I have been on fosamax for a few years now. Prior to that I was on
etidronate which is not as effective. I had 40% bone loss when I
started which put me in teh severe zone for my age group. I have
regained enough bone that I am no longer considered to have
osteoporosis but instead have osteopenia.

I know that my bones are stronger. I fell hard on the cement sidewalk
and did not fracture anything. While I had the osteoporosis I bent
over to pick up something from the bottom of the washer tub and
fractured a rib.
    Rose   @}>->--
    Being educated means that rather than fearing the unknown, one seeks to understand it. RB

    Please remove "Ima" to reply.

Chief, I took Fosamax some years ago, and three weks after I started it the
knuckle at the joining of finger and hand on my left hand began to hurt a
lot.  I asked my doc if the Foxomax could have caused it and he said no.
Then I asked my RD and he said no.  But reading the papers that came with
it, found that aching joints was one side effect.  I had stopped taking it
for about a month and decided I would try it again.
Same thing, after three weeks the knuckle was very sore.  I stopped it and
haven't tried it again.  Just my experience with it.
Gwen

I've been on it for a couple of years now and am due to have another bone
density scan to see where things stand now.  I haven't noticed any change in
viruses or in my TMJ issues.  The only real issue I've had is managing to
take it weekly - I just get too many mornings where I need my pain meds or
some Sudafed when I get up, but I manage to take it about 75-80% of the time.

Oh, and we have a cat who is constantly trying to figure out how, by the
looks of him.  He just doesn't appreciate how cute we think he is when he's
studying soemthing!

I'm not familiar with fosamax. Is there an IV version of it? I know that
there's a bisphosphonate IV medication that can lead to face/jaw
osteonecrosis and also kidney problems (but the kidney problems can be
markedly reduced if the dose is given slower). With Actonel, an oral
drug that from my BRIEF skim of some websites (note: websites do not
equal medical studies/papers/literature) is similar to fosamax, my bone
density has come well up and the fractures that were not healing for
nine months prior and increasing in number have healed and only a few
new ones have occurred this year (started actonel near the end of last
year). If you have osteoporosis and your androgen levels are normal (for
a man, and I'm assuming your doctor checked this!) then dealing with it
before fractures start is really the best way (IMHO).

Ari

Ari wrote:

Mary has been taking Actonel for 2+ years with no problems.

For a month I took the samples the RD had given me but had to
stop because of horrendous stomach troubles.  That, after being
on Indocine for 23 years with zero problems.

... A vowel is something two people take before they marry.

Hi Fire Chief,

I had no problem with it, was on it two years, just went off it about 6
months ago as my bones had gone back to normal.  Good stuff in my book,
but everyone is different.

Lyn

Lyn wrote:

Thanks, Lyn and Ari.  I may begin taking the samples this week.

That will allow 2 weeks of use before my next appointment with the RD.

... I'm no teacher, but knowing me is certainly an education.