Home Fosamax Side Effects

Fosamax Side Effects

Fosamax (alendronic acid) is used to treat osteoporosis. Side effects include heartburn, upset stomach, nausea, diarrhea and constipation, as well as stomach, muscle, joint and bone pain. Rare and serious effects such as femur fractures and jaw problems (osteonecrosis of the jaw) have been reported.

Last Modified: September 5, 2023
Fact Checked
Medically Reviewed

Board-certified physicians medically review Drugwatch.com content to ensure its accuracy and quality.

Drugwatch.com partners with Physicians’ Review Network Inc. to enlist specialists. PRN is a nationally recognized leader in providing independent medical reviews.

Reviewer specialties include internal medicine, gastroenterology, oncology, orthopedic surgery and psychiatry.

Why Trust DrugWatch?

Drugwatch.com has been empowering patients for more than a decade

Drugwatch.com has provided reliable, trusted information about medications, medical devices and general health since 2008. We’ve also connected thousands of people injured by drugs and medical devices with top-ranked national law firms to take action against negligent corporations.

Our team includes experienced medical writers, award-winning journalists, researchers and certified medical and legal experts. Drugwatch.com is HONCode (Health On the Net Foundation) certified. This means the high-quality information we provide comes from credible sources, such as peer-reviewed medical journals and expert interviews.

The information on Drugwatch.com has been medically and legally reviewed by more than 30 expert contributors, including doctors, pharmacists, lawyers, patient advocates and other health care professionals. Our writers are members of professional associations, including American Medical Writers Association, American Bar Association, The Alliance of Professional Health Advocates and International Society for Medical Publication Professionals.

About Drugwatch.com

  • Assisting patients and their families since 2008.
  • Helped more than 12,000 people find legal help.
  • A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.
  • 5-star reviewed medical and legal information site.
Learn More About Us

Testimonials

"Drugwatch opened my eyes to the realities of big pharmacy. Having a family member with major depression and anxiety, I was looking for information on her medications. I found information that was very helpful, that her psychiatrist never told her."
Marianne Zahren Patient’s Family Member
  • Google Business Rating
  • BBB A+ Rating Logo

Common Fosamax Side Effects

The most common side effects are gastrointestinal issues, such as nausea, diarrhea, constipation and cramping, according to Merck, the drug’s manufacturer. Studies show that side effects of Fosamax range from mild to severe.

Fosamax was introduced in 1995 to prevent age-related bone damage and other bone damaging diseases. However, people who are more susceptible to side effects from alendronate are the elderly, especially women who are more prone to developing osteoporosis.

Common side effects of Fosamax include:
  • Heartburn
  • Upset stomach
  • Stomach pain
  • Nausea
  • Diarrhea
  • Constipation
  • Bone, muscle or joint pain
  • Bloating
  • Gas
  • Headache
  • Changes in the ability to taste food
  • Dizziness

Adverse reactions, such as bone, muscle or joint pain, affect about 4% of people who take Fosamax according to clinical trial data, but even those are rarely severe. The onset of side effects can sometimes occur after commencing treatment. Your doctor may advise you on how to prevent or mitigate some side effects.

Many side effects go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medication. And most stop immediately after discontinuing the medication. Some people can experience lingering effects for a day or so longer, but those also go away without the drug in their system.



Rare Serious Side Effects of Fosamax

The U.S Food and Drug Administration documented several of Fosamax’s serious side effects and subsequently distributed numerous warnings to highlight the potential dangers of Fosamax. Severe side effects include bloody stools, chest pain, difficulty swallowing, skin blisters, eye pain and swelling of the face, throat and tongue.

The drug’s medication insert warns it can lower blood calcium levels because the drug hinders the natural breakdown of bone. Long-term studies showed that calcium in the blood decreased about 2% in the first month of using Fosamax and suggested adding calcium and vitamin D as supplements.

Rare Serious Side Effects of Fosamax Include:
  • Itching or eye pain
  • Sunlight sensitive rash
  • Allergic reactions
  • Severe musculoskeletal pain (joints, muscle, bone or jaw.
  • Mouth ulcers
  • Swelling in the face, tongue or throat
  • Skin blisters

The FDA found that Fosamax patients can also develop intense bone, muscle and joint pains within days, months or years after starting the drug. For some people, this pain stops almost immediately after discontinuing the medication. For others, the side effects persist. Some side effects have led people to file Fosamax lawsuits against Merck.

Femur Fractures from Fosamax

Peer-reviewed research shows a connection between the long-term use of Fosamax and femur fractures. Some people reported unexplained aching in their thigh bones for weeks and months before experiencing unexplained breaks.

One meta-analysis of multiple studies concluded that people undergoing long-term treatment may be at an increased risk of an atypical femur fracture.

Bone Fracture Highlighted on X-Ray
One theory is that Fosamax causes “frozen bone,” making the bones more susceptible to clean fractures.

One review encouraged people with osteoporosis to have bisphosphonate therapy because rates of atypical femur fractures were 11 in 100,000. The rate of hip fractures decreased 20-50%.

Another study looked at 13 women with femur fractures from low levels of force and noted that nine had been taking alendronate, the generic form of Fosamax. Researchers said that the fractures may have occurred because alendronate stops the body from breaking down bone to create thick, but brittle bones.

One August 2022 study in Diabetes, Endocrinology & Metabolism Case Reports found that the risk of developing fractures persists long after stopping treatment with bisphosphonates such as Fosamax.



Osteonecrosis of the Jaw (ONJ)

The common use of bisphosphonates, including Fosamax, caused more awareness of the medication’s link to osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ), a condition where gums don’t cover parts of the jawbone — mostly the mandible. Extensive dental surgeries like tooth extractions and teeth implants, oral infections, and conditions such as cancer, diabetes and kidney failure heighten the chances of jawbone death.

People who take 4 to 6 doses of Fosamax and similar drugs should expect unpredictable and inconsistent healing of their jawbone after an invasive oral procedure. Two separate studies documented the side effect, though rates varied in people who received bisphosphonates via an IV.

Merck’s clinical trials of Fosamax found a much lower incidence rate — 0.001% (1 in 100,000 people).

Esophagus Problems

A case-control study of U.S. military veterans shows an increased risk of Barrett’s esophagus and other esophageal problems with the use of Fosamax. Some people develop irritation, inflammation and bleeding ulcers in the esophagus, the tube that connects the mouth and stomach.

People with pre-existing upper gastrointestinal problems, such as Barrett’s esophagus, dysphagia, H. pylori infection or gastroesophageal disorder (GERD), should not take Fosamax.

Esophageal Cancer Scan Image
Some studies suggest Fosamax can lead to a small risk of esophageal cancer.

In some people, Fosamax leads to esophageal erosion with bleeding and esophageal perforation. Because of these potentially dangerous side effects, Merck recommends sitting upright or standing for 30 minutes after taking the drug with a full glass of water.

However, the FDA believes the benefits of oral bisphosphonate drugs, including Fosamax, outweigh their potential risks.



Please seek the advice of a medical professional before making health care decisions.