I've been taking fosomax for 16 months. In the last 10 months I ...

I just saw your post and I have developed an increasingly hoarse voice due to damage to my vocal cords as a result of acid reflux from Fosamax.

I didn't have acid reflux -- though the dotors automatically assumed I did, tho I had no other symptoms. They gave me antacids; I quit the antacids after several weeks as they were doing no good and were being problematic in other ways.

I think there is something in these osteoporosis drugs that builds up in my body. After I wrote the original post, I stopped taking fosomax and slowly (over a period of 4-5 months) my voice got better (though never completely back to normal).

Then I agreed to try the once-a-month Actonel, since it has a somewhat different formulation. For the first 3 months, the first day of taking the pill was fine, then the second day there would be some vocal change (more significant with each month) but not lasting but a few days.

However, the 4th month, there was an abrupt change the day after taking the pill, and I was back to the hoarse, cracking, broken voice. So I stopped taking the Actonel. It took six weeks for my voice to become reasonable, and now at 10 weeks, it is still not normal but getting better. Speaking is important for me personally and for my work.

Plan C for the doctors is for me to get the drug by infusion once a year, but I really don't want to chance having a heavy dose that really does me in. My plan C is to make sure I am getting sufficient vitamin D.

God luck -- follow your own wisdom!