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I started taking fosomax in May, 2008. My doctor switched me to Actonel. Has any one else had the feeling of tightness in their chest/stomach area with a feeling of shortness of breath?
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side effects from actonel
- By Isaac
- Posted April 23, 2009 at 10:46 am · 8 replies
- In Postmenopausal women with osteoporosis
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- By nathji
- Posted April 24, 2009 at 10:50 am
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Dear Isaac,
I think I know what you mean. It is all due to the acidity and gas that actonel creates. I think that the shortness of breath comes in when the gas bloats the stomach and the stomach pushes up against the diaphragm in the abdomen. I have had this feeling several times -- and I used to start worrying about my heart.
But it was something called "meteorism"-- a pushing up of the diaphragm, which pushes against the lungs causing shortness of breath, as a doctor once explained to me.
I am not sure whether this is the correct explanation, but its the only one I use to console myself that it isnt a heart ailment!
But do check with your cardiologist all the same.
Best wishes,
Yours,
Priya
(nathji)
- By krb
- Posted April 24, 2009 at 12:23 pm
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I have not had this particular problem. But, I was always careful to follow the instructions and take the medication with a full 8 oz. of water. I am also a coffee drinker so once the time period of 30 minutes was up I would usually have my coffee. I don't know if all that liquid helped or not, but I never had any of the gastric distress with this drug that some people have had and I have somewhat of a sensitive stomach.
What I have experienced with this drug are leg pains in my shins. Doctors don't seem to think that the drug causes it, but I am not so sure. Sometimes I go off the medication for a while and my legs get better.
I have taken both Fosamax and Actonel. Same thing. I am not sure I trust these drugs long term.
good luck
- By Loods
- Posted April 25, 2009 at 11:22 am
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It never surprises me when I read the problems people have been having because I have had most of them as well.
I was on fosamax followed by actonel for 18 months and in that time I suffered tachycardia (twice), rib pain, indigestion, severe back pain and breathlessness. I actually came off the treatment a year ago but I am still suffering the side effects even now.
The trouble is these are not drugs they are poisons and no one really knows how a poison is going to react from one person to another, day by day or even year by year.
krb, you are right not to trust them.
They did nothing for my osteoporosis, in fact I broke a rib while on it and my bone density got worse! I now have osteoporosis and the continual side effects to put up with. Great drug!
What I find unbelievable is they are still being prescribed and people are continuing to complain of ill health because of them, yet they get away with it! How stupid are we to be taken in?
- By Cher1
- Posted April 27, 2009 at 2:48 am
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I have been taking Actonel, 1X wk, for over 2 years and have had no ill effects. My dexa has improved and I continue to take this drug without reservations.
- By brown
- Posted April 27, 2009 at 10:08 am
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i took Actonel off and on for 2 yrs. felt like i had the flu, may back hurt, my joints hurt, even my feet hurt, and i was always getting a urinary track infection. Drs. couldnt figure it out. I never got them before. i thought it was menopause, i was so sick of the urinary track infections. So in Aug 2008 i thought maybe some of my meds was causing the urinary track infections so i googled each of my med with urinary track infection, and by golly Actonel was one of them. I quit taking it have not had one since. my joints dont hurt, my feet dont hurt my back isnt hurting. I wish there were other meds we could take.
- By ViHay
- Posted April 27, 2009 at 11:48 am
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A significant benefit of the IV drugs is that the Gut is bypassed and the symptoms that go with GI flux, etc. are eliminated.
Drugs such as Boniva Injections are short, side effects tend to be minimal and appear mostly at the first quarterly injection, The fact that you have had oral medications such as Actonel - ease such side effects for the body already recognises this class of medications.
And as such infusions should be done in a medical outpatient setting, the drugs are covered as an outpatient expense - with the medical setting and not the patient paying for the drug.
- By selga
- Posted April 28, 2009 at 4:23 pm
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I experienced similar symptoms for the month that I took Actonel last year i.e. quite severe gastric discomfort and occasional problems with taking deep breaths. This feeling was so unpleasant that I decided to seek alternatives to Actonel, and am now going the way of alkalinising my diet as well as taking various supplements in addition to Calcium and VitD.
Let's see what the Bone Density results show at the end of the year!
- By sdivas
- Posted April 28, 2009 at 5:14 pm
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Cher1, you & I seem to be the exception. I've been on Actonel since 8/01 without any side effects. Sandi
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