Actonel
® (
risedronate sodium) is a prescription medication approved for the following uses:
- To prevent and treat osteoporosis in postmenopausal women
- To treat osteoporosis in men
- To prevent and treat osteoporosis (in both men in women) due to the use of steroid medications, such as prednisone
- To treat Paget's disease in men and women.
Actonel is made by Procter and Gamble Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and sanofi-aventis.
Actonel belongs to a group of medications known as bisphosphonates. The drug binds to certain cells in bones and slows down the rate at which bone breaks down.
Actonel has been evaluated in several studies for various osteoporosis-related uses.
Actonel and Postmenopausal Women
Actonel was evaluated in two large studies involving almost 4,000 postmenopausal women with osteoporosis. In these studies, the drug reduced the risk of vertebral fractures (broken spinal bones) by up to 65 percent. It also reduced the risk of other types of broken bones by up to 39 percent. Actonel also increased the bone mineral density (a measure of the strength of bones) in the spine, hip, and wrist. Interestingly, women taking Actonel lost less height when compared with women not taking it.
Actonel can also be used to prevent osteoporosis in postmenopausal women with risk factors for the disease. In studies, women taking the drug showed increased bone mineral density, while those not taking it actually experienced bone loss.
Studies have shown that Actonel can help increase bone mineral density in men with
osteoporosis as well. Studies have not shown that the drug prevents broken bones in men, however. This is most likely due to the small number of men in Actonel studies (since studies need many people in order to shown any changes in the frequency of broken bones).
Osteoporosis is one of the side effects of long-term use of steroids, such as
prednisone. Studies have shown that Actonel can both treat and prevent osteoporosis in people who take steroids. In these studies, the drug increased bone mineral density and prevented broken bones.
Actonel and Paget's Disease
One way to assess the severity of Paget's disease is by measuring the level of alkaline phosphate in the blood. In studies, Actonel was shown to decrease alkaline phosphate levels, which indicates that it helps to improve Paget's disease. Studies compared Actonel with
Didronel® (
etidronate), a similar medication used to treat Paget's disease. Up to 77 percent of people taking Actonel achieved normal alkaline phosphate levels, compared to just 10.5 percent of those taking Didronel.
When and How to Take Actonel
General considerations for when and how to take Actonel include the following:
- The medication comes in tablet form. Depending on the dose, it is taken by mouth daily, weekly, or monthly. When taken monthly, one tablet is taken daily for two days in a row each month.
- Actonel must be taken first thing in the morning at least 30 minutes before you eat or drink anything (other than water). You must wait at least 30 minutes after taking the medication before eating or drinking anything other than water or taking any medications. Food, beverages, and medications can interact with Actonel and prevent it from being absorbed into the body.
- Take Actonel with plain water only (not coffee, juice, soda, or even mineral water).
- Swallow the tablets whole with a full glass of water while sitting or standing upright. Do not lie down for 30 minutes after taking a dose of Actonel. The tablets should not be chewed, broken, or sucked on. These precautions are necessary to prevent the drug from irritating your esophagus.
- You need to make sure you get enough calcium and vitamin D while taking Actonel, as the drug cannot build bone without these substances.
- For the medication to work properly, it must be taken as prescribed. Actonel will not work if you stop taking it.
Dosing Information for Actonel
The dose of Actonel that your healthcare provider recommends will vary, depending on a number of factors, including:
- Whether you prefer to take Actonel daily, weekly, or monthly
- Whether you are treating or preventing osteoporosis or treating Paget's disease
- Other medications you may be taking
- Other medical conditions you may have.
As is always the case, do not adjust your Actonel dose unless your healthcare provider specifically instructs you to do so.
As with any medicine, side effects are possible with Actonel. However, not everyone who takes the drug will experience side effects. In fact, most people tolerate it quite well. If side effects do occur, in most cases, they are minor and either require no treatment or can easily be treated by you or your healthcare provider. Serious side effects are less common.
Common side effects of Actonel include but are not limited to:
(Click Actonel Side Effects to learn more, including potentially serious side effects that you should report immediately to your healthcare provider.)
Drug Interactions With Actonel
Actonel: What Should I Tell My Healthcare Provider?
You should talk with your healthcare provider prior to taking Actonel if you:
- Have low blood calcium (hypocalcemia)
- Cannot sit or stand for 30 minutes
- Have kidney disease, including kidney failure (renal failure)
- Have difficulty swallowing or other problems with your esophagus
- Have any allergies, including allergies to food, dyes, or preservatives.
Also, let your healthcare provider know if you are:
Make sure to tell your healthcare provider about all medicines you are taking, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
What If I Take an Overdose of Actonel?
People who take too much Actonel may have overdose symptoms that could include:
- Upset stomach
- Heartburn or indigestion
- Ulcers
- Low levels of calcium or phosphate in the blood.
If you happen to overdose on Actonel, seek immediate medical attention.
How Should Actonel Be Stored?
The tablets should be stored at room temperature, away from moisture and heat. Keep Actonel and all other medications out of the reach of children.
What Should I Do If I Miss a Dose of Actonel?
If you forget to take your Actonel dose, refer to the following information:
- If you take Actonel monthly -- For the 75 mg strength, if you forget to take both tablets, take one tablet as soon as you remember (in the morning) and take the second tablet the next morning. If you only forgot one tablet (or for the 150 mg strength), take it as soon as you remember (in the morning). Then continue with your regular Actonel schedule. However, if it is almost time for your next month's doses (within one week), simply skip the missed dose(s) and continue with your regular schedule. In other words, do not take more than two tablets in the same week.
- If you take Actonel weekly -- Take your missed dose as soon as you remember (in the morning) and continue with your regular schedule. However, do not take two tablets on the same day.
- If you take Actonel daily -- Just skip your missed dose. Do not take a double dose, and do not take Actonel after the morning.
In any case, you should not take two doses of Actonel on the same day.
Actonel is available in the following strengths and forms:
- Actonel 5 mg tablets (taken daily)
- Actonel 30 mg tablets (taken daily for Paget's disease)
- Actonel 35 mg tablets (taken weekly)
- Actonel 75 mg tablets (taken monthly)
- Actonel 150 mg tablets (taken monthly).
At this time, Actonel is not available in generic form
(see Generic Actonel).
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