Actonel Side Effects
Actonel Information
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Primary Drug Name: Actonel
Generic Drug Name: Risedronate
Actonel Information
Actonel osteoporosis medication is a prescription medicine used
to prevent and treat osteoporosis in postmenopausal women to prevent and treat
osteoporosis in men and women that is caused by treatment with steroid
medicines such as prednisone.
Osteoporosis Information - Read more Information about Osteoporosis Disease,
Osteoporosis Side Effects and Osteoporosis Prevention.
Actonel Paget's disease medication is used to treat Paget's
disease of bone (osteitis deformans). The treatment for Paget's disease is very
different than for osteoporosis and uses a different type of Actonel. If you
have Paget's Disease, ask your healthcare provider how to use Actonel.
Actonel osteoporosis medication may reverse bone loss by
stopping more loss of bone and increasing bone mass in most people who take it,
even though they won't be able to see or feel a difference. Actonel helps lower
the risk of breaking bones (fractures). Your health care provider may measure
the thickness (density) of your bones or do other tests to check your progress.
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Actonel Side Effects
Actonel Side Effects: For patients with osteoporosis, the
overall occurrence of Actonel side effects with Actonel was similar to placebo
(sugar pill) and most were either mild or moderate. The most common Actonel
side effects with Actonel include back pain, joint pain, upset stomach,
abdominal (stomach area) pain, constipation, diarrhea, gas, and headache. Tell
your health care provider if you have pain or discomfort in your stomach or
esophagus.
Although Actonel side effects from Actonel/Risedronate are not common, they can
sometimes. Tell your doctor if any of these Actonel side effects or symptoms
are severe or do not go away; upset stomach, flatulence, bloating,
constipation, diarrhea, heartburn, bone pain, joint pain, leg cramps, acid,
regurgitation, stomach pain, irritation, dizziness, nervousness, sinus
infection, dry eyes, changes in vision, ringing in the ears, headache, and or
back pain.
If you experience any of the following Actonel side effects or symptoms, call
your doctor immediately; rash, hives, itching, flu-like symptoms, difficulty
breathing, difficulty or pain swallowing, swelling of the hands, feet, ankles,
or lower legs, swelling of the face, or neck severe, worsening, or continued
heartburn or chest pain and or broken bones.
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How to take Actonel (Risedronate)
The following instructions are for both Actonel 5-mg (daily) and Actonel
35-mg (Once-a-Week):
. Take Actonel first thing in the morning before you eat or drink anything
except plain water.
. Take Actonel while you are sitting or standing up.
. Take Actonel with 6 to 8 ounces (about 1 cup) of plain water. Do not take it
with any other drink besides plain water. Do not take it with coffee, tea,
juice, milk or other dairy drinks.
. Swallow Actonel whole. Do not chew the tablet or keep it in your mouth to
melt or dissolve.
After taking Actonel you must wait at least 30 minutes BEFORE:
. lying down. You may sit, stand, or do normal activities like read the
newspaper or take a walk. o eating or drinking anything except plain water.
. you take vitamins, calcium, or antacids. Take vitamins, calcium, and antacids
at a different time of the day from when you take Actonel.
. Keep taking Actonel for as long as your health care provider tells you.
. For Actonel to treat your osteoporosis or keep you from getting osteoporosis,
you have to take it as often and in the way it is prescribed.
. Your healthcare provider may tell you to take calcium and vitamin D
supplements and to exercise.
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Actonel (Risedronate) Schedule
If your doctor has prescribed Actonel 5-mg daily (a yellow tablet):
. Take 1 Actonel 5-mg tablet every day in the morning.
. If you forget to take your Actonel 5-mg in the morning, do not take it later
in the day. Take only 1 Actonel 5-mg tablet the next morning and continue your
usual schedule of 1 tablet a day. Do not take 2 tablets on the same day.
If your doctor has prescribed Actonel 35-mg Once-a-Week (an orange tablet)
. Choose 1 day of the week that you will remember and that best fits your
schedule to take your Actonel 35-mg. Every week, take 1 Actonel 35-mg tablet in
the morning on your chosen day.
. If you forget to take your Actonel 35-mg in the morning, do not take it later
in the day. Take only 1 Actonel 35-mg tablet the next morning and continue your
usual schedule of 1 tablet on your chosen day of the week. Do not take 2
tablets on the same day.
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What to Avoid when Taking Actonel
Eighty percent of those affected by osteoporosis are women. Five percent of
non-Hispanic black women over age 50 are estimated to have osteoporosis; an
estimated additional 35 percent have low bone mass that puts them at risk of
developing osteoporosis.
Ten percent of Hispanic women aged 50 and older are estimated to have
osteoporosis, and 49 percent are estimated to have low bone mass. Twenty
percent of non-Hispanic white and Asian women aged 50 and older are estimated
to have osteoporosis, and 52 percent are estimated to have low bone mass.
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Who should not take Actonel ?
Do not take Actonel if you:
. have low blood calcium (hypocalcemia)
. cannot sit or stand up for 30 minutes
. have kidneys that work poorly
. have an allergy to Actonel.
The active ingredient in Actonel is risedronate sodium.
Tell your doctor before using Actonel if:
. you are pregnant. We do not know if Actonel can harm your unborn child.
. you are breast feeding. We do not know if Actonel can pass through your milk
and if it can harm your baby. You will need to decide whether to stop breast
feeding or not to take Actonel.
. you have kidney problems. Actonel may not be right for you.
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Actonel Dose Supply
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Actonel is available in two doses. Actonel comes as a 5mg tablet, and 35mg
tablet in Canada.
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Actonel Storage
Keep Actonel in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of
children. You may ask your pharmacist to put this medication in a container
without a child-resistant cap, but be sure to keep it out of reach of children.
Store it at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture (not in the
bathroom).
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Additional Actonel Information
Osteoporosis is a condition in which the bones grow porous and more likely to
break. Several prescription drugs can help treat it.
Estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) can prevent the large loss of bone mass that
women experience soon after menopause. Examples of drugs used in ERT include
conjugated estrogen (brand name Premarin) and estradiol (Estrace). Such drugs
can increase bone density by 5 percent, lower the risk of a broken wrist or hip
from 1 in 15 to 1 in 50 over a five year period. Like all medications, ERT has
positive and negative effects. It's very important for you and your doctor to
discuss the risks and benefits of ERT.
For women who can't take estrogen, other medicines are available. Medications
like raloxifene (brand name Evista), alendronate (Fosamax), and calcitonin
(Miacalcin nasal spray) have been shown to slow bone loss. Evista increases
bone density by 2.5 percent and lowers the risk of spine fractures from 1 in 25
people to 1 in 50 people. Fosamax increases bone density by 5 to 10 percent and
reduce the risk of hip fractures from 1 in 50 women to 1 in 100 women Actonel
increases bone density by 1.6 to 5 percent and reduces the risk of fractures
from 1 in 12 people to 1 in 20 people. Actonel reduces the risk of hip fracture
among women with osteoporosis. Miacalcin reduces the risk of spine fractures
from 1 in 8 people to 1 in 13 people.
Another promising alternative is a class of drugs called HMG-CoA reductase
inhibitors or "statins". Doctors prescribe statins such as pravastatin
(Pravachol), simvastatin (Zocor), lovastatin (Mevacor), and fluvastatin
(Lescol) to lower cholesterol levels in the blood and to reduce the risk of
heart disease. Researchers have found a link between the use of statins and a
lower risk of fractures. Early information suggests that statins may reduce
fractures by increasing bone density. Scientists will have to conduct more
studies to determine the role and benefits of statins in reducing fractures.
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Osteoporosis Detection
Specialized tests called bone density tests can measure bone density in various
sites of the body. A bone density test can: Detect osteoporosis before a
fracture occurs and predict your chances of fracturing in the future.
DXA BMD can determine your rate of bone loss and/or monitor the effects of
treatment.
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Osteoporosis Prevention
By about age 20, the average woman has acquired 98 percent of her skeletal mass.
Building strong bones during childhood and adolescence can be the best defense
against developing osteoporosis later. There are four steps, which together,
can optimize bone health and help prevent osteoporosis. They are:
1.A balanced diet rich in calcium and vitamin D
2.Weight-bearing exercise
3.A healthy lifestyle with no smoking or excessive alcohol intake
4.Bone density testing and medication when appropriate.
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Steps to Bone Health and Osteoporosis Prevention
1.Get your daily recommended amounts of calcium and vitamin D
2.Engage in regular weight-bearing exercise
3.Avoid smoking and excessive alcohol
4.Talk to your doctor about bone health
5.Have a bone density test and take medication when appropriate
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Osteoporosis Prevention - Calcium
Calcium is needed for the heart, muscles and nerves to function properly and for
blood to clot. Inadequate calcium is thought to contribute to the development
of osteoporosis. National nutrition surveys have shown that many women and
young girls consume less than half the amount of calcium recommended to grow
and maintain healthy bones.
Depending on your age, an appropriate calcium intake falls between 1000 and
1300 mg a day. If you have difficulty getting enough calcium from the foods you
eat, you may take a calcium supplement to make up the difference.
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Osteoporosis Prevention - Vitamin D
Vitamin D is needed for the body to absorb calcium. Without enough vitamin D,
you will be unable to absorb calcium from the foods you eat, and your body will
have to take calcium from your bones. Vitamin D comes from two sources: through
the skin following direct exposure to sunlight and from the diet. Experts
recommend a daily intake between 400 and 800 IU per day, which also can be
obtained from fortified dairy products, egg yolks, saltwater fish and liver.
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Osteoporosis Prevention - Exercise
Exercise is also important to good bone health. If you exercise regularly in
childhood and adolescence, you are more likely to reach your peak bone density
than those who are inactive. The best exercise for your bones is weight-bearing
exercise such as walking, dancing, jogging, stair-climbing, racquet sports and
hiking. If you have been sedentary most of your adult life, be sure to check
with your healthcare provider before beginning any exercise program.
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Osteoporosis Prevention - No Smoking
Smoking is bad for your bones as well as for your heart and lungs. Women who
smoke have lower levels of estrogen compared to nonsmokers and frequently go
through menopause earlier. Postmenopausal women who smoke may require higher
doses of hormone replacement therapy and may have more side effects. Smokers
also may absorb less calcium from their diets.
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Osteoporosis Prevention - Alcohol
Regular consumption of 2 to 3 ounces a day of alcohol may be damaging to the
skeleton, even in young women and men. Those who drink heavily are more prone
to bone loss and fractures, both because of poor nutrition as well as increased
risk of falling.
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