Boniva symptoms and conditions

Metallic taste, loss of taste: A few weeks after beginning my once/month Boniva dosage, I lost my full sense of taste. I now continuously have a sort of metallic taste in my mouth, a combination of salty/bitter tastes, and have lost the 'sweet' tastebuds. Further on the back of the tongue I still have some taste, but it is not what it was before. It's a personal loss, as I used to have very sensitive taste buds, this loss handicaps my ability to cook well, and I had been a very good home cook. I still retain a full sense of smell.

I have been on Boniva for about a year and a half, my doctor says she's never heard of anyone losing taste sensations as a side effect of this medication. I'm too concerned about possible osteoporosis, as I have osteopenia, to discontinue the drug for this alone. Has anyone experienced this side effect, is it permanent, or does it disappear if the drug is discontinued?

I have been taking Fosamax for about a year. I take the 70mg once weekly dose every Sunday morning. This past Sunday after my regular dose I noticed a pain in my lower right leg. Monday not only did my leg hurt but I had pain in my entire body from the neck down, chills, sweats, headache, stomach upset and my neck feels loose somehow and cracks like never before. It felt like I was coming down with a severe case of the Flu although I know now that I do not have the flu. It is Wednesday and I am still in pain, the chills have subsided somewhat today but the sweats have not. Previous to this I had been put on Boniva and experienced these same symptons after one dose and stopped immediately. I cannot stress how badly I feel. In between doses of Tylenol I feel terrible (8-10 500mg per day). I will now stop Fosamax and will never take another drug like this again. I just hope that this drug has not done permanent damage to my body or liver damage from all the tylenol. I too think the drug company has a lot to answer for.

I am a 56 y/o female who started on Fosamax last Sunday. I have a dx of osteopenia. I followed the directions of taking pill with full glass of water and remained upright for 30 minutes before having anything to eat. I was fine on Sunday but on Monday I woke with SEVERE bone pain! My whole rib cage, back, knees and heels were hurting so bad. It felt like I had pain in every bone in my body. I could not take in a full deap breath as my rib cage was hurting so bad. I could not bend or turn without terrible pain. My energy level was zero. I immediately called my doctor who told me to hold the Fosamax (ya think?) and ordered Vit D lab levels. Apparently when you Vit D levels are off (don't know if too high or too low) you can suffer this bone pain. I am awaiting the results. The pain is better today and I was told it takes 5 days to get out of your system. I only wish I had done my homework and found this site before taking this poison. I have to say I'm a registered nurse and know that ALL medications have side effects and everyone responds to meds differently. Some side effects subside as your body gets use to it and some can experience severe allergic reactions. But it's important to weigh the risk vs the benefit. I would rather deal with osteopenia in another way. So my search begins for alternatives to Fosamax for good bone health. Has anyone had good results with other supplements/meds?

I have been on Levoxyl for about 9 years and have felt awful. I have had weight loss, dry hair, thinning hair,dry skin, muscle aches, migraines and the list goes on. I just got out of the hospital Monday after 4 days of testing of my heart and lungs. I was admitted for racing heart. The doctor's conclusion was anxiety! They said that Levoxyl has nothing to do with my rapid heart rate. The endocrinologist prescribed taking levoxyl .050 on day and .075 the next also a beta blocker, Xanax and Zoloft. I can not take any of these meds b/c they make it almost worse. I KNOW it is not Anxiety and it from the Levoxyl but what do I do?? I am a mess right now can not be in this condition with four young kids and a husband. None of the doctors would say it was the Levoxyl and instead prescribed more and told me to check up with blood work in 6 weeks. I took the .050 yesterday around noon and by 7:30pm my heart rate picked up again and continued until 4:30 this morning. I can not sleep more then 2 hours at a time and wakeup feeling like I am crawling out of my skin. PLEASE let me know of any solutions.

I am just starting (hopefully) to come off the Medication Ride From Hell. I I am 61 and take estrogen, diovan, vytorin, boniva, and just started back taking Prozac (1/2 dose) after this fiasco. Two weeks ago today I started having pain in my face like I got hit by a MACK truck for 5 days, especially one tooth hurt if I touched it. Then on Tues, I went to dentist, took x-ray, no abscess. So figured sinus infection. Wed I go to have epidural shots in my back for 3 bulging discs. But I had a slight fever and suspected sinus infection, so they would not do an epidural, for fear of introducing bacteria into my spine which could result in paralysis. OH BOY So this doc gives me tramedol 50 mg for pain in 3 of my discs. Eventhough 2 ibuprophens work great, I can't take advil because of stomache issues. I am sensitive to meds, so a little goes a long way. So then back to my reg doc who gives me AVELOX . And now the nightmare begins......At 7:30 pm I took Avelox and 1/2 half of a tramadol (never took either one before). Around 9:00 pm took another 1/2 tramadol. Figured I was tolerating well. At 1:30 a.m. took a whole one. (RX is 1-2 3 times a day) A few hours later I wake up itching all over. By 5:30 a.m. the slightest move I make I am spinning and nauseous. Fall back to sleep, get up and am having vertigo and nausea. I think maybe a little sprite will settle my stomach. I immediately throw it up. My body feels paralyzed with muscle spasms, pain and extreme weakness. Also pain between my shoulder blades, heart palpitations, sense of panic, extreme heaviness in my limbs, headache and continued dizziness and nausea. Felt as if I had a slab of concrete on top of my chest, as if the muscles would not move to let me breath. Call my hubby home. He takes me to urgent care, they started an IV ad then because of "possible heart symptoms" they ambulance me to the hospital. At hospital, they gave me anti nausea meds in IV. The ride in ambulance was a big blurr. My first time in 61 years ever in an ambulance. They confirmed my sinus infection with a CAT scan which probably ruled out some other things too. I leave hospital around 5 pm and am feeling somewhat better, as all meds are now out of my body for about 15 hours. Fri, no Avelox...took a break. Sat, Sun took it and all the symptoms came back except for the vertigo and nausea which was caused by the tramedol. Skipped Monday, to test theory that it is the drug. Take it Tues, within 2 hours symptoms back with a vengeance and major panic attack out of no where, hearting pounding. I am at work so I manage to get through and when I get home I collapse in chair and can't move. Finally Wed I said thats it NO MORE AVELOX. Thurs, back to doc. She gave me Bactrim DS. I am still having some muscle weakness and fatigue. Woke up at 11:30 a.m. and took pill around 2:00, fell back to sleep around 4:30 pm with spasms in upper back and shoulders, causing weakness in my arms. I hope I can tolerate the Bactrim for the next 9 days and my side effects let up. The doctors and pharmacist look at you like your crazy when you tell them what happened. When I found this site I was so relieved when other people described the same symptoms as mine down to the smallest details. Thanks for being here.

BAD BAD BAD BAD BAD! I took this drug today and thought i was going to die from a heart attack. I began getting palpitations and then it progressed into a full blown panic attack. Thank god I had some Xanax to bring down the side effects. But now I just feel out of it and foggy. I almost called 911, it was that bad. I felt like I couldn't breathe, like there was something standing on my chest. I called my doctor right away who said they had no other samples, that Avelox was the only thing they are really getting right now. That seems really odd to me that a drug like this is on the market with so much negative press and yet its all our physicians have on hand for people like me with no insurance. PLEASE DONT TAKE THIS DRUG, it is terrible...

Thank-you for this site! After reading all the testimonials I was greatly helped in realizing I was not alone in the terrible side-effects I was having since being on Fosamax for the past 5 months. A week ago the pain got so crippling I could barely walk,---left hip was awful, pain going right down the leg. It was hard to even sit without pain... X-Rays ordered by our internist revealed no new fracture or injury. I was on 70 mg tablets once weekly. Fortunately a lobotomist lady told me while taking my blood that the pain she had when on a Biphosphate medication (Boniva) crippled her with such pain she had to stop working! My internist is unable to accept the fact that Fosamax is the culprit causing the horrible pain...and although he has asked me to continue it, and use acupuncture to alleviate my pain, I HAVE TAKEN THE LAST DOSE Of IT AND HAVE INFORMED THEIR OFFICE...Many of the postings reiterated what I have suffered the last few months. The capstone came yesterday when an adult doctor-student of mine told me he would not take any Biphosphate drug and feels that like Vioxx the FDA in time will HAVE TO TAKE IT off the market. In the meantime, you folks are doing a wonderful service in helping your fellow-beings make wise decisions! I feel doctors prescribe these drugs in good faith,---after all their training is drug-oriented...I am thankful there are also Natural Alternatives and this is the route I plan to take! Blessings on all you dear folks out there who are victims of drug-reactions....The good news is that I understand most symptoms will be relieved when we stop taking the drug....Also, aural surgeons will not do surgery on any patient until they have been off Fosamax or any Biphosphate drugs FOR SIX MONTHS.....THANKS AGAIN FOR THIS SITE AND ALL OF YOU WHO POSTED ON IT....You have all helped me make a wise decision...Thanks again and God bless!

Started taking 11/11/2007; by second pill, had upper respiratory and flu-like systems and had very hoarse voice. 12/31/2007 have completely lost voice and still have upper respiratory symptoms. Did not find that Boniva causes this on patient information available from Boniva, but later found it on another site. Doctor prescribed tetracycline thinking it might be bronchitis but it is not - my chest is fine; it is in my trachea. Has been over a month now without being able to talk and I conduct business on the phone. I was perfectly healthy until I let someone talk me into this because my mom had osteoporosis.

very bad back pain,especially when getting up in the morning or trying to stoop. A strange sensation in my elbowsand knees-like a pulling feeling and a feeling that I need to stretch my arms, legs,neck and back. The inside of elbow,on the bone, very tender to touch, stiffness in neck. Soreness on bottom of feet,just below toes. Had been taking Boniva, but I stopped because I thought that was causing my pain. Didn't connect my symptoms to Lipitor until someone told me their husband had been on Lipitor and had stopped because he was experiencing same symptoms as me.

I was put on Fosamax in 1997 after a total hip replacement and was told that studies show it maintains the bone growth around the implants (I later discovered this is not proven) Oct. 2005 I had a spontaneous fracture of my pelvis. After doing much research on my own I have discovered that others have experienced this as well. Still no warning on Fosamax insert. Apparently Bisphosphonates (Fosamax and Actonel and Boniva) cause severe repression of bone turnover which is what actually makes the bones strong. No one should stay on this drug for more than 5 yrs. You do not lose any of the gain you have gotten when you quit as Fosamax stays in your body forever.......GREAT!

I have been on prednison since l980. I was told I had steroid dependent asthma. I briefly had moon face. I was very organized. I even typed my honey do list for my spouse. I was "driven" to get tasks done. I had difficulty sleeping, muscle cramps, frequent night time urination. easily bruised on my forearms when I bumped into things, lots of 3 corner skin tears and recently had a bone density test and now I have to take Boniva. I did not gain weight. Over the last two years I went from 140 to 120. I did experience two very serious illnesses (Throtoxic with Thyroid Storm and a spinal tumor and surgery.) I finally weaned off about 3 weeks ago. I went from 10 to 5 to 2.5 to 1.25 then 1.25 every other day - very slowly. No asthma symptoms yet. At this time I fatigue very easily. I have lost subcutaneous fat in my forearms, feet and face. I still have some muscle cramps in my feet and somethings deep in legs. I am sleeping much better. I am wondering if the loss of fat has anything to do with the long term use of prednisone. Has anyone experienced or heard of this connection to Prednisone?