Fosamax and bone density test

53 year old female who has taken "F" for almost 2 years - the past two months was the generic version. Have noticed a gradual onset of joint pain and heart palpitations, but am not one to see a doc unless I feel like I'm dying... So I wrote it off to aging. (-:
A friend recently mentioned that she had heard that Fosamax causes bones to be brittle, which caused me to wake up, look around and see what people are saying and what new articles or research are out there. Yeah, sure - there are lawsuits. Not a surprise in our litigious society. More importantly, however, are the comments from real people. Thanks to you who've posted your experiences!
I stopped the drug several weeks ago and seem to have an increase in joint paint. But I'm not going back to Fosamax! Also interesting to me is that around the same time I stopped the drug, I experienced an uncharacteristic downward shift in my mood/mental state. Not sure if there's a correlation to the drug or not...
It is reassuring to see some comments from people who indicate they feel better after weeks/months of being Fosamax free. I am a "gym rat" and very fit/weight appropriate. Weight training and nutrition will be my treatment of choose for osteopenia for now. With time, I am confident that the symptoms I'm experiencing will subside. And any future ailments for which I am prescribed a drug will be very carefully researched by me beforehand.
Be careful out there and stay informed!

Well.....I've had two good bone density tests (the proper test)...the last i had was in 2002, and showed an actual increase of density of 7.5% in one hip, and 4% somewhere else....I was THEN put on Fosamax by my dr. because I am "white, thin, hysterectomy and smoke...." and said he wanted to keep my bones healthy. Hence, I've been on this since. I'm now wondering.....I had alopecia (hair loss) 2 years ago, just patchy, it's back in fine, no recurrence. I'm seeing a chiropractor now, as I feel constantly "pretzeled" My head feels like it weighs 100lbs on a wobbly neck, my fingers are often sore, one of my knees is dodgy, ....we have no athritis, osteoporosis in my family, I cannot remember a female breaking a bone! I just don't feel great all vague feelings. I exercise every evening 20mins on a glider, I'm 105lbs, I eat a sensible diet, I do everything at 100mph, so not sedentary! I go for my Bone density the end of this month, and I have a feeling this is the end of my Fosamax!

My 70 year old mother starting taking Fosamax a few weeks ago because her bone density test showed she had osteoporosis. She became quite ill soon afterwards, said she had the worst headache of her life, couldn't eat, had nausea, severe head pain, and dizziness. She was in bed for a week. Her doc said maybe it was a swollen temporal artery (huh?), and put her on strong pain meds, which she said didn't even touch the pain. After reading the other comments on this website, I called her and told her to not take another dose. Merck is being sued over this drug. How many women have to suffer horrific side effects, including loss of their jaws, before they pull this crap off the market?? It's all about maximizing their profits, folks, and those pharmaceutical companies will ruin your health with their poisons to make a buck.

I am 50 years old and my bone density test showed beginning signs of moderate loss. I took the once a week fosomax for about 4 weeks. After the second week I developed hip joint pain. The next week my shoulder joints and knees started hurting. After the 4th week the joint pain lessened slightly. Because I was going on a business trip with lots of walking, I decided to stop taking it and experienced some relief immediately so ... I decided to stop altogether. My joint pain is nothing like it was while taking it, BUT I STILL AM EXPERIENCING some JOINT PAIN and it's been 5 months since I stopped. Before I started taking it, I was extremely active and experienced NO joint pain.

I have been taking Fosamax for 3 1/2 years for severe bone loss and family history of osteoporosis. During this time my bone density has increased by .1. I execise every day and lift weights 3 times a week. In the past year I have experienced chronic neck pain that radiates from the back of my neck up over the top of my head. It lasts for 3 weeks, then disappears for about a month, then reappears. My doctor feels it is skeletal but Advil does not touch the pain. After reading about the side effect , necrosis of the jawbone, coupled with my neck pain I decided to discontinue Fosamax. I will be anxious to see if the pain disappears and if my bone density remains the same in 6 months when I am scheduled for another bone density test. Has anyone experienced similar side effects?

I had a bone density test that revealed that I had major bone loss, so my doctor put me on fosamax. I have been taking fosamax once weekly 70mg for about a year. About 6 months ago I started noticing bruises on my legs and I know I didn't do anything to cause them, like bump into anything. I also started having really bad leg pain below my knee on the tops of my legs, shin area to my feet. They were aching, and any pressure on them, such as crossing your legs laying down was painful also. I started having pain in my lower chest. The doctor said to stop taking the fosamax for 2 weeks. I have stopped for a month now and the bruises have subsided a bit, but no more leg pain (which was my main concern) and the chest pain is gone too. I will NEVER take fosamax again.

I had many of the named side effects so refused to use fosamax and actonel.

I searched the internet to find other help. was buying many minerals. Finally tired a suplement that contained most of those recommended. I buy it from independent health food stores.
It is called BONE UP .

I got tired of taking the recommended 6 capsuls each day. so took only 3 capsuls. Just had a bone density test scan. two years after last test and found that my bones had improved.!!!! the nurse that gave me my results was very impressed. Still need to let my docter know what I've been up to.

I am 63 years old, going through radiation for breast cancer. My doctor recommended a bone density test and the results were that I was starting to loss bone density. After reading the negative effects of this medication, I will not take it. Also, I had a heart attack five years ago and the side effect of this medication is chest pain. I think the doctors have no clue to the effects of this medication. I was also reading the literature on the mild side effects of this medication, to me this would cause you the discomfort and you are told not to call the doctor for this. It isn't the doctor who is going through this mild side effect. Another thing are these side effect permanent or temporary? Thank you for letting me voice my opinion.

I started taking Fosamax on a Friday morning and by Saturday morning I was aching. By Saturday night I had severe aching and chest pains. My doctor said that my only other alternative was a nasal spray derived form salmon which could cause severe nose bleeds and nose sores PLUS aches.
So I decided to take my chances with Fosamax and hoped that the side effects would go away once my body got used to it. I just started my second week dose again this past Friday and have developed ongoing shortness of breath and chest pain. I can not live like this on a day to day basis and have decided after reading all the different side effects that various women have experienced while taking this drug to discontinue its use. As I am at risk for Osteophorsis according to my Bone Density Test, I can only hope that I never actually develop it and put put myself at risk in the future for hip fracture and loss of teeth.