I'm on Evista, and have had absolutly no problems or side effects. (I've been on them for over 3 years.) I hate starting new meds though, because you just never know what they may do to you. I have a severe form of arthritis in my spine and the Dr. said that the Evista may actually do some repair, I haven't seen that either, though. You really do need to call the Drs. office tomorrow and speak with at least the nurse, and if you don't get any satisfication from her, then call your pharmacist. Good luck, and I hope you get relief soon.

I just did a search for Actonel and this is what I found concerning side effects -

More common side effects may include:
Abdominal pain, anxiety, back pain, belching, bladder irritation, bone disorders and pain, bronchitis, bursitis, cataracts, chest pain, colitis, constipation, depression, diarrhea, difficulty breathing, dizziness, dry eyes, eye infection, flu-like symptoms, gas, headache, high blood pressure, infection, insomnia, itching, joint disorders and pain, leg cramps, muscle pain, muscle weakness, nausea, neck pain, nerve pain, pain, pneumonia, rash, ringing in ears, sinus problems, sore throat, stomach bleeding, stuffy or runny nose, swelling, tendon problems, tumor, ulcers, urinary tract infection, vertigo, vision problems, weakness.

I would make an appointment to go back to the doctor if you keep having the problems.

I want to thank you wonderful women for posting this. I may 'only' be 47 now but the future looms. I think it brave of you to be so forthcoming with physical ailments and in the telling I learn.
Jlily, I hope you find a medication that works for you that you don't have to suffer with.
God Bless,
Cait

Cait I don't want to discourage you from becoming older-LOL-I appreciate all of you's for your interest. Between the Heat Exhaustion and now this I have not been able to participate much. I'm almost reduced to picking my tomatoes by flashight and on cloudy days. I called my regular doctor and have an appointment for in the morning. So maybe she will help me to grow older "more gracefully". Love ya all,JLily

LOL, Jlily, don't worry I'm not discouraged at all! I had a friend in the States that was 10 years older than me and she said she'd keep me informed at the changes she was going through so I'd know what to expect and not be alarmed when 'strange' things began to happen. I was 30 at the time. But she moved and we lost contact and now I'm here in Australia... just how life goes. HAHA But I appreciated all the things she did tell me and BY GUM! she was right! LOL It was like when I was pregnant and a lot of weird things happened to me that I never heard of. So when someone I knew got pregnant I'd warn them of what may happen and sure enough some of them thanked me for letting them know in advance - the worst being that I got stupid!! LOL I had a very difficult job in a bank and found it extremely difficult to concentrate on numbers! I just think we women don't talk enough about women things and we really can learn so much from each other if we set aside our egos a bit.
Good luck at the doctors, Jlily!
Cait

Jlily, just wanted to share my experience with you. I'm was diagonosed with osteoporosis when I was 41. This has been almost 30 years ago and I have changed meds several times. I did not take the matter seriously at that time but it has really gotten my attention in the last 15 years. First I started on Actonel, yes, the sick feeling was horrible. One of the nurses told me to wait at least an hour before eating and that seemed to work for me. Think the instructions state 30 minutes. It still seemed to leave me with a slight sick feeling but not as much since I waited longer to eat. Started fosamax about three years ago, and due to medical issues I am in the hospital quite a bit. This has nothing to do with the osteoporisis, but I seem to get behind in taking the fosamax weekly. On of the requirments is that I have to be upright for a bit and that is impossible when I'm in the hospital. Just got a prescripton for Boniva, monthy this past week. Haven't take it yet, but think my chances of taking the medication once monthy is better than not being able to take it at all. That is if I can plan my hospital stays around the one day of the month. On my last physical I have lost 1/2 inch of my height. When you are only 5 feet starting out that can make a difference. If I look at this 1/2 inch in all these years since I have been diagnosed that's not too bad. I do weight training each week, swim, and walk two miles a day. This has been my help through the years. Just keeping as active as I can not only helps the physical but the mental. I wish you success in what ever med you and your doctor decide is right for you. Sorry to have been so long in my message. Hallngarden

Well the doctor appointment went well. She seemed to understand me not wanting to take another of the Actonel. I took it on Aug. 13 and still having joint pain and backache and in general feel rotten. She gave me some pain pills to take until it gets better. Plus a prescription for Fortical. It is a nasal spray. I am to use it every day. I am almost afraid to try another new one. But, have no choice. I am hanging in there waiting for it to get better! Thank you for your interest and encouragement Hallngarden. Jlily

Jlily, I am sorry to hear..and hope something helps soon. I was wondering..I am young..well..44 and I have pain in my elbow all the time..especially at night, and in my shoulder, left wrist and back. I have been to physical therapy and it didn't help. I am thinking of changing drs, he kind of makes me feel like I am making the pain up ..like I don't really hurt. he gives me pain meds..but....you know how that goes. I get pain in my ankles and knees as well. How did your dr diagnose you with Osteoporosis?

Sherrie

Jlily, sounds like you are on the right track. Do not be discouraged if you have to change several times to find the right meds for your body. That was very encouraging that your doctor listens to you and is trying to help you get in the right direction. Due to my medical issues I have several doctors now, and they first step I take is noticing if the doctors listen to me or want to make their own conclusion. My son in law is a doctor and he said the patient is the one that gives you the most clues as to the diagnosis and what test to start. Sounds like your doctor is also listening. That is so very important. Jlily, just work the program and I'm sure you will be fine. The bone scans for me are every other year now. My mother is 93 and she takes Evista and does fine. She had to switch around for a bit before she found one she could tolerate. I wish good health for you. Hallngarden

I have not taken the new medicine yet. I am getting to feel almost back to myself again. It was 2 weeks yesterday since I took that pill. My back pain has been the worst the last few days and it is getting better.

Sherrie I had a bone density test to discover the Osteoporosis. My OB-GYN sent me for the Mammogram and the bone density test. I'm still hanging in there. LOL JLily

I am a physiatrist.. you know.. well medications are to stop the osteoporosis.. and prevent bone fracture following falls.. especially hip fracture and compression fractures of the spine..
of course I cannot prescribe you medications from here..and there are not so many.. but dear..I can give you some clues..
you have to exercise.. the weight bearing is making the bones stronger.. so you have to walk daily 40 min at last..
you must raise your calcium intake.. milk yoghurt and cheese.. low fat is better.. you have to drink at least 500cc milk or eat a 200 gr yoghurt.. and better if you eat it when your stomach is empty.. so that calcium can be absorbed better..
you have to make exercises for your back also.. because the spine tends to bend forward.. and you can find them on the internet..but the most important are the Back extensions
A simple back extension exercise: Lie on stomach with forehead resting on floor or rolled up towel. Extend arms straight in front of head. Raise head off the floor a few inches. Hold for several seconds. Do three sets of eight to 12 repetitions Another option is to lie with towel roll under head and pillow under hips. Raise head, arms, and legs off floor. Hold for several seconds. Do three sets of eight to 12 repetitions.
here is a link for you..
gardening and crafting.. are wonderful exercises.. but as we have to bent forward .. and stand at a certain point so long..it doesn't relieve osteoporosis.. so you have to have some other..
and don't worry dear.. beside this fracture risk..osteoporosis is not a sickness.. just a physiological change..

Here is a link that might be useful: osteoporosis exercises

ehlikeyif, I have Lumbar Spondylosis, (and recently diagnosed with cervical as well), as well as Polymyositis, what can I do since I can't do alot of lower body exercises, including walking? The Drs. I go to here seem to all be a little confused about the excercising I can do that won't do more damage. I do occassionaly go to a therapist, but can't afford to go to often and I really don't like going because it is so painful to stretch the nerves.

polmyositis or fibromyositis.. are due to stress and posture problems.. therefore the muscles which are in the front.. at the chest area are strong and short.. and the muscles of the back are longer and weaker..
first you have to learn the right exercises about this.. which means.. to elongate the muscles in the front and to give strength to those at the back.. I cannot give you the exercises that you have to do.. because as I have not examined you I could do harm.. insted of benefice..
.. but here is a simple position of relaxation you can do twice three times daily.. which will relax your back..

you lay yorself down.. on your back
bend your hips and knees to 45 degrees.. with your foot resting on the floor..
you put a small cushion under your upper back.. at the area of the scapular bones..
you slowly strech your arms..over your head.. and let your arms rest on the floor as well.. that is it.. you rest in that position for 10 min..
there are specific therapeutic exercises for the spondylosis.. which are also good for the osteoporosis.. but as I mentioned before.. OP is not a real disease.. and is not give painful..
but spondylarthrosis must be treated.. so ask to the physiotherapist to prescribe you home exercises next time.. we do it .. because it is a chronical state.. and the only issue is exercises..

I was prescribed Fosamax, but it was when Bill was so sick, and I simply could NOT be sick then. So I have never taken it. In fact, right now I don't even know where it is.
Things were moved around a lot when he was sick-meds and so forth, and I have not looked for it since he died.
Hope things straighten out for you jlily!

This was an old post. I am doing much better now-taking my medicine and I hope doing all that I can. Thank everyone for the help and the caring wishes. JLily

I know your pain...My Dr. put me one the once a week pills (sorry do not remember the name)but i ended up in the hospital due to not being able to eat, drink and was hurting so bad in my chest thought I was having a heart attack. Then after all, found out it was the side effects. I also have a bad case of scoliosis am a anemic with COPD and stomach ulcers. Just be careful of what you take. And yes exercise is a very good thing. Hope you get to felling better, Take care and ask questions about the meds.

I have been taking Boniva for a few years now for my osteopenia. As of last week, my osteopenia has not changed one way or the other.

I was diagnosed with osteoporosis of the lower lumbar region. I have tried both fosomax and boniva. Yesterday I threw the fosomax out. I am convinced that both of these medicines are causing me great stomach damage. I experience terrible burning heartburn in the pit of my stomach. I have played around with both of them for 1 1/2 years and cannot tolerate either of these meds any longer. Scheduling my next bone scan Early 09 then see what I can do next. Anyone else ever experience this discomfort with either of these medicines? The burning is very intense and goes up to my esophagus at times. I am only 54 and cannot imagine being on thse meds the rest of my life.

Mom had problems with Fosomax & quit, she talked to her 7th day Advent sister 1st. Sis says Fosomax turns your bone hard & useless. ACtonal has 6 pages in Physicians' Desk Reference book(1 dr. uses in his office) I got 1 since my mom had so many bad reactions. Now I check the drugs out 1st before she takes them. Detrol LA nearly killed my mom 2 yrs ago she took it for 2 weeks got unbelieveable muscle pain, hospital didn't have a clue, did MRI's after 10 days in hospital they put her in nursing home for month. I asked them for list of what she was taking- they were giving her Detrol LA -she was so dried up I was rubbing her feet with lotion, chapstick for her lips.I told them to get her off it & Bingo- I checked her out & she started getting well. It works well on some but on others it takes water out of cells of body, without it nothing works right!! DIL took Zocor-statin to lower cholestrol- got thyroid tumors- needed surgery- I told her to get off it before she went to appt in 2 weeks- by then dr. said he couldn't understand why they shrunk- no more zocor-so moral of this is check out what they are giving you & if you feel lot worse, wise to stop taking it. Oh MOst osteoporosis drugs are estrogen based. Actonal isn't. Safer is take calcium & be sure you take Vit.D some magnesium & zinc.Jan

My next checkup I am set to have another bone density test. so we will will see if the Fortical is doing any good. My Arthritis doctor said I never should have taken the Actonil for it.
Thanks for sharing. Jlily

My mom had osteoporosis and her spine was crumbling away and very painful. Then fosamax came out, she started taking it and her spine stopped crumbling and the pain wasn't as bad. She was much better for years. Unfortunately she broke both her shoulders in the past year and has had some other medical problems as well. She is 80 which isn't that old in her family. But now she is on a fosamax "holiday". I guess its effects don't reverse, at least not right away and there are other concerns about it. Its hard to know what to do. So far my bones are good apparently. People who exercise and eat well can still get it. Mom was a nurse and a gardener.
kathy