I wondered if anyone had any good suggestions for me about side effects from alendronic acid? I am feeling sick and experiencing awful heartburn/indigestion. I am going to book a GP appointment, but the next available one is several weeks away. I am chewing through Rennies, but they aren’t really providing much relief! I have only taken a couple of alendronic tablets, and followed the instructions really carefully, but even days later I am still really uncomfortable, and it is affecting my sleep and ability to eat.
I am also experiencing awful headaches, so I feel that I am constantly taking some sort of hormone, calcium, alendronic, anti indigestion or pain relief medication! It is actually really starting to get me down.
If anyone has any tips of things to do, or things to avoid - or just wants to moan along with me, please post…
I think waiting several weeks for a GP appointment is not really faesible for you as you are in obvious discomfort. When I first took mine (Ibandronate) I had lousy discomfort but I have managed to solve it by taking the tab as soon as I get up with 1/2 pint of water otherwise it got stuck. After taking it I did not have any other drink for one full hour, oh boy was my first coffee nectar?. I would then wait another full hour (2hrs after taking the tab) before eating some breakfast, I’m not really a breakfast person but have persevered. I generally have cereal with milk (for the extra vits and calcium). I’m still doing this now some 10 weeks later and have no problems.
From what you are describing it doesn’t seem as if it is suiting you. If you can’t get into your GP’s for some time have you got a breast cancer nurse you can contact or the nurses on here or are you able to contact your Oncologist via their secretary, you may need to have a discussion about having it IV instead. I don’t want to be a scare mongerer but it does say on mine that you should contact a nurse or Dr straight away if you experience the side effects you describe.
I agree with Joemic that you should get advice straightaway, either from Breast Clinic team or fast track gp appointment rather than the routine one that you have been given. If you have continuing nausea and heartburn/indigestion after taking only two doses then it might mean that you the Alendronic Acid could be irritating a pre-existing condition that you were unaware of such as reflux. The headaches sound miserable for you to put up with as well.
I’ve been on Alendronic Acid/calcium vit d for five months, letrozole for longer. I felt headachy and unwell for a day or so after the first AA dose but no problems since then. Like Joemic I left it longer than an hour before eating and took the AA with a large glass of water. The drug can be given by injection for people who have side effects or who are more at risk of irritation to stomach and oesophagus (tube from throat to stomach).
Any way I would get checked out straightaway so you can recover asap.
I echo the advice below. I have zoledronic acid (zometa) infusion every 6 months because I am prone to digestive problems and oesophagitis and also, as the oncolologist said, ‘the tablet is a bit big for you.’ I’m an unashamed wuss who gets a side effect just walking into a pharmacy.
When I read your post soon after you posted, I held back because I’ve no experience of your pill (stone?). It’s essential you have something but, given what you describe, I think you should book an emergency Saturday appointment or insist on a Monday one with your GP to get a short-term solution like lansoprazole and contact your hospital to describe your symptoms.
People do have concerns about the drip treatment because of its possible effect on the jawbone but I’ve been assured by a specialist dentist that the risk is only a risk if you need an extraction and even then it’s very low. I was terrified of the prospect but I’m facing my 3rd infusion soon. Infusion? Sounds so innocuous!
Good luck - you shouldn’t be affected with so many effects as this.