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Actonel Medication - Uses & Side Effects

Generic Name: Risedronate

RISEDRONATE (Actonel®) reduces calcium loss from bones. It helps prevent bone loss and increases production of normal healthy bone in patients with Paget's disease, osteoporosis, and other conditions which place someone at risk for bone loss, including after menopause in females or from the long-term use of corticosteroids (like prednisone) in men or women. Generic risedronate tablets are not yet available.

Actonel Dosage

• For the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis, the recommended dose is one 5-milligram tablet once daily or one 35-milligram tablet once a week.
• For treatment or prevention of steroid-induced osteoporosis, the recommended dose is one 5-milligram tablet once a day.
• The recommended dose for Paget's disease is 30 milligrams once a day for two months. A second 2-month course of therapy may be required in certain individuals.

Uses of Actonel

• Actonel is used to treat Paget’s disease of the bone.
• Actonel is also used to prevent and treat postmenopausal osteoporosis and glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis in men and women.

Side Effects of Actonel

Medicines and their possible side effects can affect individual people in different ways. The following are some of the side effects that are known to be associated with this medicine. Because a side effect is stated here, it does not mean that all people using this medicine will experience that or any side effect.

• Disturbances of the gut such as diarrhoea, constipation, nausea, indigestion or abdominal pain
• Headache
  
• Pain in joints, muscles or bones (musculoskeletal pain)
  
• Difficulty or pain when swallowing (dysphagia)
• Inflammation of the stomach (gastritis)
  
• Inflammation of the small intestine (duodenitis)
  
• Inflammation of the food pipe (oesophagitis)
  
• Ulceration of the food pipe (oesophagus)
• Inflammation of the coloured part of the eye (iritis)
  
• Inflammation of the tongue (glossitis)
  
• Skin reactions, eg rash

Warnings and precautions before taking Actonel:

• It is very important that the instructions for taking Actonel tablets are followed completely. This is because when the medicine is taken by mouth it can cause irritation and ulceration of the foodpipe (oesophagus). Following the instructions below minimises this risk. If you are unclear about anything ask your pharmacist for advice.
• Before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: esophagus problems (e.g., esophageal stricture), difficult or painful swallowing, kidney problems (e.g., kidney stones), stomach/intestinal disorders (e.g., ulcers).

Drug Interaction :-

If Actonel is taken with certain other drugs, the effects of either could be increased, decreased, or altered. It is especially important to check with your doctor before combining Actonel with the following:

• Antacids
  
• Calcium supplements
  
• Laxatives such as Milk of Magnesia
• aluminum hydroxide
• antacids
• anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen, naproxen, and others
• aspirin
• iron supplements
• magnesium supplements
• parathyroid hormone
• teriparatide
• vitamins with minerals

Overdose

Symptoms of a Actonel overdose may include:

• nausea
• heartburn
• stomach pain
• diarrhea
• muscle cramps
• numbness or tingling
• tight muscles in your face
• seizure (convulsions)
• irritability
• unusual thoughts or behavior.

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