Alendronate
49,159 adverse event reports submitted to the FDA (2004–2026)
Top Reported Adverse Events
The most frequently reported events in association with Alendronate in the FAERS database. These are events reported by patients taking this medication, not necessarily caused by it. A single report may include multiple events.
Show these terms with plain-language definitions
Tap any term below for a plain-language definition.
Pain 6,892 reports
A general report of physical discomfort, used when no more specific location is given.
Full definition in the glossary →Fatigue 6,862 reports
Extreme tiredness or lack of energy that does not improve with rest.
Full definition in the glossary → See all drugs reporting this event →Drug Ineffective 6,595 reports
A report that the medication did not work as expected for the person taking it. This is a reporting category, not a sign the drug is defective. It simply means someone felt it was not helping their condition.
Full definition in the glossary →Arthralgia 6,240 reports
Rheumatoid Arthritis 5,272 reports
An autoimmune condition where the immune system attacks the joints, causing pain and swelling. It often appears in reports because it is a condition being treated, not always a reaction.
Full definition in the glossary →Rash 5,096 reports
An area of irritated, red, or bumpy skin.
Full definition in the glossary → See all drugs reporting this event →Off Label Use 5,011 reports
Using a medication for a condition or in a way that the FDA has not officially approved. This is common and often legal, and a report of it does not mean something went wrong. Doctors sometimes prescribe drugs off label based on their judgment.
Full definition in the glossary →- Femur Fracture 4,962 reports
Abdominal Discomfort 4,886 reports
A general unease or mild pain in the belly area.
Full definition in the glossary →Alopecia 4,864 reports
Dyspnoea 4,557 reports
Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing. Also spelled dyspnea in American English.
Full definition in the glossary → See all drugs reporting this event →Arthropathy 4,471 reports
Any disease or disorder of a joint.
Full definition in the glossary →Systemic Lupus Erythematosus 4,336 reports
An autoimmune condition, often called lupus, where the immune system attacks the body's own tissues, affecting joints, skin, and organs. It often appears in reports because it is a condition being treated, not always a reaction.
Full definition in the glossary →Nausea 4,301 reports
The feeling of sickness in your stomach that often comes before vomiting.
Full definition in the glossary → See all drugs reporting this event →Pemphigus 4,268 reports
A rare autoimmune condition that causes blistering of the skin and the moist linings of the body such as the mouth.
Full definition in the glossary →
Ranked by frequency of reports, not severity. The most-reported event is not necessarily the most dangerous or the most common in patients taking this drug.
Who Is Reporting
Demographics of patients in FAERS reports that included this information. Not all reports include patient demographics.
By Sex
View reporter sex data as a table
| Sex | Reports |
|---|---|
| Female | 36,770 |
| Male | 6,830 |
| Unknown | 120 |
By Age Group
View age group data as a table
| Age group | Reports |
|---|---|
| 0-17 | 208 |
| 18-34 | 395 |
| 35-49 | 4,640 |
| 50-64 | 8,050 |
| 65-74 | 8,185 |
| 75+ | 7,762 |
This shows who filed reports, reflecting who takes this drug and who tends to report, not who is at greatest risk.
Reported Outcomes
Outcomes recorded in FAERS reports that included Alendronate. A single report may involve multiple reactions, each with a different outcome. These categories are defined by FDA reporting guidelines, not by PillSignal.
View outcome data as a table
| Outcome | Reports |
|---|---|
| Other Serious | 28,726 |
| Hospitalization | 19,687 |
| Non-Serious | 10,538 |
| Disability | 7,968 |
| Death | 6,520 |
| Life-Threatening | 5,088 |
Serious outcomes are far more likely to be reported than mild ones, so this overstates how often outcomes are serious. A recorded death does not mean the drug caused it.
Report Volume Over Time
Number of FAERS reports received per quarter for Alendronate. Changes in volume may reflect shifts in prescribing rates, media attention, or reporting behavior, not changes in the medication's safety profile.
View report trend as a table
| Year | Reports |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 716 |
| 2005 | 739 |
| 2006 | 372 |
| 2007 | 412 |
| 2008 | 678 |
| 2009 | 889 |
| 2010 | 1,124 |
| 2011 | 1,662 |
| 2012 | 3,363 |
| 2013 | 2,209 |
| 2014 | 1,922 |
| 2015 | 2,064 |
| 2016 | 2,219 |
| 2017 | 2,417 |
| 2018 | 2,704 |
| 2019 | 2,890 |
| 2020 | 3,166 |
| 2021 | 3,760 |
| 2022 | 3,844 |
| 2023 | 3,113 |
| 2024 | 4,177 |
| 2025 | 4,028 |
| 2026 (partial) | 691 |
The steep increase around 2004 reflects the FDA's move to electronic submission, not a change in this drug's safety. Trends track reporting volume, not risk.
Medications commonly reported with Alendronate
In FDA adverse event reports that mention Alendronate, these medications appeared most often in the same report.
- Prednisone (14,419 reports)
- Methotrexate (11,822 reports)
- Folic Acid (11,125 reports)
- Adalimumab (10,190 reports)
- Ergocalciferol (10,146 reports)
This reflects co-occurrence in submitted reports, not evidence of drug interaction or combined risk. People often report several medications taken for the same condition or for unrelated reasons. Talk to a doctor or pharmacist about your specific medications.
Related Drugs
Other medications with similar adverse event profiles in FDA FAERS reports.
Data Source
This data is sourced from the FDA's Adverse Event Monitoring System (AEMS), formerly FAERS, via the OpenFDA API. PillSignal is not affiliated with the FDA.
View this data on the FDA website →Data last updated: June 2026