dorri
10-24-2005, 01:08 AM
I should have learned my lesson the first time, but I didn't. I quit taking actonel a while back, only to go back on it. Over the last month, after taking my actonel, I developed burning in my esophagus which was pretty bad for a while, even after taking prevacid and Gaviscon. It's slowly getting better. I have not taken actonel for the last two weeks and cannot get myself to swallow another one. I've had it! I'm going to the doctor on Wednesday to tell him I won't take it anymore, but I worry about his response :nono: and also about what will happen to my bones if I don't have any suitable alternative to replace the treatment for osteoporosis. :confused: Please keep me in your prayers.
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taape
10-24-2005, 10:14 PM
Sorry to hear that your having problems with the Actonel. I had the same problems the first day I took Fosamax and only lasted for 3 pills - 3 weeks worth. I don't blame you for quitting the Actonel. Is your bone density low enough to go on Forteo? I don't have any bad symptoms and it works at least for now. If your doctor is unhappy with your decision he shouldn't be --there's no reason to burn your throat up. I hope you can find an alternative medication.
dorri
10-25-2005, 09:27 PM
Thanks for the reply. While Forteo is now available here, it isn't covered. My appointment is tommorrow, so please say a prayer that it'll go without the doctor giving me any problems. I don't have much to fall back on for alternative treatment, so I'm worried as well. I'll keep you posted.
taape
10-26-2005, 06:45 PM
How did it go today with your doctor? Do you have a medical reimubursement plan or can you write off the costs of the Forteo?
dorri
10-26-2005, 09:04 PM
Hi taape, thanks for asking. It went quite well. This is the first time the doctor has been understanding and patient enough to listen. He told me to go off the actonel for 2-3 months to see if the burning in my esophagus gets better. He wanted to give me some samples for some nasal spray (I believe it was calcitonin), but ran out so he told me to keep taking my calcium, and will give me some samples when he gets them in. He also said a new osteoporosis treatment is coming out that you take only once a year. Do you know what this may possibly be?
As for the Forteo, the insurance we have, generally doesn't cover any drugs that our Medical doesn't. Even if they did, they only cover $600 prescription costs anually, so it wouldn't cover even a months supply of Forteo. I'll have to wait on that one.
For now, I am grateful that I'm off Actonel with his consent. I'm hoping that some of the other symptoms I've had since I started Actonel will go away, such as the joint pain, extra diarrhea, and stomach irritation. I guess time will tell. Thanks again.
As for the Forteo, the insurance we have, generally doesn't cover any drugs that our Medical doesn't. Even if they did, they only cover $600 prescription costs anually, so it wouldn't cover even a months supply of Forteo. I'll have to wait on that one.
For now, I am grateful that I'm off Actonel with his consent. I'm hoping that some of the other symptoms I've had since I started Actonel will go away, such as the joint pain, extra diarrhea, and stomach irritation. I guess time will tell. Thanks again.
taape
10-30-2005, 06:58 PM
Hi,
We'll it's good to hear that your doctor is supporting your decision to temporarily get off Actonel. Were you also taking a medication for the gastric side effects? Trying samples of the nasal spray sounds like a good idea also. The once a year treatment isn't something that I know about although somebody here mentioned that there is an infusion therapy for treatment that is done periodically. Maybe someone will come along and can answer that question. I hope your symptoms subside quickly.
We'll it's good to hear that your doctor is supporting your decision to temporarily get off Actonel. Were you also taking a medication for the gastric side effects? Trying samples of the nasal spray sounds like a good idea also. The once a year treatment isn't something that I know about although somebody here mentioned that there is an infusion therapy for treatment that is done periodically. Maybe someone will come along and can answer that question. I hope your symptoms subside quickly.
dorri
10-30-2005, 09:27 PM
Taape, thanks. I'm hopeing that something new will come out before then, that I'll tolerate better. I was given prevacid by my GI when I complained to him. I told him the actonel the Family Doctor prescribed was making the CD worse. Unfortunately he didn't know anything about the Actonel medication to be able to comment on how it might affect the CD. You would think that he should have been knowledgable when a medication affects an area that he specializes in, wouldn't you think? But, he did give me the prevacid to help with the burning pain. Unfortunately, when I took the actonel it would start the problem all over again.
squirrly
10-30-2005, 11:27 PM
My sister, age 77, has taken Actonel for 2 years. Recently she had a physical with labs, and had a very low hemoglobin count. She had a gastroscopy and a bleeding stomach ulcer was found. So, I think lab work is very important when taking any of these drugs. She had no stomach distress at all. She is now saying no to all the drugs, taking calcium and Vit D, and walking, same as me. Squirrly
dorri
10-30-2005, 11:42 PM
Squirrly, I'm glad your sister is feeling better, and that they got to the source of her problem before it got worse. As I mentioned before, I do have CD (Crohn's Disease) but I've been having a strange upper abdominal pain and think maybe the actonel had something to do with this. My recent blood work shows that I'm still within the normal range, but my hemoglobin has gone down since my last test a few months ago.