebrae and that was just by bending in a wrong way to get my tea-towel. In 2021 I broke my cocyxx.
I have since had another dexa scan and since I reached 90 have had two Zelandronic Acid bone infusions. I cant say that they have done me much good because I started getting various things happening to me that I thought was due to old age. I was never given a leaflet to tell me of any side effects of the infusion but having put it up on the net I realised what was causing many problems. When the Consultant phoned me about the third infusion I refused it. I did ask him if he was trying to make me the fittest corpse in the burial ground and at my age its not worth the bother. I am housebound now because I cant walk far and I drag myself about in the home with my trolley. If I do get taken out its in a wheelchair now.
Good luck everyone. Keep taking your calcium tablets.

I`ve been taking it for about 3 years now. I take mine on Saturday morning, but then get fidgety waiting for 30 minutes until I can take the rest of my tablets! No side effects though.

Maywalk I can hardly comprehend how difficult your life has been with so many problems with your bones. I sincerely hope you suffer no more fractures in your remaining years. I have a sister who was diagnosed with osteoporosis in her late 40’s (now 64) and has had 2 broken wrists so far. She is also severely coeliac and very thin. I have osteoarthritis which is painful. I think genetic predispositions count for a lot.

Been taking it as a preventative measure after a broken shoulder 15 years ago - never been told I need to stop, perhaps I should ask. Have had no problems at all with it.

BlueSapphire

Been taking it as a preventative measure after a broken shoulder 15 years ago - never been told I need to stop, perhaps I should ask. Have had no problems at all with it.

As I recall, when I took AA for a few years, before intolerant to it, I was told I could only use it for 5 years? May could be remembering wrong. I'd ask.

For me the worsening dexa scans along side high calcium levels were cause for alarm, although the illness wasn't diagnosed for 7 years. I had to find my own way, outside NHS - perhaps some aren't well trained in osteoporosis.

glammagran

Maywalk I can hardly comprehend how difficult your life has been with so many problems with your bones. I sincerely hope you suffer no more fractures in your remaining years. I have a sister who was diagnosed with osteoporosis in her late 40’s (now 64) and has had 2 broken wrists so far. She is also severely coeliac and very thin. I have osteoarthritis which is painful. I think genetic predispositions count for a lot.

Many thanks glammagran.
I am housebound now because I also have Epilepsy, Asthma and Osteoarthritis, apart from a pacemaker, but I think I am VERY lucky to still be here but I have left a DNR request.
I am 93 now and just live for the day.
Best wishes to you and your dear sister but remember they can do a lot more for those suffering with Osteoporosis now because they know more about it.

Interesting this thread has popped up again, I started it a year ago.
Three months ago I started with horrible gastric symptoms. I have a long list of health conditions but normally have a cast iron stomach so this was new to me.
To cut a long story short I was referred for tests under 2ww but they excluded cancer. It's inflammation in my stomach and other areas.
I am pretty sure it was ibuprofen that set it off but my goodness it's taking a long time to clear up. meanwhile my GP suspended the alendronic acid.
I don't think I want to risk going back on it as it's known for causing gastric irritation, and while I don't think it was the cause it could still set it off again.
Not seen my GP yet about the test results but will need a discussion about bone protection.
I am wary of infused Bisphosphonates as the risk of jaw problems is higher according to my dentist.

My rheumatology review is a year overdue and I haven't had a dexa scan for 2 years and I gather the wait is 8 months.

I thought this talk was interesting. This guy is very good, I follow him for his cardiac stuff. The evidence for any benefit from taking calcium is quite thin.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=6eaKYUJ_4p0&ab_channel=YorkCardiology