Osteoporosis Support Group

I didn't know there was a generic foxamax. I've just heard of Fosadvance and Protelos, which a friend is taking with good results. Does anyone know about these?

I've not heard of those, Argus, but I'll google them and see what I find.

There at least two companies making generic Fosamax and probably more. I'm wondering why I had such different responses to what is supposedly the same medication.

Is your friend taking both those meds at once?

Okay, found some info. Fosavance is essentially a combination of Fosmax and D3. Here's what was said: "Now available in Canada, Fosavance™ (alendronate sodium 70 mg/cholecalciferol 2800 IU [vitamin D3]) is the first and only therapy for the treatment of osteoporosis, which integrates, Fosamax® (alendronate sodium 70 mg) and vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol 2800 IU), in a single, once-weekly tablet, the same size as Fosamax® alone."

Protelos is the trade name for strontium ranelate, which is made by Servier, a French manufacturer. Studies show that it slows the work of osteoclasts, which cause bones to break down, and stimulates osteoblasts, which create new bone.

Also, it's supposed to be the first drug that does both. But I believe Forteo is also advertised to do both. I took Forteo, which is self-injecting and was a tremendous hassle for me because of the traveling I did, and I didn't have much in the way of results. I quit the Forteo after a year because my insurance stopped paying for it, and I was having some odd side effects.

Hope that helps. There's lots more information out there. Just google the names of the meds.

I take Fosamax well Alendronic Acid 70mg tablets - 1 x once a week- by "ratiopharm". I took it initially for about a year and then stopped because I felt that it was annoying my stomach.

I decided to take it again at the end of last year but I get all these symptoms and I'm not sure whether it's the fosamax (Alendronic Acid) or not which is causing them

General aches and pains, muscle/bone pains, light headedness, nausea, indigestion, weakness.

I don't know whether to keep taking them on stop

I don't know about the lightheadedness and general weakness, but your other side effects are most likely the Alendronate (generic Fosamax).

I have the muscle aches and pains and some inflammation in my knees and elsewhere. I don't have the indigestion, but I've heard that's a side effect too.

If you can live with it, I'd stay on Fosamax. My mom started Fosamax in her early eighties after having broken multiple bones. She never broke another bone after starting Fosamax. It could be a coincidence, but I don't think so.

Good luck!

Thanks for the info, Myridia. I'm late in answering because I just happened to check this discussion page, not knowing anyone had answered my question.

My friend is taking only Protelos now and seems to be happy with it. She lives in Malta, so maybe it's not available in the US?