Boniva User Reviews & Ratings (Page 2)

• Deb...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 30, 2017

For Osteoporosis "Dr. advised taking Boniva. I was so happy that there would be a cure so I wouldn't be bent up like my mother is. However, upon investigation, Boniva works by not letting the dead, used-up bone from naturally shedding. So you get good bone around the dead, brittle bone. Yes, you guessed it, when you have your scan, the density includes this. That's why on the leaflet it still warns of brittle bones. I have stopped taking it. I also got pains, and all my joints started clicking. Is that normal?"

• Lyn...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 22, 2019

For Osteoporosis "I took one Boniva pill and suffered severe joint pain. At first, I could hardly walk, but as time passed, the pain has settled into my right knee, which hurts most of the time. I took the drug 22 days ago, and the pain is still there. I do not know how long it will last."

• Ive...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 24, 2019

For Osteoporosis "If you are considering this drug, be advised: I took my first and last Boniva oral tablet on 8/20/19. Today is 8/24, and it is my first day without a severe headache, chills, and fever between 100.5 and 101.2. I had stomach cramps with any food or drink. I felt like I had been poisoned. The drug insert tells you about 'flu-like symptoms', however, it fails to tell you that you may run a fever for four days. My body's reaction said it all. Not worth the risk! I plan on taking the nutritional route."

• Anonymous
• March 22, 2011

For Prevention of Osteoporosis "I've been on Boniva for 5 years, and my bone density has not improved at all. I don't know if it would have been worse without it, but my scores have not improved. And now I'm beginning to read that you shouldn't be on Boniva for more than 5 years."

• Liz...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 4, 2019

For Osteoporosis "Reading so many negative reviews made me want to respond. I took my first dose of Boniva for osteoporosis 2 days ago. The first day I felt completely fine. That night I suffered from mild joint pain and chills. I slept most of the day yesterday, which worried me and made me consider not taking the second dose, because how does one work all day feeling like that? (Luckily I teach and am off for the summer...) Today I feel back to normal, so please know that symptoms do seem to go away quickly. Hope it stays this way for the second dose!"

• sir...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 7, 2020

For Prevention of Osteoporosis "I took my 1st dose of Boniva on a Sunday in case I had any side effects I would be home. On Wednesday morning (2:00 AM) I woke up with severe heartburn, which felt like a heart attack. The pressure on my chest was real. I took an alkaline seltzer, but it didn't help. At 5:00 AM I started vomiting, had a fever of 101 degrees, stomach pain, back pain, and a severe headache. Tried drinking flat Coca-Cola for the stomach, which was better, but the achiness was horrible. My pharmacy gave me a sheet with side effects but didn’t state it would happen 3 days later. Glad I don’t work and didn’t have plans that week. I will never take it again. I will double up on my natural remedy first. Horrible medicine. Shouldn’t even be allowed on the market! Only my opinion of the drug. Good luck to others that use this."

• Old...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• December 23, 2016

For Osteoporosis "Got a call from my rheumatologist today advising that my recent bone density test showed no improvement in my osteoporosis. I've been taking Boniva, 150 mg tablet, monthly for five (5) years. Have had a few side effects with the drug but nothing that has been troublesome to the extent that I wanted to discontinue the therapy. My rheumatologist now wants me to discontinue Boniva and try a different drug. Needless to say, I was disappointed in having spent five years taking a drug that was not beneficial. C'est la vie."

• Anonymous
• September 11, 2017

For Osteoporosis "After taking this drug for the past 4 years, my femur broke while I was walking. I fell and could not get up. There was no trauma causing this fall. I now find it takes an average of 8.5 months to heal, and healing may not be complete and pain-free."

• Arl...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 4, 2019

For Prevention of Osteoporosis "Took my first Boniva pill 1-1-2019. I have no energy. Just getting out of bed is a chore. Have a mild headache that goes away when I take 1000 mg of Tylenol. Back pain comes and goes. I'm going to keep a journal of how I feel day to day to help me decide if I will take a second dose."

• Ima...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 14, 2013

For Prevention of Osteoporosis "I took my first dose of Boniva 150 mg and woke up the next day with a severe headache and abdominal spasms. I feel exhausted, almost flu-like. I'm checking with my doctor now since today is the second day of the same symptoms."

• Pat...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 9, 2019

For Prevention of Osteoporosis "I received a prescription for Boniva from my doctor on a Wednesday. Thursday morning, as prescribed by my pharmacist, I took my first pill with water and waited 2 hours before I ate anything. I didn’t feel comfortable taking my other meds, so I didn’t. About 6 PM that evening, I could hardly move, I was aching all over-back, arms, legs. I had a slight headache. It’s now Saturday, and things have slightly subsided. I’m going to speak to my doctor, I’m not sure if I want to do this again. The body rejects what’s not right."

• Kan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 4, 2018

For Osteoporosis "I can’t say how effective it is. I've just taken my first pill yesterday. Started with lack of appetite, then a day later, back pain, joint pain, chills, and a temp of 100 with flu-like symptoms. Been in bed most of the day. I don’t think it’s worth feeling this bad. The other meds for osteoporosis all have the same side effects. For anyone that has experienced these side effects, how long does it last?"

• Ann...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 1, 2020

For Osteoporosis "After taking alendronate weekly for about a year, had to stop because of indigestion. Two years later, started taking Boniva (took the generic). Took it once a month for 11 months and again experienced indigestion. After stopping it, it took a couple of weeks for the indigestion to go away, but then I started feeling sick when I was hungry. Very tired, no energy, etc. Diagnosed with gastritis caused by the drug. I will never take it again and will have to find a drug-free way to manage my osteoporosis."

• laf...
• December 18, 2012

For Osteoporosis "I tried weekly Boniva and had severe flu symptoms each time, and I had to stop taking it. That was approximately 1 year ago. Now, I'm taking it once monthly. I thought it was okay, no flu, but I'm having diarrhea and pain in my upper thigh after taking it twice. I just had the 3rd one yesterday, and the diarrhea is bad."

• Sar...
• October 10, 2022

For Prevention of Osteoporosis "This is the worst medication I've ever taken. After the first dose, I developed severe pain in my hip and thigh. Not realizing it was the Boniva, I took a second dose. I have been struggling ever since. I am hoping that since I only took two doses, I will not have any long-term effects. I definitely will not take a third dose. I will have to wait until the medication is out of my system to know if the side effects go away. I am a very active 55-year-old. I walked four miles a day, worked out, and lived an active life. I have been struggling to get around for the past month after taking this poison. If anyone experienced this or a similar effect, please post your outcome. Did the side effects go away after stopping the drug?"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 19, 2019

For Osteoporosis "My side effects from Boniva caused me pain, money, and aggravation. Two days into the first month, I had severe face, ear, and neck pain. This lasted for 5 days! The second month, I experienced the same face, ear, and neck pain, accompanied by toothache on both sides of my upper and lower back teeth. I awoke two nights grinding my teeth to the point that one tooth broke off. I did not take Boniva for the 3rd month; however, several days into the month, I noticed that one of my back teeth that I had experienced pain during the two months of Boniva treatment had loosened and raised from the gum. When I finally got a dentist appointment, I had to have one tooth extracted and am due for a 2nd extraction. I will never take Boniva again. This drug cost me $800 dental work! I forgot to say that all of my bones ached as if I had the flu. I was stiff and I felt fatigued. The fatigue lasted for 1 week."

• PTa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 5, 2017

For Prevention of Osteoporosis "I had a DEXA scan in July 2015 and was not given the specific results by my doctor, just that I had osteopenia. She recommended I take Boniva, so I took it for two months and had severe pain in my left hip. I went back, and she changed me to Fosamax, which I took for 4 weeks. My hip pain continued. I refused to take any more medication. My hip continued to deteriorate, and in May 2017, I had a total left hip replacement. I just had another bone scan yesterday, and the technician was comparing my current results with the 2015 test. That is when I found out I had ZERO deterioration in my left hip in July 2015 and no pain until I started taking Boniva. I would NEVER recommend this drug to anyone!!!"

• Pip...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 11, 2018

For Osteoporosis "Yesterday I took my first Boniva tablet. I had gotten up and took the pill with a glass of water as directed. I timed my 60 minutes before I could take anything else. I was standing and walked my dog. Within 15 minutes, I felt a reflux and felt weak and light-headed, so I went home and had a smaller glass of water. I remained upright sitting for 2 hours. I continued to sit upright until 4 PM. I felt like I had the flu: weak, nauseated, light-headed, and chills. I took a nap from 4-7 PM. When I got up, I felt better with only feeling still weak. Today I woke up feeling fine but have had loose stools all day. I have not yet spoken to my Dr. But I won't take Boniva a second time. I don't want to spend 2 days feeling ill. I will try other recommendations from my Dr."

• Jul...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 28, 2019

For Osteoporosis "Don't know why I didn't see reviews earlier. Been on Boniva for about 2 years now. I also experience skeletal pain for a few days after I take the tablet. What I have never considered up until now is that my hip pain could be a result of taking Boniva, but reading these reviews it is possible."

• jef...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 18, 2024

For Osteoporosis "I’m 65 years old, had a knee replacement in February of 2023 and have been diagnosed with osteoporosis. I couldn't tolerate Fosamax, so I went on Boniva in mid-November of 2022 - so I've been on it for 1 year and 2 months. During this entire time over these thirteen months, I have frequent periods of dizziness and disorientation. Recently, over the last several weeks I have developed severe neuropathy in my right shoulder and my right arm down through my hand. Therefore, I have decided to suspend taking Boniva for four to six months to see if these debilitating symptoms get better due to the side effects listed in this review. I plan to go back to Boniva by mid-spring of 2024. I will keep you updated on my progress in this review text chain."

• Pip...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 4, 2019

For Prevention of Osteoporosis "I'm 39 years old and have been on calcium supplements for 2 years. I took my 1st Boniva 4 days ago. Was okay for 8 hours, then the muscle pain began, then neck pain on the 2nd day, then pain in my ribcage on the 3rd day. Have been feeling this for 4 days now. I couldn't believe this was the side effect of what I took. I'm hesitant to continue with this drug."

• No ...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 29, 2019

For Prevention of Osteoporosis "I am sensitive to all medications, so my rheumatologist selected Boniva infusions intentionally. We started at half the normal dose every three months, and things seemed fine. On the fifth dose, I had pain that seemed to move all over my body and landed in my jaw. I could barely chew food. My dentist thought it was TMJ. I checked with the doctor to see if the dose had increased, and she said no but to try Tylenol next time, beginning the day before treatment and continuing for three days. A nurse I have never had at the infusion center told me I am on a full dose! I agreed to try again, and she gave me saline to hydrate so it would help my body deal with the medication. I am on day five, and my head, neck, and jaw ache. I am fatigued and feel flu-like with nausea. Yesterday, I had diarrhea. I have decided to cease taking these treatments."

• aZG...
• May 25, 2021

For Osteoporosis "I have taken Ibandronate (Boniva) for 4 months. The first month I did pretty well. The second month started showing some side effects: upset stomach, loss of appetite. The 3rd month I got a terrible headache within 45 minutes of taking it. Then it seems like a cloud was coming over. I looked outside, but there were no clouds. The headache and vision problems lasted over two weeks. Also, I was dizzy. The fourth month (and FINAL) I feel so horrible. Along with all the other side effects, now my heart rate has increased, my blood pressure is elevated, a nervous feeling inside like I'm shaking, I feel like I've been poisoned. I went to my eye doctor just to have him check my eyes because I have glaucoma. He said my eyes look fine, but I still have the headache and vision issues. All these symptoms let up a little, but then come right back again. Today is the 23rd day since I took the 4th dose. I'm just hoping I can purge this out of my system soon! Never again will I take this."

• Ups...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 16, 2020

For Osteoporosis "I have been on Boniva since 2016 with calcium supplements. Had my 3rd bone density in November 2019, bone decreased more. Had a spine fracture last summer, no apparent reason why. No falls. Now, Dr. wants me on once-a-day injections that still no guarantee it will work."

• Blo...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 27, 2020

For Osteoporosis "This is the worst pill I ever took. I followed directions, and after taking the pill for a while, I would wake up in the middle of the night and start vomiting. At first, I thought I was getting a cold. I got up in the morning and felt fine until I started to eat. I thought I was having a heart attack. I went to see my doctor, and it turns out it was Boniva that was causing it, and the reason my food wasn’t going down was due to thickening of the throat. I had to get my throat stretched five times and now have acid reflux. I have to take three antacid pills a day now. Shame they produce such dangerous meds."