What is alendronate used for?
What is alendronate? Alendronate is used to treat osteoporosis caused by menopause, steroid use, or gonadal failure. alendronate is for use when you have a high risk of bone fracture due to osteoporosis. Alendronate is also used to treat Paget's disease of bone.
What is the half life of Fosamax?
Your bone cells grow around the medication, and once covered by your bone, it is no longer active. The incorporated drug has a half life of more than 10 years. A benefit to this is that after taking Fosamax for five years, the benefits of the drug, can last for anadditional five years.
What is alendronate sodium prescribed for?
Why is this medication prescribed? Alendronate is used to treat and prevent osteoporosis (a condition in which the bones become thin and weak and break easily) in women who have undergone menopause (''change of life,'' end of menstrual periods) and to treat osteoporosis in men.
Is alendronate a bisphosphonate drug?
Fosamax (alendronate) is a bisphosphonate (bis FOS fo nayt) medicine that alters bone formation and breakdown in the body. This can slow bone loss and may help prevent bone fractures. Fosamax is used in women to treat or prevent osteoporosis caused by menopause and in men and women to treat osteoporosis caused by taking steroids.
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Is there a generic for alendronate sodium?
alendronate sodium tablet;oral Note: No generic formulation of the following product is available.
Is generic alendronate as effective as Fosamax?
Significantly lower increases of lumbar spine and total hip BMD with generic alendronate once weekly as compared to the two branded bisphosphonate originals (Fosamax®, Actonel®) were observed. The reasons for the 40–50% lower BMD increase rates when using the generic compounds are not known yet.
What is alendronate sodium tablets 70 mg used for?
Alendronate is used to prevent and treat osteoporosis (thinning of the bone) in women after menopause. This medicine may also be used to increase bone mass in men who have osteoporosis, and in men and women to prevent and treat osteoporosis caused by long-term use of corticosteroids (cortisone-like medicine).
What is the brand name of alendronic acid?
Alendronic acid Brand names: Fosamax, Binosto, alendronate sodium, alendronate.
Which is better Fosamax or alendronate?
Alendronate has an average rating of 2.3 out of 10 from a total of 150 ratings on Drugs.com. 12% of reviewers reported a positive effect, while 85% reported a negative effect. Fosamax has an average rating of 2.5 out of 10 from a total of 65 ratings on Drugs.com.
What are the long term side effects of alendronate?
Serious side effects and their symptoms can include the following:Ulcers or erosions of your esophagus. Symptoms can include: ... Bone death of your jaw. Symptoms can include: ... Unusual bone breaks in your hip and leg bones. ... Hypocalcemia (low calcium levels in your blood). ... Severe bone, joint, or muscle pain.
How long can you take alendronate 70 mg?
Answer From Ann Kearns, M.D., Ph. D. Bisphosphonates, the most common type of osteoporosis medications, are typically taken for at least 3 to 5 years. After that, your doctor will consider your risk factors in determining whether you should continue to take these or other osteoporosis medications.
What foods destroy bone density?
What foods destroy bone density?Excess salt.Hydrogenated oil.Alcohol.Food rich in vitamin A.Soft drinks.
What drugs should not be taken with alendronate?
Calcium or iron supplements, vitamins, antacids, coffee, tea, soda, mineral water, calcium-enriched juices, and food can decrease the absorption of alendronate. Do not take these for at least 30 minutes (preferably 1 to 2 hours) after taking alendronate.
What is another name for alendronate?
Alendronate is commonly known by the brand name Fosamax®. Fosamax® is a bisphosphonate and is used in the treatment of osteoporosis. Fosamax® decreases the rate bone cells are absorbed. This reduced absorption allows the body to increase bone density, which in turn reduces the risk of fracture.
What is the most commonly prescribed drug for osteoporosis?
Bisphosphonates are usually the first choice for osteoporosis treatment. These include: Alendronate (Fosamax), a weekly pill. Risedronate (Actonel), a weekly or monthly pill.
What are the side effects of alendronate sodium 70 mg tab?
Alendronate may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:nausea.stomach pain.constipation.diarrhea.gas.bloating or fullness in the stomach.change in ability to taste food.headache.More items...•
Who should not take alendronate?
You should not take alendronate if you have problems with your esophagus, or low levels of calcium in your blood. Do not take alendronate if you cannot sit upright or stand for at least 30 minutes after taking the medicine. Alendronate can cause serious problems in the stomach or esophagus.
Who makes generic Fosamax?
Table 1Brand or genericDoseTrade or Manufacturer nameGeneric70mgNeobonBrand70mgFosamax, Merck & Co., Inc. "A"Brand70mgFosamax, Merck & Co., Inc. "B"Brand70mgFosamax, Merck & Co., Inc. "C"26 more rows•Oct 21, 2013
What foods should be avoided when taking Fosamax?
Taking Alendronate with food may decrease the actions of the drug. Take Alendronate at least 30 minutes before any other beverage, food, or other medication for the day. In particular, avoid dairy products and orange juice within 2 hours of this drug.
How long has alendronate been on the market?
Fosamax (alendronate sodium) is a prescription drug used to treat and prevent osteoporosis in adults. It was first introduced to the U.S. market in 1995 by the drug manufacturer Merck.
Before Taking This Medicine
You should not take alendronate if you are allergic to it, or if you have: 1. low levels of calcium in your blood (hypocalcemia); or 2. problems wi...
How Should I Take Alendronate?
Alendronate is taken either once daily or once per week. Follow all directions on your prescription label. Do not take this medicine in larger or s...
What Happens If I Miss A Dose?
Once-daily dosing: If you forget to take alendronate first thing in the morning, do not take it later in the day. Wait until the following morning...
What Happens If I Overdose?
Drink a full glass of milk and seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222. Do not make yourself vomit and do n...
What Should I Avoid While Taking Alendronate?
Avoid taking any other medicines for at least 30 minutes after taking alendronate. This includes vitamins, calcium, and antacids. Some medicines ca...
Alendronate Dosing Information
Usual Adult Dose for Osteoporosis:Treatment of Osteoporosis in Postmenopausal Women; To Increase Bone Mass in Men with Osteoporosis:-10 mg orally o...
What Other Drugs Will Affect Alendronate?
Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any you start or stop using, especially: 1. aspirin; or 2. NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflamma...
Product (s) containing alendronate
Brand names: Fosamax, Binosto Drug class (es): bisphosphonates Alendronate systemic is used in the treatment of:
Further information
Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.
What is alendronate used for?
Alendronate is used to prevent and treat certain types of bone loss ( osteoporosis) in adults. Osteoporosis causes bones to become thinner and break more easily. Your chance of developing osteoporosis increases as you age, after menopause, or if you are taking corticosteroid medications (such as prednisone) for a long time.This medication works by slowing bone loss. This effect helps maintain strong bones and reduce the risk of broken bones ( fractures ). Alendronate belongs to a class of drugs called bisphosphonates.
How to report alendronate side effects?
You may report side effects to Health Canada at 1-866-234-2345. Before taking alendronate, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or to other bisphosphonates;
How long does it take for alendronate to work?
Alendronate works only if taken on an empty stomach. Wait at least 30 minutes (preferably 1 to 2 hours) after taking the medication before you eat or drink anything other than plain water. Do not take this medication at bedtime or before rising for the day. It may not be absorbed and you may have side effects.
How long after taking alendronate can you take calcium?
Do not take these for at least 30 minutes (preferably 1 to 2 hours) after taking alendronate.
Can Alendronate cause heartburn?
This medication may rarely cause serious irritation and ulcers of the esophagus. If you notice any of the following unlikely but very serious side effects, stop taking alendronate and talk to your doctor or pharmacist right away: new or worsening heartburn, chest pain, pain or difficulty when swallowing. A very serious allergic reaction ...
Can you take alendronate while pregnant?
This drug is not recommended for use in children. Studies have shown that many children who took this drug had severe side effects such as vomiting, fever, and flu -like symptoms. Caution is advised if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant in the future. Alendronate may stay in your body for many years.
How many brands of alendronate are there?
The generic Alendronate is manufactured by one company. Medindia's drug directory has currently 21 Brands of Alendronate listed. New generics and brands are constantly being updated as and when they are approved by drug controller and available in the pharmacies.
What is the drug name for osteoporosis?
Drug Name : Alendronate. Alendronate is used to treat osteoporosis or bone thinning in men and post-menopausal women and Paget's disease or bone deformity. It is also recommended for patients taking steroids that affect bone health. More Info about Alendronate.
