Comments on: Red Flags for Users of Osteoporosis Drugs http://www.menopausetheblog.com/2008/05/05/red-flags-for-users-of-osteoporosis-drugs/ Understanding and managing the mid-life transition Thu, 04 Mar 2010 17:23:15 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 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.

]]> By: Ruby Neumann http://www.menopausetheblog.com/2008/05/05/red-flags-for-users-of-osteoporosis-drugs/comment-page-1/#comment-1617 Ruby Neumann Thu, 07 Jan 2010 01:24:14 +0000 http://www.menopausetheblog.com/2008/05/05/red-flags-for-users-of-osteoporosis-drugs/#comment-1617 I've been on Actonel for at least 10 years for ostopenia and since Nov. '09 my neck has been aching and sore everyday. Also my thumb joints are sore, weak and click. I'm 65 but these symptoms all started to appear about the same time. I'm quitting actonel now. I’ve been on Actonel for at least 10 years for ostopenia and since Nov. ‘09 my neck has been aching and sore everyday. Also my thumb joints are sore, weak and click. I’m 65 but these symptoms all started to appear about the same time. I’m quitting actonel now.

]]> By: FDA Alert for Users of Osteoporosis Drugs Fosomax, Actonel and Boniva : AHEAD OF THE CURVE AT MIDLIFE http://www.menopausetheblog.com/2008/05/05/red-flags-for-users-of-osteoporosis-drugs/comment-page-1/#comment-1388 FDA Alert for Users of Osteoporosis Drugs Fosomax, Actonel and Boniva : AHEAD OF THE CURVE AT MIDLIFE Fri, 19 Jun 2009 10:31:30 +0000 http://www.menopausetheblog.com/2008/05/05/red-flags-for-users-of-osteoporosis-drugs/#comment-1388 [...] the last few weeks several studies have appeared alerting women to the severe side effects of biphosphonate drugs like Fosamax, Actonel, Boniva, commonly prescribed to prevent osteoporosis. One study concluded that women using Fosamax are almost [...] [...] the last few weeks several studies have appeared alerting women to the severe side effects of biphosphonate drugs like Fosamax, Actonel, Boniva, commonly prescribed to prevent osteoporosis. One study concluded that women using Fosamax are almost [...]

]]> By: Clare Flocco http://www.menopausetheblog.com/2008/05/05/red-flags-for-users-of-osteoporosis-drugs/comment-page-1/#comment-1306 Clare Flocco Fri, 08 May 2009 18:21:51 +0000 http://www.menopausetheblog.com/2008/05/05/red-flags-for-users-of-osteoporosis-drugs/#comment-1306 I developed atrial fibrillation from Actonal. And my muscles hurt so much I couldn't get out of bed. Clare Flocco I developed atrial fibrillation from Actonal. And my muscles hurt so much I couldn’t get out of bed.

Clare Flocco

]]> By: Haralee http://www.menopausetheblog.com/2008/05/05/red-flags-for-users-of-osteoporosis-drugs/comment-page-1/#comment-198 Haralee Wed, 25 Jun 2008 16:45:22 +0000 http://www.menopausetheblog.com/2008/05/05/red-flags-for-users-of-osteoporosis-drugs/#comment-198 There is also the side effect of GI disturbances. Many women who take the medication for their bones also end up taking medication for GERD. If it is an elderly woman it becomes a chicken and egg situation for doctors. Fosomax has a half life, I have been told, of 10 years. When the drug first came out it was given to women in their 70's. But giving it to women in their 40's or 50's with a life expectencey of more than 10 years??? There is also the side effect of GI disturbances. Many women who take the medication for their bones also end up taking medication for GERD. If it is an elderly woman it becomes a chicken and egg situation for doctors.
Fosomax has a half life, I have been told, of 10 years. When the drug first came out it was given to women in their 70’s. But giving it to women in their 40’s or 50’s with a life expectencey of more than 10 years???

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