Fosamax---who takes it? Any problems?

My doctor prescribed Fosamax for my osteopenia. I've heard here that there are some of you who have taken it with a lot of the side effects they warn about.
I'm a bit worried about them....anyone take this without problems???  Sure don't like not being able to eat/drink for a preferred 1-2 hours after taking it! But then, it is only once a week

Let me know, K?

I took Actonel. Same family, but sposta be more GI friendly. I took it for the 5 yr course, with no side effects.

I took it weekly and every Sunday, since I could afford to take a nice long shower and use all those bottles that stack up in there and drive my dh nuts. Every single Sunday for 5 yrs, nice long shower. It was a 30 minute standing up thing. No one ever told me to wait to eat/drink. I usually took my protein within that first hour, after the 30 minutes was up.

I did not hear about the jaw necrosis issues until the 2nd year.

I have finished the course (1/1) and then had a Reclast infusion last week.

I've been taking thousands of mg calcium citrate for years, but have added the BA Crystals (lactate gluconate) and microcrystalline hydroxyappatite this last year, too. And Strontium and K1 and K2.

We always took dry D3, but now I am careful to place my vit D and PTH levels precisely where I want them. So, D, PTH and calcium blood levels are (and have been) perfectly balanced.

I'm fighting a losing battle here, so I'm throwing at it everything I can find.

Dear Lord...jaw necrosis????

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/ossg-osteoporosis/

go there to read about it. not a chatty group, but tons of files. and many on this issue. it doesn't happen right away, if at all. it'll be later. Maybe. My doc kept saying under 1%, but you'll see many of these ppl refused to even risk that.

I KNEW I was going to fracture, whereas less than 1%? Besides, when all that came out, I'd already been ON it 2 yrs.

Michelle, we're so lucky to have you and your wealth of information here! 
Geeze, I thought I was taking a lot of "stuff" before WLS, but now I find I'm taking MORE. Oh well.

Thanks again

I have taken Fosamax with Vit D (they also have it without the D)  for about 3 years.  No side effects.  I take with lots of water and then wait 30 min before I can eat.   My bone density has improved during the three years.

Jan, glad to hear you've had good results with no side effects. Makes me feel a little better.


Thanks!

Jan, I'm glad to hear you're Fosamax treatment is helping and you don't have any trouble. I'm starting to feel better about this.

I take Boniva once a month.
Val

I was hoping to take Boniva, maybe I'd look like Sally Fields!  Alas, my insurance doens't cover it