Alendronate Prices, Total Costs & Coupons

If you take Alendronate for bone health, you should understand the Alendronate side effects.

Alendronate sodium, known more commonly as Fosamax or Alendronate, not only prevents the loss of additional bone but also helps your body rebuild bone.

This makes it the perfect medication for older Americans who either want to stave off osteoporosis or reduce its symptoms. But like any medication, Alendronate comes with its fair share of side effects.

Are these side effects enough to warrant ditching the medication altogether, though? That's up to you to decide. Before you make up your mind, you should familiarize with all Alendronate side effects.

Here are some of them:

Alendronate Side Effects Involving the Stomach

Alendronate can do a number on your stomach, triggering the following:

• Stomach pain
• Bloating
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Gas
• Nausea

Here are steps you may take to reduce the likelihood of this happening to you: During the first 30 minutes after you take Alendronate, avoid lying down or reclining. Also refrain or eating or drinking anything, except water.

Side Effects Involving the Esophagus

In very rare cases, Alendronate causes irritation and ulcers in the esophagus. This leads to chest pain, heartburn and difficulty swallowing.

To avoid experiencing this, stick to the dose prescribed by your doctor. If you experience this anyway, stop taking Alendronate and speak with your physician immediately.

Side Effects Involving Allergies

Alendronate sometimes triggers allergic reactions. Think swelling or hives in your throat, on your tongue, along your lips, etc.

Thankfully, very serious reactions tend to be rare. If you experience anything serious, like a painful rash or trouble breathing, seek help immediately.

Side Effects Involving Bones

While Alendronate goes a long way toward rebuilding bones, it's known to lower calcium levels in the blood. And it makes perfect sense if you think about it.

The body uses calcium to build bones, right? It makes sense then that a quality medication that rebuilds bones uses up a lot of calcium.

As a result, it's common for patients on Alendronate to supplement their diet with calcium pills. Before you do that, make sure you speak with your doctor about it.

Side Effects Involving the Jaw

In extremely rare cases, Alendronate causes osteonecrosis of the jaw. This is a severe condition where the bone tissue of the jaw begins to die.

The good news is that a 2008 study by the American Dental Association found that the risk of this happening is very low. It's so low that the benefits of taking Alendronate outweigh the risks.

How low is the risk? A 2010 study found the chances of someone who's taking Alendronate contracting osteonecrosis of the jaw is 0.1%.

So It Worth The Risk?

Again, it depends on your situation. Keep in mind that the majority of people who take Alendronate "do not have serious side effects," according to WebMD.

More importantly, doctors prescribe Alendronate for a reason: Because they know it'll help their patients.

If you're comfortable with the possible Alendronate side effects, then the next obstacle to overcome is price. Luckily, we at HealthPricer offer medications like Alendronate at very affordable rates. Please feel free to contact us for more information.