Get Informed: Fosamax
Active Ingredient(s)
Alendronate
What does it do?
This product is primarily used for the treatment and prevention of osteoporosis, and is also used in the treatment of Paget's disease. It is a bisphosphanate, and is believed to work by reducing the activity of bone removal cells (osteoclasts).
- Last Text Update:
- 2009-Nov-20 9:47 PM
- Last Data Update:
- 2009-Nov-20 6:53 PM
Other Names
- Fosamax
- Fosamax Once Weekly
- Alendronate
- Alendronic Acid
How Safe Is It?
- Your Risk Rating
- Please log in
- Average Risk Rating
-
- Pregnancy Category:
- C
- Black Box Warning:
- No
Facts & Figures
- Date Approved
- 29 Sep 1995
- Est US Patients*
- 1,858,000
- Generic Available
- Yes
- OTC Available
- No
User Age Distribution*
< 21
21-39
40-59
60+
Age (Years)
* Estimated number of US people currently taking Fosamax or its active ingredient based on population adjusted patient numbers registered with iGuard.org.
Recent alerts for Fosamax
There have been no alerts regarding Fosamax during the past year.
Fosamax Safety Report
Learn more about iGuard's risk ratings
- Please login or register (it's free) so iGuard can check how Fosamax interacts with other drugs and diseases in your profile.
What is Fosamax used for?
iGuard.org is currently tracking more than 10,900 patients that use Fosamax (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)). Use the table below to learn why iGuard users take this product; click on any underlined condition to get information on other medications used for treatment.
| Disease / Condition | % | Average Severity |
|---|---|---|
| Osteoporosis | 91% | 
|
| Other | 8% | 
|
How well does Fosamax work?
iGuard.org regularly polls our more than 10,900 users taking Fosamax (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)) using the Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medications (TSQM) . This feedback is continuously updated in tables below for the benefit of the iGuard community. To request scores for specific patient subgroups, please contact research@iguard.org.
Average Satisfaction Score
(out of 10)
Average Effectiveness Score
(out of 10)
- 70%
- of patients are confident that the good things about Fosamax outweigh the bad things.
- 18%
- of patients wish they were told more before they started taking Fosamax.
Common Side Effects of Fosamax
iGuard.org regularly polls our more than 10,900 users taking Fosamax (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)) to monitor the development and frequency of side-effects. This feedback is continuously updated in tables and graphs below for the benefit of the iGuard community.
23% of patients experience side-effects on Fosamax
4% of patients experience signifcant side-effects on Fosamax
Most Common Side Effects...
-
Muscle Pain/Stiffness
-
Bone/Joint Pain
-
= 10%
Less than 1%: Bone Loss, Dental Problems, Fatigue, Headache, Heartburn/Reflux, Muscle Pain, Nausea/Vomiting, Numbness/Tingling, Restlessness
Global Patient Feedback for Fosamax (Alendronate) ( Post a comment )
Question/Comment:
Can taking Fosomax lead to burning mouth syndrone? I also take diclofenac 75 mg twice daily. Any interaction there? When the burning alleviated, extreme dry mouth and metallac taste persist. Also dry lips, little mouth blisters, and disolving of muscosal lining inside lips. Very annoying.I have to sip fluids constantly to lessen the discomfort.
67 year old Female
Posted: 2009-10-29 21:42:51
iGuard.org Answer/Reply:
The manufacturer's product labeling for Fosamax lists some of the side effects you are experiencing including taste changes, rash and redness. Diclofenac can cause an altered taste, a dry mouth as well as mouth sores. Your side effects may be a combination of the 2 drugs. However, there may be other causes of your mouth symptoms, including an infection. You should followup with your doctor to discuss your side effects and determine if you need to change your therapy.
Posted: 2009-11-03 12:17:58
Question/Comment:
I take low dosage asprin 1x/day, Fosomax once a week, and calcium with vitamin D, 600 mg 3x/day per my doctor's instructions. Your latest alert warns that calcium can interfere with Fosomax and that the two should be taken many hours apart. The same for asprin. Questions:
1. I read recently that calcium should be taken within 2 hours of taking Fosomax. Do 2 hours consititute 'many'?
2. I take calcium morning, noon and night. When is best time to take the aspirin? How much time must elapse?
66 year old Female
Posted: 2009-09-24 08:04:31
iGuard.org Answer/Reply:
Calcium and Fosamax need to be separated by at least two hours. Taking calcium with Fosamax can decrease the absorption of the Fosamax which is why it is important to separate them.
If you take aspirin that is enteric-coated, you need to separate it from the calcium by two hours.
Posted: 2009-09-28 00:26:44
Question/Comment:
I am taking fosamax for a very long time is there a time when you should stop
69 year old Female
Posted: 2009-09-13 09:45:35
Question/Comment:
well, I have been taking Fosamax for over a year and a few months after taking it, I had a bad episode of bronquitis, but the symptoms where so weird, that I was scare I was going to die right then, I felt like floating in the air, and had nausea, a burning sensetion all over my body and felt that my heart was going slower. This lasted for a few minutes and I had to go to Emergency and eventually had to stay. Now that I thinking about it, makes sense. I have not been taking it since December and am concern but my Doctor told me that It is important for me to take it. Here we go again and I pray to God that It will not happen again. But I should add that I was taking It the wrong way because I have problems swallowing pills, I was cutting it in half other times I was crashing It, so that could have made a big diference. I suggest never to that.
47 year old Female
Posted: 2009-08-06 16:56:42
Answer/Reply:
I HAVE BEEN TAKING FOSAMAX FOR OVER A YEAR NOW. I WAS ON OTHER HORMONES FOR MY BONES. WISH I HAD TAKEN FOSAMAX SOONER BECAUSE I HAVE OSTEOPOROSIS. I AM 75 YO. I ALSO HAVE PROBLEMS SWALLOWING LG. PILLS BUT I TAKE THEM WITH APPLESAUCE OR TAKE A BITE OF BANANA, CHEW IT GOOD AND PUT THE PILLS IN MY MOUTH AND SWALLOW THE WHOLE THING AND IT WORKS FOR ME. OTHER THAN FOSAMAX SINCE YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO TAKE IT ON AN EMPTY STOMACH AND STAY ON YOUR FEET FOR HALF AN HOUR. I DO SOME KIND OF WORK OR TAKE MY SHOWER FOR THE THIRTY MINUTES.YOU WERE PROBABLLY TAKING IT WRONG. YOU ARE YOUNG AND CAN AVOID OSTEOPOROSIS IF YOU START TAKING IT NOW AND KEEP YOUR BONES STRONG. HANG IN THERE.
76 year old Female
Posted: 2009-08-20 19:22:17
Question/Comment:
I took Fosamax for 8 months as directed. Then I started getting muscle pain in the back of my shoulders, which migrated to my left hip as I continued to take the drug. Also I was experiencing heartburn, even though I have been regularly taking Prilosec for it. A few more weeks, I discontinued taking Fosamax.
Previously I had taken Actonel and had the same side effects after taking the medication for 7 months. Plus, I started getting severe head aches with Actonel too. After researching the side effects of Reclast, I am not willing to risk the pain, by taking another biphosphonate. Jerry (68 year old male).
70 year old Male
Posted: 2009-07-23 18:00:32
You may post comments for the benefit of other patients or post questions other patients might be able to answer. Comments are submitted for possible publication on the condition that they may be edited. Only your age and gender will be published with your comment, although your other user details will be securely recorded for verification purposes.
Comments may be either questions or answers to previously posted questions. Any iGuard.org user may post questions and reply.
44
Patient Comments about
Fosamax