Actonel (Risedronate sodium ) - Osteopenia & Osteoporosis treatmentActonel is the brand name for risedronate sodium. It can be prescribed for the prevention (in the Osteopenia stage of bone loss) as well as the treatment of post menopausal Osteoporosis. The drug comes in tablet form. Since risedronate sodium (Actonel) has been approved for the prevention of Osteoporosis, it is often prescribed for those with Osteopenia. Actonel, risedronate sodium, like Fosamax and Boniva, slows the work of your Osteoclasts. ( Osteoclasts are the cells responsible for removing old bone.) The drug does not affect the cells that build new bone(osteoblasts). With this drug your osteoblasts continue to make new bone at the same pace as they did before you started taking the medication. Since old bone is not removed as quickly, Risedronate sodium (Actonel)tablets are manufactured in three different doses 5mg, 30 mg and 35mg. The 5mg tablet is taken each day. The 30mg and 35mg tablets are for once a week use. The good news is that Actonel, risendronate sodium, has been shown to reduce spinal fractures during the First Year of taking the medication. And it has been shown to be useful to men as well as women. There was a study of this drug in Japan with men who developed Osteoporosis after having a stroke. The study states that: "There is a high incidence of hip fractures in patients after hemiplegic stroke. Bone mineral density is decreased on the hemiplegic side in patients after stroke, correlating with the immobilization-induced bone resorption, the degree of paralysis, and hypovitaminosis D. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of risedronate sodium, an inhibitor of bone resorption, on osteoporosis and the risk of hip fractures in men 65 years or older after stroke." The study, "Risedronate Sodium Therapy for Prevention of Hip Fracture in Men 65 Years or Older After Stroke" was made by Yoshihiro Sato, MD; Jun Iwamoto, MD; Tomohiro Kanoko, PhD; Kei Satoh, MD It can be found in Arch Intern Medicine 2005;165:1743-1748. If you want to readthe conclusions, go to Risendronate sodium (Actonel) Actonel: Frequently asked questions about its use for Osteopenia or Osteporosis::How should I take this medication? You need to stay upright for at least 30 minutes after taking the tablet. Do not lie down or bend over. Also, do not eat or drink anything for at least 30 minutes. That means you need to wait the full 30 minutes before taking any other medications, vitamins or your morning coffee. If you lie down before 30 minutes, you risk damaging the lining of your stomach. If you eat or drink anything in the same time period, you can reduce the effectiveness of the drug. Be sure to follow your health care provider's instructions for this or any other prescription medication. Are there things I should discuss with my healthcare provider before taking Actonel?
Also if you have any condition that causes low levels of calcium in your body or if you have kidney disease be sure to remind your health care professional of this. It is not known if this medication will harm a fetus so if you are pregnant or if you can become pregnant, be sure to discuss this. The same is true if you are breast feeding. Can I take risendronate sodium (Actonel)if I take other prescriptions or over-the-counter medications?
Actonel: Possible side-effectsAre there possible negative side effects of Actonel?Some people have experienced an allergic reaction to the drug. If after taking this medication you have difficulty breathing, swelling of your lips, tongue or face, if you feel your throat is closing, if you break out in hives or have difficulty or pain when swallowing, feel pain or burning under your ribs or in you back or if you feel heartburn, STOP taking the drug and SEEK emergency medical attention or contact your health care provider IMMEDIATELY. These are serious reactions and need to be taken care of right away. There are some other less serious side effects: abdominal discomfort, stomach upset, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea, headache, or muscle or joint soreness or aches. If you experience any of these you can continue to take this medication but be sure to contact you health care provider. Let them know what is happening. You may need a different dosage or a different medication to treat your Osteopenia or Osteoporosis. If you would like to read about other potential side effects go to Side effects Actonel . Are there any good side effects from taking Actonel? Yes, there are - especially if you have Osteoarthritis. A British study of this drug and Osteoarthritis of the knee enrolled patients (40 to 80 years of age) with mild to moderate Osteoarthritis of the medial compartment of the knee. Results: "Risedronate (15 mg) significantly reduced markers of cartilage degradation and bone resorption (bone loss). Clear trends towards improvement were observed in both joint structure and symptoms in patients with primary knee OA treated with risedronate" (Actonel). If you have Osteoarthritis and Osteopenia or Osteoporosis, you may want to read more about Actonel and/or talk with your physician. Sources: Drugs.com -http://www.drugs.com/actonel.html Research studies results about this drug can be found at Actonel Research Results Reducing Drug costsSometimes prescription drugs have cheaper alternatives - either a generic brand or an earlier, less expensive drug which is also effective. If you want to find out if there is an cheaper version of this (or any drug) justclick hereAlso, if you live in the United States, you can find out which drug store in your zip code offers the best pricefor this or any prescription medication on the same site. Click here to check store prices Read about other Osteopenia Medications at Osteopenia Osteoporosis Medications or A Natural Supplement studied in the Mayo Clinic is now making news because of French drug company has come out with a synthetic form Go to Strontium: a supplement that is effective in building bone density. Page updated: December 2009 |