The prescription drug Fosamax (the generic is alendronate sodium) is a medication which has been prescribed to hundreds of thousands of postmenopausal women to treat osteoporosis and help increase bone mass thereby reducing the chance of spinal or non-spinal fractures. Fosamax has also been prescribed to increase bone mass in men with osteoporosis. Brand name Fosamax is manufactured in the United States by Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc.
MY FRIEND HAD TO HAVE INVASION DENTAL WORK, BUT WHEN THE DENTIST DISCOVERED THAT SHE WAS ON FOSAMAX AND HAD BEEN FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, HE INSISTED THAT SHE TAKE A HIGHLY SOPHISTICATED BLOOD TEST. SHE HAD DIFFICULTY FINDING A LAB THAT WAS FAMILIAR WITH THE TEST AND ONE THAT PERFORMED THE TEST. THE RESULTS OF THE TEST INDICATED THAT HER JAW BONE WAS NOT SUFFICIENTLY STRONG[?
I know that the early hysterectomy has caused my bone issues(been on Fosamax and actually just started Reclast this week -2.7) but I wonder if it is effecting the breast? I went in for my annual mamo last week and have been called back yet again. New spot directly under the nipple, same breast. Sheduled US for next week. So two mamos and 2 call backs...I am nervous..is this common, should I be worried, is this what I have to look forward to every year...
Hello Emanuelle,
I definitely feel for your concern. Although I am 36 I have pretty severe osteoporosis and at one time was recommended to take medication for it. I have several spinal injuries which have resulted in Degenerative Disk Disease, other joint syndromes and overall bone density loss.
I had not personally heard of the the fractures (femur) from the Fosamax, but I did hear of the other risk factors for some of the older drugs.
I am a "heart patient" and have been taking Fosamax to improve bone density. Lately I have seen several things that implied I might not should be taking Fosamax. I would enjoy hearing some opinions on this matter.
Thanks.
Hi spitfire...eek I did the same thing after fosamax. My former GP told me I had early bone loss (I cant remember the name she gave it) after a bone scan, then after seeinig my ENT about the issue he told me my esophagus was actually irritated from the med. And of course the "panic" when you feel as if you cant swallow only makes it worse. He looked at me as if I was nuts when I told him I was even on the fosamax, and recommended I stop it altogether.
I was put on fosamax about a year ago for. In Oct 2011 my teeth started falling out. I always had good teeth until then. Just had 4 pulled. The day after I had a bad infection in the top of my mouth. Its been 3 wks mouth is just now getting better. My question is. Is fosamax the reason my teeth falling out.
I do want to caution your use of the Fosamax though. New studies have shown issues with femur bone fractures (brittle bone) and esophagal problems.
There are other ways to strengthen bones naturally without taking biphosphonates.
I'd get your vitamin D & calcium levels checked too since an underactive thryoid can cause problems with metabolism/regeneration of bone (so can too much thryoid hormone!) That is what makes Hashis difficult to deal with due to the hyper/hypo rollercoaster.
dental work - there are blackbox warnings about osteonecrosis of the jaw (bone death) The mother of a woman that I worked with took Fosamax for a few months and her teeth began to loosen - an oral surgeon had to pull teeth from a quadrant of her mouth and add some sort of bone replacement.
The oral surgeon who did my root canal 2 years ago told me (reluctantly) agreed that the bone drugs are becoming controversial.
I would, however, suspect the Fosamax. Can you try a different medication for osteoporosis? I rebuilt my bone by supplementing with calcium, magnesium and vitamin D.
High cholesterol is often caused by hypothyroidism, and once thyroid levels are normalized (for you), cholesterol levels often come down.
Does anyone know any adverse effect with Fosamax, a medication for treating osteoporois or brittle bones? My regular doc (who knows I have HCV) prescribed it to me.
I know that the liver processes all drugs and reading the side effects is scaring me. I have stage 2 fibrosis and failed the traditional interferon/ribavirin treatment already.
35 years of empty sella, hi prolactin, testosterone injections, osteopenia, broken ribs and recently hip - and now at age 67 two of my children ages 33 and 36 flunk Dexa scans and are prescribed fosamax, which they refuse to take until hyperparathyroid is ruled out. I get labs showing PTHs of 63/(15-65), 51 and 45, with ionized calciums of 5.2, 5.3 and 5.4 on scale 4.5 - 5.6. Three endos and 2 GPs say it's all coincidental. Should we get treatment in Europe?
Biphosphonates are phosphate derivatives that bind to the surface of the bone, thereby blocking bone removal and decreasing bone loss. Currently, there are three biphosphonates - alendronate [Fosamax], etidronate [Didronal]) and risedronate [Actonel], that have been approved by the FDA for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis. These medications have been shown to increase bone mass, prevent bone loss, and to decrease the incidence of bone fractures.
Have a-typical trigeminal facial pain after taking fosamax. Surgeon said Fosamax caused this condition and pain.(fossy jaw) I also had to have a bone implant in my jaw.How do I get rid of this constant painful condition? I Hate taking pain meds, but I'm grateful I get some relief. Pain in jaw, ear,eye, forehead, neck, nose all the whole left side of my face and head.
Throat and chest pressure /constriction dizziness are now another pressing concern.
that it was part of his jaw bone, not a root or piece of tooth, exposed. They referred him back to the Periodontist today. He just called me from their office saying that it is not an abscess, they don't know what it is & referred him back to our primary care Doctor (not Dentist) for a referral to either a Eye, Nose & Throat specialist or an Oral Surgeon. He is in severe pain, mostly his tongue, swallowing etc...
Dear Neuroguru,
Hmmmm. Me thinks ye should read about what orthopedists do, which they do nothing but work on diseases and disorders of the bone, and also you should wake up and remember what the SKULL is. The skull is a bone. If anyone has been diagnosed with what the original poster said, "bone tumor in the left supraorbital region of my skull," this is someone who has a tumor in the bone of his skull just above his eye.
I have a 3.5 centimeter bone tumor of the skull in the immediate left supraorbital location abutting the left frontal sinus. The tumor was discovered 4 years ago and has not changed at all. Symptoms are a constant pressure headache that NEVER goes away and I've had it for 4 years now. The diagnosis based on CT, MRI and nuclear bone scan is monostotic fibrous dysplasia.
I need your expert opinion on something: I'm taking weekly generic Fosamax, daily 1200 calcium, daily 1400 D, and every other week 50,000 D. I hit menoapuse about 4 years ago. I have some pretty bad arthritis in my R hip, but my L is much more normal, though not totally normal. I walk briskly and climb stairs 5 days a week.
>
> 2-3 years ago I had taken the high dose D for 1 year, so my scores momentarily shot way up. Then last year my osteoporosis scores dropped 0.1 or 0.
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