DEAR DR. GOTT:
I read your column every day and can relate to the side effects of Actonel which one of your readers had.

A couple of years ago my then primary doctor prescribed Actonel for me due to some bone loss.

The day after my first dose, I experienced tightening across my chest and low back pain. The back pain was so severe that I needed help to arise from the couch and bed. I could barely walk and had to use the walls or whatever was near that I could grasp. When I went to the doctor, I had to be driven and needed to use both hands to lift my right leg into and out of the car.

My doctor found my symptoms hard to believe and gave me medication for my discomfort. The kicker was that I should take this pill AGAIN next week to see if I had the same reaction. Needless to say I didn’t take it again and told her those pills were awful.

DEAR READER:
Experiences like yours are one reason I that I try to keep my readers informed in my column. In my opinion, a knowledgeable and interested patient is a good patient.

Actonel, in general, is a beneficial drug. However, it can have serious side effects for some people. You are, unfortunately, one of those few. I recommend that you increase your calcium and vitamin D intake. Over-the-counter calcium plus D supplements are available in most pharmacies, department and grocery stores. They are relatively inexpensive and often make a substantial difference.

To date, I have received only a handful of letters like yours about Actonel. Your experience was startling and deserves to be published. Perhaps your experience will help another person. Thank you for writing.

To give you related information, I am sending you a copy of my Health Report “Osteoporosis”. Other readers who would like a copy should send a self-addressed, stamped number 10 envelope and $2 to Newsletter, PO Box 167, Wickliffe, OH 44092. Be sure to mention the title.

DEAR DR. GOTT: I am a 71-year-old female. I have been taking Actonel for four years but am worried about it. My doctor and dentist say I should continue to take it because the only problem I could have was if I needed a tooth pulled and even then it’s probable that nothing bad would happen anyway.

I would greatly appreciate your input on this matter.

DEAR READER: Actonel (and similar medications) are commonly prescribed for patient with osteoporosis. Unfortunately, these drugs (and others like them) may have unpleasant side effects, including (very rarely) destruction of the jaw bone.
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