Fosamax

[Marty]

Has anyone had adverse side effects interacting with warfarin after taking Fosamax (alendronate sodium) ? It is a drug popular for osteoporosis in menopausal women but the rheumatologist wants me to take it since I am on prednisone for polymyalgia rheumatica and this causes osteoporosis.. I'm a little leery of taking yet another powerful drug with all kinds of listed side effects. The rheumatologist says not to worry the benefits outweigh the risks.!

 

[Ross]

Don't know if this helps you any but here it is:

Check InteractionsNo interactions were found for the drugs you selected.
You searched for interactions between the following drugs:

Coumadin Tablets
Fosamax
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(Note: Not all drug interactions are known or reported in the literature, and new drug interactions are continually being reported. This information is provided only for your education and for you to discuss with your personal healthcare provider. )

http://www.drugdigest.org/DD/Intera...cD=705&cD=16&dN="Coumadin+Tablets"+"Fosamax"+

 

[njean]

Has anyone had adverse side effects interacting with warfarin after taking Fosamax (alendronate sodium) ? It is a drug popular for osteoporosis in menopausal women but the rheumatologist wants me to take it since I am on prednisone for polymyalgia rheumatica and this causes osteoporosis.. I'm a little leery of taking yet another powerful drug with all kinds of listed side effects. The rheumatologist says not to worry the benefits outweigh the risks.!

My PCP also wanted me to start taking Fosamax because I have osteoporosis on my hips but I refused to take it because I too have heard the possible adverse affects it may cause. I was also given a prescription for Boniva but I didn't get that Rx filled either! I'm just taking an Oscal tablet twice a day. I also have very bad arthritis on my fingers & hands & I only take Ultracet when the pain gets to be unbearable & then I can only take it at night before bed because it knocks me out!

Like you, I am very much against adding one more drug to my already full slate of pills!

I wish you well & just keep reading up more info on fosamax & then decide if this is the best choice for you. Take care

 

[catwoman]

Marty:

I've taken Fosamax, Boniva and Actonel. Never seen any oddities with INR or any side effects while on any of the three.

I'm on generic Fosamax now, take it Wednesday mornings.

 

[njean]

Marty:

I've taken Fosamax, Boniva and Actonel. Never seen any oddities with INR or any side effects while on any of the three.

I'm on generic Fosamax now, take it Wednesday mornings.

May I ask why you're not taking the Boniva or the Actonel any longer?

 

[catwoman]

Boniva is not in the formulary for Aetna; it was with United Health Care, which I had last year.
So I changed to Actonel when my insurance changed to Aetna and paid $50 co-pay for 3 months.
When Fosamax's generic became available, I switched to that, since it is $24 for 12 weeks. That's full circle, since I started out with Fosamax about 4 years ago.

 

[Nancy]

Marty, I am on alendronate sodium (Fosamax) for osteopenia due to Arimidex and just being post menopausal. I've been on it for several years. I don't know about Warfarin, but I can tell you about some of the side effects.

I haven't noticed any side effects, maybe some constipation, but that could also come from some of the other meds I am on. Bran and prunes take care of that issue just fine.

Don't have any stomach issues. I do make sure I follow the instructions about how to take it with plenty of water and first thing in the morning upon arising. Then wait 30 minutes before eating or taking other meds.

The good news is that on my last Dexa scan, there was a replacement of calcium in my bones, and I got a happy report.

 

[marie]

I'm not on Warfarin so no comment there.

My GP wanted me on Evista when I spoke with my cardio about it he is concerned with it causing blood clots so I never took it.

I have awful teeth so I'm between a rock and a hard place with Boniva, actenol etc as they can cause jaw infections that are life threating so I take extra calcium and extra vitamin D and pray a lot.

Good luck

 

[Marty]

Thank you all. Your comments have been helpful. However I think I am going to hold off and go with Earline's regime. Every time you go see a new specialist they each have their own drill. I counted the drugs one of my X-ray patients was on the other day- 14!

 

[njean]

Thank you all. Your comments have been helpful. However I think I am going to hold off and go with Earline's regime. Every time you go see a new specialist they each have their own drill. I counted the drugs one of my X-ray patients was on the other day- 14!

I gotcha! I like Earline's regimen too!

 

[catwoman]

My family doctor told me about 18-24 months ago that he either read or was told (at a CE seminar) that benefits of osteoporosis meds does not keep accumulating. After a point, you can drop them, then resume after an interval. I've seen something on the internet about that, too, but didn't bookmark it.

 

[Adrienne]

My family doctor told me about 18-24 months ago that he either read or was told (at a CE seminar) that benefits of osteoporosis meds does not keep accumulating. After a point, you can drop them, then resume after an interval. I've seen something on the internet about that, too, but didn't bookmark it.

I take Actonel which is similar to Fosomax. My doctor told me exactly the same thing.

 

[lance]

It surprises me

It surprises me

Actonel (Risedronate Sodium) lists 4 possible side effects. The one involving non-healing jaw wounds is rare. Actonel may cause pain in joints or muscle--rarely severe.

Putting on my flame suit-- Warfarin has pages of possible side effects.

So why dismiss a treatment for bone loss because of one or two possible side effects? Should they occur then stop taking the drug.

Nancy Reagan was reported on the news this a.m. as taking a fall in her home. Broken pelvis and bone in lower spine--probably from osteoporosis. Her pain is being managed.

I've been taking Actonel for several years and haven't noticed any side effects and it hasn't interfered with my INR results.

 

[bvdr]

I believe our member Christina from Arizona had severe side effects and ending up in the ER with chest pain that was mimicking and MI. I would be leery about taking one of them.

 

[Phyllis]

Marty, I am on alendronate sodium (Fosamax) for osteopenia due to Arimidex and just being post menopausal. I've been on it for several years. I don't know about Warfarin, but I can tell you about some of the side effects.

I haven't noticed any side effects, maybe some constipation, but that could also come from some of the other meds I am on. Bran and prunes take care of that issue just fine.

Don't have any stomach issues. I do make sure I follow the instructions about how to take it with plenty of water and first thing in the morning upon arising. Then wait 30 minutes before eating or taking other meds.

The good news is that on my last Dexa scan, there was a replacement of calcium in my bones, and I got a happy report.

I will be starting Arimidex and Fosamax this week as my bone scan came back with some osteoporosis in the hip. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for the same good results you have had Nancy- I don't have a great history of avoiding side effects on medications so I am keeping my toes crossed too.

 

[Blanche]

No problems with Fosamax here.

No problems with Fosamax here.

Marty:
Al has osteoporosis and I have osteopenia. We have both been taking Fosamax since 2002. Every year we both get a dexi scan and every year the scans have shown improvement for both of us.

Five months ago I asked the doctor to take me off Fosamax because I thought it might be contributing to a different problem. In January Al and I will both have another dexiscan. It will be interesting to see the results.

Kind regards,
Blanche

 

[njean]

Marty:
Al has osteoporosis and I have osteopenia. We have both been taking Fosamax since 2002. Every year we both get a dexi scan and every year the scans have shown improvement for both of us.

Five months ago I asked the doctor to take me off Fosamax because I thought it might be contributing to a different problem. In January Al and I will both have another dexiscan. It will be interesting to see the results.

Kind regards,
Blanche

Good to see you posting Ms. Blanche & I too will be interested in seeing what your results will be after getting off the fosamax.

I feel pretty guilty about not taking the fosomax because everytime I've gone to the doctor, he'll ask me if I'm still taking the fosamax & I say yes, when in reality, I never filled the Rx! And my osteoporosis is in both my hips & my lower spine. (I think my T Score = -2.5 whatever that means!?)

 

[Adrienne]

Good to see you posting Ms. Blanche & I too will be interested in seeing what your results will be after getting off the fosamax.

I feel pretty guilty about not taking the fosomax because everytime I've gone to the doctor, he'll ask me if I'm still taking the fosamax & I say yes, when in reality, I never filled the Rx! And my osteoporosis is in both my hips & my lower spine. (I think my T Score = -2.5 whatever that means!?)

A T Score of -2.5 is the beginning of osteoporosis. Anywhere between -1 and +1 is normal. Between -1 and -2.4 is osteopenia.