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Though Fosamax is proven to be effective in treating osteoporosis, there are still lots of people who look for alternatives to avoid the drug’s adverse side effects.

The possible health problems caused by the side effects of Fosamax prods patients to look for safer and better alternatives.   Calcitonin, Evista, and Calcium Supplements are just among the several alternative drugs and therapies in the market.

Evista

Raloxifene, brand name Evista, is prescribed to postmenopausal women with osteoporosis; however, it is not as effective as other biosphosphonate drugs, notes the website BreastCancer.org.

Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/253069-alternatives-to-fosamax/#ixzz1lDzVdUJ2

Calcitonin

Calcitonin is a natural hormone found in both the human body and the salmon fish. Although it is not a cure for osteoporosis, calcitonin salmon may help to increase bone density and slow bone deterioration.

Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/253069-alternatives-to-fosamax/#ixzz1lDzfF2yr

Calcium Supplements

Calcium supplements alone are not an adequate treatment for bone loss, writes Susan Brown, PhD on the website Women to Women. Brown notes there are a minimum of 20 essential nutrients that directly affect bone health, and many must come from either diet or supplementation.

Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/253069-alternatives-to-fosamax/#ixzz1lDznFUPU

Actual Patients’ Testimonials about Fosamax

We often heard of news containing Fosamax complaints from various patients and haven’t taken an initiative to dig more about what they are talking.

I’m currently browsing WebMD.com and checking its User Reviews & Ratings page for Fosamax Oral.  Here are the recent user reviews and data that they published.

These patients are taking Fosamax for Post-Menopausal Osteoporosis Prevention.  There are currently a total of 42 reviews wherein the overall average rate given to Fosamax’s Effectiveness is 2.36 out of 5 stars; Ease of Use – 3.19 out of 5 stars; and Satisfaction – 2.05 out of 5 stars.

Below are some selected testimonials from Fosamax users.

After taking this drug which did not prevent osteoporosis for me, I broke my femur just below the hip joint just as described in the drug literature. It was a non-weight bearing break preceded by knee, thigh, and groin pain.I simply raised my leg and the bone snapped. I had a low level of calcium and Vit D.  - Reviewer: vmkft1, 65-74 Female on Treatment for 10 years or more (Patient) Ratings: Effectiveness – 1 Ease of Use – 1 Satisfaction – 1

I've been taking the medication for about 2-2.5 yrs. Too soon to tell if it is helping. I am 59 and in very good health. However, the past years I've been experiencing significant hair loss. The past 3 months i've been experiencing esophageal discomfort. I stopped taking it 3 weeks ago and my esophageus is better. Still investigating the hair loss w/another doctor. - Reviewer: paintedbunting, 55-64 Female on Treatment for 2 to less than 5 years (Patient) Ratings: Effectiveness – 1 Ease of Use – 2 Satisfaction – 1

I have been on these drugs for almost 5 years, hope I can go off it next year, my sister in UK has had a time with dental procedures , I had a tooth removed and also had the one next to it crack while on fosamax , the dentist told me to go off of it when I need another tooth pulled. Do hope this is doing some good for me , have some osteoporosis arthirtis . - Reviewer: carol, 65-74 Female on Treatment for 5 to less than 10 years (Patient) Ratings: Effectiveness – 3 Ease of Use – 3 Satisfaction – 3

After only 3 doses of this drug my scalp started to itch.I only took 3 more tablets when a very itch rash has travelled right down my body causing extreme irritation and blisters which are erupting and causing scaring. It is 2 months since I stopped taking this drug and I am still suffering. Patients should be tested for allergic reactions before taking this drug. - Reviewer: 55-64 Female on Treatment for 1 to 6 months (Patient) Ratings: Effectiveness – 1 Ease of Use – 4 Satisfaction – 1

 

 

Reference 1

Reference 2

Osteonecrosis of the Jaw or ONJ is a severe condition that reduces blood flow to the jaw and causes jaw bone death (source).   Since 1990 the Food and Drug Administration has already been receiving reports from users who are under the bisphosphonates drug medication.

On January 3, 2012, 48, 683 people who reported to have side effects of Fosamax are studied.  ONJ came out as the top 1 Fosamax side-effect both short and long term.  See table preview below.

(screenshot from ehealthme.com)

Most Fosamax users who are suffering from osteonecrosis are also suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, hypertension, and depression.

 Reference: http://www.ehealthme.com/q/fosamax-side-effects-drug-interactions

PubMed's Journal article entitled "Incidence of gastrointestinal side effects due to alendronate is high in clinical practice" by R. Kelly and H. Taggart, tops Google Scholar search result for the keywords "Fosamax and Side Effects".

The study (Incidence of gastrointestinal side effects due to alendronate is high in clinical practice) gathered new findings about the side effects of Alendronate aka Fosamax.

"We have studied 77 consecutive women(mean age 65 (range 27­83)) who were treated with alendronate 10 mg daily for nine to 66 weeks. All were given instructions about how to take the drug, which were reinforced after March 1996 by the advice that they should not lie down after taking it.  They were questioned in detail about compliance with the instructions and side effects."

"Twenty four (31%) had side effects. Twoof these developed rashes, which resolved when they stopped the drug. The other 22 had mainly upper gastrointestinal problems, particularly problems suggesting gastro­oesophageal reflux: dyspepsia (16 patients), heartburn (14), retrosternal pain (9), dys­phagia (5) , nausea (8), and vomiting (3). Many had more than one symptom. One patient developed an oesophageal stricture, which required dilatation. Twenty stopped taking alendronate because of the severity of their symptoms."

Read the rest of the study by downloading the pdf file here.

According to an online article there are around 52 million people in 2010 who are suffering from osteoporosis.  This number is predicted to go as high as 63 million by 2020.  Below is an excerpt from the article.

“It is a bone illness characterized by World Health Organization as condition in which the bones become fragile and brittle, leading to a higher risk of fractures (breaks or cracks) than in normal bone. The many risk factors explain why we speak millions when talking about osteoporosis.”

The author stresses out the importance of “Prevention is better than cure” since there is no known cure for osteoporosis, though you can treat the disease with bone-strengthening drug like Fosamax.  He also focuses on pointing out the unchangeable factors that caused the bone disease.

Gender. Women are two times more expected to endure this disease than men.

Age. The rate of having bone loss (osteoporosis) in older people are faster than the younger ones.

Ethnicity. White and Asian women have higher risk while Black and Hispanic women are at lower risk.

Family history: A family history of osteoporosis would hint your tendency of incurring the disease as well.

Changeable factors are also mentioned on the end part of the article.  Check this link to read the full entry:  http://goarticles.com/article/Risk-Factors-For-Osteoporosis/5163866/

About Fosamax

A report from a recent study confirmed that osteonecrosis of the jaw and Fosamax share a causative link. And whereas Fosamax is prescribed to treat osteoporosis and cut back the danger of hip fractures and long bone fractures, the mechanism of action, that prevents bone turn-over, may build some users liable to bound varieties of fractures.  These findings reveal some disturbing facts about the side effects of fosamax.

While browsing online a while ago, I read an article about some severe adverse side effects of Fosamax.   The author believes that taking Fosamax may lead to some severe inauspicious conditions.  Read below the excerpt from her article.

• Taking Fosamax may lead to some severe inauspicious conditions. These severe adverse effects include:
• Problems on your esophagus the tube connecting your mouth to your stomach
• Hypocalcemia or calcium levels in the blood are lower than the normal range
•   Intense musculoskeletal or bone and joint pains
• Severe bone disease (osteonecrosis) of the jaw

The author advises that if you are experiencing any of the above’s signs or symptoms to seek medical help from health authorities.  Moreover, she gives some tips on how to properly take the drug to lessen side effects.

•        The drug should only be taken according to the doctor’s prescription.
•         Fosamax only works in an empty stomach, thus take the drug after getting up from bed and before taking your first food, drink or other drugs.
•           Do dissolve your tablet in your mouth, swallow the drug right away.
•          Take Fosamax with a full glass of plain water only, not with mineral water, coffee, tea, soda or juice
•      Stand or sit upright for at least 30 minutes after taking the drug. Furthermore, you may only take plain water with the said time frame. Do not take any food or medication even antacids, calcium and other vitamin supplements.

Read the rest of her article here.