Comments on: Red Flags for Users of Osteoporosis Drugs http://www.menopausetheblog.com/2008/05/05/red-flags-for-users-of-osteoporosis-drugs/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=red-flags-for-users-of-osteoporosis-drugs Timely, Unbiased Information Sat, 04 Feb 2012 02:15:04 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Wendy http://www.menopausetheblog.com/2008/05/05/red-flags-for-users-of-osteoporosis-drugs/comment-page-1/#comment-3146 Wendy Fri, 12 Aug 2011 00:36:20 +0000 http://www.menopausetheblog.com/2008/05/05/red-flags-for-users-of-osteoporosis-drugs/#comment-3146 Hi Sue - I haven't heard of these side effects, but I checked on eHealthme.com and it shows that of the 11,550 people reporting side effects when taking Actonel, only 6 complained of eye-twitching. However, if you go to this website, click on "drug interactions," you can submit your complaints about this drug and then see other reported claims. For example, the most common complaint of females aged 58+ taking Actonel was joint pain (238 reports). For those taking Actonel long-term, the top side effect (with 52 reports) was Osteonecrosis (bone death). In this case, there has much written about reports on jaw pain for patients taking bi-phosponates. In any case, I think it would be wise to discuss these complaints with your physician. Hi Sue – I haven’t heard of these side effects, but I checked on eHealthme.com and it shows that of the 11,550 people reporting side effects when taking Actonel, only 6 complained of eye-twitching. However, if you go to this website, click on “drug interactions,” you can submit your complaints about this drug and then see other reported claims. For example, the most common complaint of females aged 58+ taking Actonel was joint pain (238 reports). For those taking Actonel long-term, the top side effect (with 52 reports) was Osteonecrosis (bone death). In this case, there has much written about reports on jaw pain for patients taking bi-phosponates. In any case, I think it would be wise to discuss these complaints with your physician.

]]> By: Sue Badilla http://www.menopausetheblog.com/2008/05/05/red-flags-for-users-of-osteoporosis-drugs/comment-page-1/#comment-3143 Sue Badilla Thu, 11 Aug 2011 20:01:13 +0000 http://www.menopausetheblog.com/2008/05/05/red-flags-for-users-of-osteoporosis-drugs/#comment-3143 Has anyone experienced eye twitching and slight dizziness while taking Actonel? I also have muscle pain, though it is not debilitating, I am a bit worried about this eye twitching and dizziness. Has anyone experienced eye twitching and slight dizziness while taking Actonel? I also have muscle pain, though it is not debilitating, I am a bit worried about this eye twitching and dizziness.

]]> By: Brenda Simard http://www.menopausetheblog.com/2008/05/05/red-flags-for-users-of-osteoporosis-drugs/comment-page-1/#comment-3046 Brenda Simard Thu, 21 Jul 2011 23:48:17 +0000 http://www.menopausetheblog.com/2008/05/05/red-flags-for-users-of-osteoporosis-drugs/#comment-3046 I read somewhere that the rebuilding of bones does not last after finishing the 2 years on the forteo. If anyone has any info on this please share because I need to ask my doctor. This was not told to me and I have started on the injections. I read somewhere that the rebuilding of bones does not last after finishing the 2 years on the forteo. If anyone has any info on this please share because I need to ask my doctor. This was not told to me and I have started on the injections.

]]> By: Wendy http://www.menopausetheblog.com/2008/05/05/red-flags-for-users-of-osteoporosis-drugs/comment-page-1/#comment-2301 Wendy Sat, 19 Feb 2011 04:37:16 +0000 http://www.menopausetheblog.com/2008/05/05/red-flags-for-users-of-osteoporosis-drugs/#comment-2301 Great advice Karla. Glad to hear that despite your fall, you're still strong and in great shape. Great advice Karla. Glad to hear that despite your fall, you’re still strong and in great shape.

]]> By: karla http://www.menopausetheblog.com/2008/05/05/red-flags-for-users-of-osteoporosis-drugs/comment-page-1/#comment-2300 karla Sat, 19 Feb 2011 03:44:01 +0000 http://www.menopausetheblog.com/2008/05/05/red-flags-for-users-of-osteoporosis-drugs/#comment-2300 I am a caucasian, 5'4" femaile 69 1/2 years old and 110 pounds. December 2010 I fell while line dancing and broke my left radial tip and suffered a non-complicated fracture of my left wrist. I had surgery of the radial tip and asked the doctor if he felt osteoporosis contributed to my breaks. He indicated to me that these were trauma fractures and not symptiomatic fractures. He added that for certainty I either had or was at risk for osteoporosis. I then asked him to prescribe a dexa scan. The scan showed that I had neither osteopenia or osteoporosis. My doctor was stunned that my bone density was under 1% less than that of a 30 year old woman. Get to the gym ladies. I started weight bearing and cardio exercise 5 years ago. I go a minimum of 4 days a week and line dance 5 days a week. This week I received a health email stating that you can increase bone density 1% a year with adequate (consistent) weight bearing exercise. Exercise rules. Medication drools. I am a caucasian, 5’4″ femaile 69 1/2 years old and 110 pounds. December 2010 I fell while line dancing and broke my left radial tip and suffered a non-complicated fracture of my left wrist. I had surgery of the radial tip and asked the doctor if he felt osteoporosis contributed to my breaks. He indicated to me that these were trauma fractures and not symptiomatic fractures. He added that for certainty I either had or was at risk for osteoporosis.

I then asked him to prescribe a dexa scan. The scan showed that I had neither osteopenia or osteoporosis. My doctor was stunned that my bone density was under 1% less than that of a 30 year old woman. Get to the gym ladies. I started weight bearing and cardio exercise 5 years ago. I go a minimum of 4 days a week and line dance 5 days a week.

This week I received a health email stating that you can increase bone density 1% a year with adequate (consistent) weight bearing exercise. Exercise rules. Medication drools.

]]> By: Wendy http://www.menopausetheblog.com/2008/05/05/red-flags-for-users-of-osteoporosis-drugs/comment-page-1/#comment-1708 Wendy Tue, 06 Apr 2010 19:46:00 +0000 http://www.menopausetheblog.com/2008/05/05/red-flags-for-users-of-osteoporosis-drugs/#comment-1708 Hi Shirley - It's probably a good idea to consult your doctor about how to stop taking Actonel. I don't know if it's okay to stop cold turkey or if it requires a dose reduction over time. Best to talk to someone who knows! Hi Shirley – It’s probably a good idea to consult your doctor about how to stop taking Actonel. I don’t know if it’s okay to stop cold turkey or if it requires a dose reduction over time. Best to talk to someone who knows!

]]> By: Shirley http://www.menopausetheblog.com/2008/05/05/red-flags-for-users-of-osteoporosis-drugs/comment-page-1/#comment-1707 Shirley Tue, 06 Apr 2010 19:26:23 +0000 http://www.menopausetheblog.com/2008/05/05/red-flags-for-users-of-osteoporosis-drugs/#comment-1707 I am 67 and have been taking Actonel for two years, without any side effects. Lately, I am experiencing shin pain in my right leg, and charley horses in my right toes. I am going to stop taking Actonel (once a week 35 mg.) but wondered if I might cause any problems by just stopping the medication. Any ideas? I am active and take only multi-vitamins. Thank you ! I am 67 and have been taking Actonel for two years, without any side effects. Lately, I am experiencing shin pain in my right leg, and charley horses in my right toes. I am going to stop taking Actonel (once a week 35 mg.) but wondered if I might cause any problems by just stopping the medication. Any ideas? I am active and take only multi-vitamins. Thank you !

]]> By: Wendy http://www.menopausetheblog.com/2008/05/05/red-flags-for-users-of-osteoporosis-drugs/comment-page-1/#comment-1678 Wendy Thu, 04 Mar 2010 17:23:15 +0000 http://www.menopausetheblog.com/2008/05/05/red-flags-for-users-of-osteoporosis-drugs/#comment-1678 Kasturi - Thank you for sharing your story. I hope you will report your experience to the FDA . You can do that by phone or email. Here is the URL to the website where you can obtain the contact information. http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/default.htm It was wise of you to monitor your reactions to Actonel. Your experience offers two good lessons for all of us. First - pay attention to how our bodies' respond to prescription drugs as well as supplements. If you are noticing a serious problem and your doctor dismisses your cause & effect hypothesis, you'll know to seek another opinion. Secondly, do not take prescription medicine lightly, even if it's widely used. Many physicians don't think twice about writing a prescription and in the case of osteoporosis, this class of drugs (phosphonates) is often prescribed for borderline cases of Osteopinia. Kasturi – Thank you for sharing your story. I hope you will report your experience to the FDA . You can do that by phone or email. Here is the URL to the website where you can obtain the contact information. http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/default.htm

It was wise of you to monitor your reactions to Actonel. Your experience offers two good lessons for all of us. First – pay attention to how our bodies’ respond to prescription drugs as well as supplements. If you are noticing a serious problem and your doctor dismisses your cause & effect hypothesis, you’ll know to seek another opinion. Secondly, do not take prescription medicine lightly, even if it’s widely used. Many physicians don’t think twice about writing a prescription and in the case of osteoporosis, this class of drugs (phosphonates) is often prescribed for borderline cases of Osteopinia.

]]> By: Kasturi http://www.menopausetheblog.com/2008/05/05/red-flags-for-users-of-osteoporosis-drugs/comment-page-1/#comment-1677 Kasturi Thu, 04 Mar 2010 12:48:11 +0000 http://www.menopausetheblog.com/2008/05/05/red-flags-for-users-of-osteoporosis-drugs/#comment-1677 Dangerous reaction to Actonel: I was on Fosamax, and was moved to Actonel, which seemed to work fine, until 5 months ago. I am a high BP patient, and take BP meds like Benacar and Metoprolol to lower my BP. However, for the last 5 months, every time I took Actonel, within 24 hours, my BP dropped significantly, I felt dizzy, stomache and heartburn. I had to take electrolyte water all day to get my BP back up. I gave these symptoms to my physicians and they did not think this could be a cause, so I started to monitor the patterns. However, this last time when I took Actonel, within 24 hours I started feeling the same symptoms- only this time, I fell on the floor, and fortunately my family was around. They pulled me up, and I had passed out and was taking very short of breath and could barely breathe- they called 911, and gave me water and tried to pull me out of this condition. After the 911 crew arrived, they checked the vitals, and my BP, which had dropped very very low. I was sweating, dizzy, and had heartburn. I do believe that there is some reaction to this medication, which could have been fatal if my family was not around at the time. Dangerous reaction to Actonel: I was on Fosamax, and was moved to Actonel, which seemed to work fine, until 5 months ago. I am a high BP patient, and take BP meds like Benacar and Metoprolol to lower my BP. However, for the last 5 months, every time I took Actonel, within 24 hours, my BP dropped significantly, I felt dizzy, stomache and heartburn. I had to take electrolyte water all day to get my BP back up. I gave these symptoms to my physicians and they did not think this could be a cause, so I started to monitor the patterns.
However, this last time when I took Actonel, within 24 hours I started feeling the same symptoms- only this time, I fell on the floor, and fortunately my family was around. They pulled me up, and I had passed out and was taking very short of breath and could barely breathe- they called 911, and gave me water and tried to pull me out of this condition. After the 911 crew arrived, they checked the vitals, and my BP, which had dropped very very low. I was sweating, dizzy, and had heartburn.
I do believe that there is some reaction to this medication, which could have been fatal if my family was not around at the time.

]]> By: Wendy http://www.menopausetheblog.com/2008/05/05/red-flags-for-users-of-osteoporosis-drugs/comment-page-1/#comment-1620 Wendy Sun, 10 Jan 2010 21:18:59 +0000 http://www.menopausetheblog.com/2008/05/05/red-flags-for-users-of-osteoporosis-drugs/#comment-1620 10 years seems like a long time to be on Actonel - especially for osteopenia. Have you had a new scan to see how your bone density compares with your baseline pictures? I suggest you discuss this with your physician. 10 years seems like a long time to be on Actonel – especially for osteopenia. Have you had a new scan to see how your bone density compares with your baseline pictures? I suggest you discuss this with your physician.

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