Greetings;
I just want to warn everybody that has Rheumatoid Arthritis Do Not take any Bisphosphonates; Actonel, Fosamax, etc. Taking these drugs can induce Systemic Lupus. This is a known fact that has been hidden along with other serious side effects.
These Bisphosphonates are supposed to help with bone restoration in Osteoporosis and Paget's disease. But they are lethal to our body's natural bone regeneration.
These drugs also can cause destruction to the eyes. "Bisphosphonates slow the resorption of calcium from bones, helping to prevent them from becoming fragile. The eye problems include conjunctivitis, abnormal or blurred vision, eye pain, scleritis (an inflammation of the sclera, the outer coating of the eyeball), and uveitis (an inflammation of the uvea, a middle lining that includes the iris). The PDR does not describe these uncommon ocular side effects as resulting from the drugs, even though some of them have been on the market for over 25 years."N Engl J Med. 2003 Mar 20;348(12):1187-8.
I hope you can help spread the word about these drugs. I have been severly damaged by Actonel and feel it is my duty to warn others about these much advertised drugs.
Best Regards,
Karen
I have suffered severe damage due to Actonel and I feel it is my duty to inform as many people as I can about these terrible drugs and their side effects.
Best Regards,
mark54
I found your post very interesting. Two yrs ago I started fosamax and broke out in hives. Two specialists told me I was mistaken. I recently started actonel and developed a hideous rash with blisters on inner elbow. I believe it was the actonel. I have taken mtx, arava and many other things with no side effects. I have taken enbrel for 2 yrs. and have no side effects and it is helping the RA enormously. I am very reasonable and try to trust my doctors. I now take only enbrel and calcium and sit in the sun for 10 minutes a day for vit. D. It wouldnt surprise me that osteoporosis drugs are the next things pulled off the market.
If one types in "actonel side effects" in your search engine, one of the side effects that is mentioned is "vision changes"
Among many others others is "dry eyes".
Of course, doctors are someowhat trapped by the advertising and their past success with these meds, so they prescribe and hope that the patient is not
one who will be adversely effected. Always ask the pharmacist about side effects BEFORE taking a new med. If you don't ask, you may not know what
to watch out for. They usually have printed hand-outs, so you won't have to rely on memory.
If taking bisphosphonates orally for a long term is a problem, then maybe
the intravenous route would cause fewer ongoing side effects because
it is only taken a few times during the first month or two.
Unfortunately, those with RA can have side effects such as dry eyes
(Sjogren's Syndrome) and may blame this on taking any med if they experience the problem soon after trying anything new.
Has anyone with RA been thoroughly checked for a hidden infection and
been denied antibiotics when makers for Sed Rate, C Reactive Protein, Antinuclear Antibody, White Blood Cell Count and Rheumatoid Factor
were elevated. Many doctors still doubt that RA has an infectious cause and
are reluctant to prescribe antibiotics. (especially long term)
Here is a link to a government site... regarding Juvenile RA
[url]http://www.niams.nih.gov/hi/topics/juvenile_arthritis/juvarthr.htm[/url]
My doctor wanted me to take Actonel for ostepenia, but I read on-line that some of the side effects are heart disease and skin cancer. He made a special phone call to me at home to ask me if I filled the prescripton he gave me (what doctor does that?, I was wondering if the drug company put pressure on him to push Actonel). I told him to forget it, that I would just take calcium supplements along with the other appropriate vitamins and minerals. I also told him that I read only 50% of women who develop osteporosis will get a fracture, so I will take my chances. He replied,"oh you really have done your homework!"
I asked the doc since I have osteopenia in the hip only, what would the Actonel do to the rest of my bones that don't need any medication, and he said he didn't know. I also wrote to the drug company a few months ago (I forgot which one makes Actonel) and asked the same question and guess what? I never received a response!
I posted the info regarding Actonel on the osteoporosis boards a few months ago. I know someone who has skin cancer on her face who was taking Foxomax, but I don't know if it's related, I didn't read any warnings regarding Foxomax and skin cancer, only Actonel.
Hi. Have just found this great chat place. Have had osteoporosis for many years first having HRT treatment plus calcium and then (after a breast cancer scare) discontinued HRT and went on to calcitrol. Density reports were good but didnt have one for aouple of years (shifting house) and had a compression fracture T12 about ten weeks ago. Doctor advised actonel and (against my sisters wishes....she is a very bad sufferer with osteo) I took one tablet...that night was rushed to hospital with a severe bowel haemorrhage. None of the Doctors involved will blame the actonel, rather a coincidental bleed from diverticula (which I have also had for years without one single bleed of any kind) Has anyone else had this problem. Incidentally my sisters Doctor told her that she had had to send five patients to hospital from Fosomax induced bleeding. It is ten weeks now since the compression fracture and am still in great pain on the right side and am cross that I can now not take any drug other than the calcitrol which obviously did not prevent the fracture. Find all your comments very interesting...cheers
Hi. Have just found this great chat place. Have had osteoporosis for many years first having HRT treatment plus calcium and then (after a breast cancer scare) discontinued HRT and went on to calcitrol. Density reports were good but didnt have one for aouple of years (shifting house) and had a compression fracture T12 about ten weeks ago. Doctor advised actonel and (against my sisters wishes....she is a very bad sufferer with osteo) I took one tablet...that night was rushed to hospital with a severe bowel haemorrhage. None of the Doctors involved will blame the actonel, rather a coincidental bleed from diverticula (which I have also had for years without one single bleed of any kind) Has anyone else had this problem. Incidentally my sisters Doctor told her that she had had to send five patients to hospital from Fosomax induced bleeding. It is ten weeks now since the compression fracture and am still in great pain on the right side and am cross that I can now not take any drug other than the calcitrol which obviously did not prevent the fracture. Find all your comments very interesting...cheers
Hi Olive,
The problem with Fosamax is well known and a solution has been found...
If the Fosamax is taken weekly instead of daily there is much less risk of
bleeding.
Anyone with swallowing issues must also ensure that the pill reaches the stomach, so it is wise to take it with, or at the beginning of a meal.
There are other ways of administering bisphosphonates, such as a Calcitonin Nasal Spray or an intravenous pamindronate which is a more direct way of getting into the bloodstream without going through the digestive system.
Anyone with swallowing issues must also ensure that the pill reaches the stomach, so it is wise to take it with, or at the beginning of a meal.
Ron
Excuse me for correcting you on this, Ron, but if you're talking about Actonel or Fosamax, it is imperative that you NOT take it with food. In fact, you can't eat or drink anything except plain water for at least 30 minutes after taking it. I know this because my husband has been taking Fosamax for 5 years.
Excuse me for correcting you on this, Ron, but if you're talking about Actonel or Fosamax, it is imperative that you NOT take it with food. In fact, you can't eat or drink anything except plain water for at least 30 minutes after taking it. I know this because my husband has been taking Fosamax for 5 years.
Hi Aleta,
I understand the mechanics of taking fosamax, but it does burn the esophagus.
IF IT GETS STUCK. One must try to prevent it from getting stuck.
That is why the weekly fosamax is much less likely to cause gastric trouble.
Why is your husband taking this med when there are other "more effective)
treatments with better outcomes?
Another article I read, states that the effect of fosamax peaks at about three years. It may not be as effective after that. Are his bone density scores being maintained?
Here is a quote from an MD's site. Have his doctor look up the referrence
in the NEJM
"If you suffer from osteoporosis, you can take Fosamax, Actonel, or Didronel. If these pills upset your stomach or you are in hurry to strengthen your bones, a single intravenous infusion of zoledronic acid will strengthen your bones as much as taking pills for a whole year.
Why is your husband taking this med when there are other "more effective)
treatments with better outcomes?
Another article I read, states that the effect of fosamax peaks at about three years. It may not be as effective after that. Are his bone density scores being maintained?
Here is a quote from an MD's site. Have his doctor look up the referrence
in the NEJM
"If you suffer from osteoporosis, you can take Fosamax, Actonel, or Didronel. If these pills upset your stomach or you are in hurry to strengthen your bones, a single intravenous infusion of zoledronic acid will strengthen your bones as much as taking pills for a whole year.
New England Journal of Medicine, March 13, 2002 "
My husband is on Fosamax because that has been the standard medication for men who have osteoporosis. He has had no side effects from it at all, but he is very diligent about drinking a full glass of water with it, making sure he doesn't lie down after taking it and doesn't eat for at least 30 minutes afterward. The first year he was on it showed some gain in bone density, but since then his results have been mixed. He is seeing a new endocrinologist who thinks Forteo may be a good alternative for him now. They did blood tests already and he did the 24-hr urine test last week. Next week he'll go in for the results and another consultation with the endo.
Zolendronic acid (Zometa) is another biphosphonate like Fosamax and Actonel. The upside is that one 15-minute infusion lasts for 6 months or a year and there are no gastric problems with it. The downside is that it can cause osteonecrosis of the jaw. It is recommended that patients on Zometa not have any oral surgery. That's not always something you can plan. Also, the way Zometa is administered requires equipment that most doctors don't have access to. It is used primarily to treat bone cancer patients, so you would find it at chemotherapy departments in hospitals, not in endocrinology offices.
Greetings;
I just want to warn everybody that has Rheumatoid Arthritis Do Not take any Bisphosphonates; Actonel, Fosamax, etc. Taking these drugs can induce Systemic Lupus. This is a known fact that has been hidden along with other serious side effects.
These Bisphosphonates are supposed to help with bone restoration in Osteoporosis and Paget's disease. But they are lethal to our body's natural bone regeneration.
These drugs also can cause destruction to the eyes. "Bisphosphonates slow the resorption of calcium from bones, helping to prevent them from becoming fragile. The eye problems include conjunctivitis, abnormal or blurred vision, eye pain, scleritis (an inflammation of the sclera, the outer coating of the eyeball), and uveitis (an inflammation of the uvea, a middle lining that includes the iris). The PDR does not describe these uncommon ocular side effects as resulting from the drugs, even though some of them have been on the market for over 25 years."N Engl J Med. 2003 Mar 20;348(12):1187-8.
I hope you can help spread the word about these drugs. I have been severly damaged by Actonel and feel it is my duty to warn others about these much advertised drugs.
Best Regards,
Karen
I have suffered severe damage due to Actonel and I feel it is my duty to inform as many people as I can about these terrible drugs and their side effects.
Best Regards,
mark54
Wow. Thank you. I appreciate this being passed on. If that desn;t save someone, then I don;t know what can. Very, very much appreciated.
After reading thru I think all posts and seeing about Actonel, Fosomax etc. I begin to wonder. I have had Fibro and RA and Sjogren's etc arthritis for over 30 yrs. Have been all sorts of things. Now have lung infec. so have to watch what I take CLOSE. I beging to think 'just give me a pain pill' and forget the rest but natual things and or vitamins. I have tried a lot and not much success. Had had a lot of side effects. So I think at least the pain pills make it bearable and I am very CAUTIOUS about how I take them. If I am having particular bad time I have in past asked someone else to read pain literature and take management of how I take them. I think this is a good idea. I also have Ambien to take and even a nerve pill. Mind you I don't take all this together. I read everything I can about medicines, how to take and how many is the limit. I also call the pharmacist. I also talk to friends and have one that I call if I need help. I guess you could say a buddy system can help. I also have ones who call me. I have one friend with similar health problems and I asked her if I could put her down as one to discuss my treatment if I was in the hospital and she agreed to this. My husband is not well and I know he would never know what I needed. My son is far away and my daughter is not right here in our time and has her own bad health problems. Hope these hints help someone. I am and have been rethinking my taking Actonel.
I am taking Actonel and was thinking about getting off of it, but after reading some of the side effects...I am sure I will, and tell my doctor. I have also developed some blurry vision, with other female problems which comes and goes. What other natural things can we take in its place? I am also taking over the counter Viactiv chewable chocolate flavored calcium. I chew about 1250 mgs a day.
Please any other info would appreciated.
