Is Fosamax safe to use?

Ask Emily — bone health

QUESTION:

ANSWER:

To date, no long-term studies have been done on how Fosamax and Fosamax-like drugs affect bone health and overall health. Fosamax works by inhibiting the bone turnover process — by inhibiting bone loss, but at the same time inhibiting new bone growth. So women on this drug may have denser bone initially, but end up with more brittle bone over time. Unappealing side effects commonly associated with Fosamax include inflammation of the esophagus and stomach lining (if you lie down too soon after taking the pill), indigestion, stomach pain, bone and joint pain and decreased mobility, as well as less common, but more serious problems such as osteonecrosis of the jaw and torsion fractures of the femur. Nevertheless, bone drugs can be useful as a measure of last resort. Except in more dire cases, however, we recommend women protect their bones and avoid the potential risks and side effects of bone drugs by adopting a natural bone health program of exercise, stress reduction, and sound nutrition.

Read our articles about bone health

Our Personal Program for Better Bones is a great place to start

The Personal Program for Better Bones promotes natural bone strength and regeneration with nutritional supplements, our exclusive bone builder formula, dietary and lifestyle guidance, and optional phone consultations with our Nurse-Educators. It is based on over 25 years of research and experience and has helped thousands of women reclaim their bone health.

To learn more about the Personal Program for Better Bones, go to How it works.
To choose the version of the Program that’s right for you, go to Compare plans.
To assess your bone health and fracture risk, take our free Bone Health Profile.
To start taking control of your bone health today, sign-up for a risk-free trial.

If you have questions, don’t hesitate to call us toll-free at 1-800-798-7902. We’re here to listen and to help.

Last Modified: 04/18/2011