Accessed June 3, Kellerman RD, et al. In: Conn's Current Therapy Elsevier; Ferri FF. In: Ferri's Clinical Advisor Goldman L, et al. In: Goldman-Cecil Medicine. See also Aging and unsteady gait Ankylosing spondylitis: Am I at risk of osteoporosis? Anorexia nervosa Back pain Bone density test Bone health tips Calcium Timing calcium supplements Celiac disease Celiac disease: Can gluten be absorbed through the skin?
Celiac disease diet: How do I get enough grains? CT scan CT scans: Are they safe? Elliptical machines: Better than treadmills? Exercising with osteoporosis Fall prevention Fractures High-protein diets Male hypogonadism Osteoporosis Osteoporosis and long-term prednisone: What is the risk? Risks of osteoporosis drugs Osteoporosis rehabilitation Osteoporosis treatment: Medications can help Symptom Checker Conventional treatment for osteoporosis How osteoporosis is diagnosed How to keep your bones strong Osteoporosis and nutrition: 5 key steps Osteoporosis — What are your risks?
Alendronate tablets are available in the following strengths: 5 mg, 10 mg, 35 mg, 40 mg, and 70 mg. Alendronate liquid solution is available as a milliliter mL bottle.
Each mL of solution contains 70 mg of active drug. Fosamax can cause mild or serious side effects. The following lists contain some of the key side effects that may occur while taking Fosamax. For more information on the possible side effects of Fosamax, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can give you tips on how to deal with any side effects that may be bothersome.
Most of these side effects may go away within a few days or a couple of weeks. Call your doctor right away if you have serious side effects. However, this side effect has been reported, though rarely, since the drug came onto the market.
And bone fractures have happened with other bisphosphonate drugs the drug class that Fosamax belongs to. It depends. However other side effects, such as bone pain or a low blood calcium level , may not go away after a few doses of the drug. You may wonder how often certain side effects occur with this drug, or whether certain side effects pertain to it. As with most drugs, some people can have an allergic reaction after taking Fosamax.
A more severe allergic reaction is rare but possible. Symptoms of a severe allergic reaction can include:. Call your doctor right away if you have a severe allergic reaction to Fosamax. In rare cases, you may have osteonecrosis of your jaw bone while taking Fosamax.
Osteonecrosis is a condition in which bone tissue dies due to lack of blood flow. Symptoms can include:. If you must have a dental procedure while taking Fosamax, tell your doctor first. Your doctor may have you stop taking Fosamax temporarily, to help lower your risk of jaw side effects.
They may recommend ways to decrease this side effect or a different medication to treat your condition. These types of pain may develop right away, as soon as 1 day after you start taking Fosamax.
Or they may develop up to a few months after starting Fosamax. In the trials, these types of pain occurred in:. Your doctor may recommend that you stop taking Fosamax and try a different medication to treat your condition. Your doctor may also recommend certain tests to check for fractures. Keep in mind that severe pain or trouble moving that affects your thigh or groin area could be a sign of a thigh bone fracture. However, peripheral edema swelling in your arms or legs has been reported by some people since Fosamax was approved by the FDA and released onto the market.
They will ultimately prescribe the smallest dosage that provides the desired effect. The following information describes dosages that are commonly used or recommended. However, be sure to take the dosage your doctor prescribes for you. Your doctor will determine the best dosage to fit your needs. Fosamax comes as milligram mg tablets that you take by mouth. This drug should be taken first thing in the morning, before you take other medications or consume any foods or drinks.
Fosamax is also available as the generic drug alendronate. Alendronate comes as tablets and as a liquid solution. Both of these forms are taken by mouth. In the past, a liquid solution of Fosamax was available, as well as other strengths of Fosamax tablets.
However, the manufacturer of Fosamax no longer makes these products. The drug is also approved to treat osteoporosis in men. In these cases, the typical dosage of Fosamax is one mg tablet taken once a week. Another treatment option for these conditions is the generic form of Fosamax, called alendronate. To treat osteoporosis, alendronate can be taken as either the mg tablet or the mL bottle of mg oral solution, once weekly. It can also be taken as a mg tablet once daily.
Fosamax only comes as a mg tablet, while alendronate tablets come in the smaller doses that are needed for this use. This is because Fosamax only comes as a mg tablet, while alendronate tablets comes in the smaller doses that are needed for this use. If your ALP levels increase above a normal level, your doctor may have you take alendronate again. If you miss a Fosamax or alendronate dose, take the dose the next morning. Keep in mind that Fosamax and alendronate should be taken first thing in the morning.
If you take Fosamax or alendronate once per week, take your missed dose and then go back to taking your dose once a week as told by your doctor.
If you have questions about when to take your next dose after you miss a dose, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can recommend the best time to take your next dose.
Then your doctor will evaluate your symptoms and test your blood for a period of 6 months to determine if you need another round of treatment. Other drugs are available that can treat your condition. Some may be a better fit for you than others. They can tell you about other medications that may work well for you. Note: Some of the drugs listed here are used off-label to treat these specific conditions. You may wonder how Fosamax compares with other medications that are prescribed for similar uses.
Here we look at how Fosamax and Prolia are alike and different. Fosamax and Prolia belong to different classes of medications. The medications work slightly differently in the body. Fosamax comes as tablets that are taken by mouth, typically once a week.
This injection needs to be done by a healthcare provider, at their office or clinic. Alendronate, the generic form of Fosamax, comes as tablets or as a liquid solution that you take by mouth.
Fosamax and Prolia both contain medications that are used to treat osteoporosis. Therefore, these medications can cause very similar side effects, but some different ones as well. Below are examples of these side effects.
These lists contain up to 10 of the most common mild side effects that can occur with Fosamax, with Prolia, or with both drugs when taken individually. These lists contain examples of serious side effects that can occur with Fosamax, with Prolia, or with both drugs when taken individually. But in separate studies, both Fosamax and Prolia were shown to be effective for their approved uses.
In addition, studies have compared treatment with Prolia to that of alendronate, which is the generic form of Fosamax. In a Danish study , people took either alendronate or Prolia to treat their osteoporosis. The study showed that the risk of fracture was about the same when taking either drug. Over the course of 3 years:. In addition, in a international study , women who had been through menopause took either alendronate or Prolia to treat their osteoporosis.
In this study, BMD increased by 3. According to estimates on GoodRx. Fosamax and Prolia are both brand-name drugs.
There is currently a generic form of Fosamax called alendronate. Generic medications usually cost less than the brand name forms. Here we look at how Fosamax and Boniva are alike and different. Fosamax and Boniva belong to a class of medications called bisphosphonates. Fosamax is available as the generic drug alendronate.
And Boniva is available as the generic drug ibandronate. The generic is considered to be as safe and effective as the original drug. Osteoporosis is a condition that causes brittle, weak bones. The generic form of Fosamax, alendronate, comes as tablets and as a liquid solution.
Both forms of alendronate are taken by mouth. Boniva and its generic form, ibandronate, come as tablets that are taken by mouth, typically once a month. List of Partners vendors. If you have osteoporosis weak, brittle bones , then you may have heard some negative stories about the osteoporosis medication Fosamax. Maybe, for instance, you heard that it doesn't build quality bone, that there is a risk of jaw demineralization, and that it's more harmful to take it than not.
It's a controversial topic, so read on to learn more about what scientists know so far about the drug and its side effects. Along with Actonel risedronate and Boniva ibandronate , Fosamax alendronate belongs to a class of medications that are called bisphosphonates. They are the most commonly prescribed medications for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis. These medications work by preventing the breakdown of bones and increasing bone density.
They also decrease the risk of spine and hip fractures. The health risks of using Fosamax for a long period of time are still not completely clear. There have been reports that some people who take Fosamax have developed a serious condition called osteonecrosis of the jaw, a condition in which bone tissue in the jaw dies, causing pain and the possible collapse of the jaw bone.
When reports first started coming in, it created a lot of buzz on the Internet and it does sound scary. However, the condition is uncommon overall.
The risk is far more significant. Some healthcare providers are concerned that over time Fosamax could make bones even more brittle, but this has not been proven.
In short, it is not yet known whether it's advisable to get off the drug for good or take periodic breaks from the medication. Since the drug has a long half-life, the effects of the drug can last in your body for a long time after you stop taking it. I could do more to protect my bones by improving my healthy habits. Do you still need to exercise even if you take bisphosphonates? Do about half the women who take bisphosphonates get problems with their jaw or thigh bone?
Are you clear about which benefits and side effects matter most to you? Do you have enough support and advice from others to make a choice? Author: Healthwise Staff. Rhoads MD - Internal Medicine. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor.
Healthwise, Incorporated, disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. Learn how we develop our content. To learn more about Healthwise, visit Healthwise. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated.
Updated visitor guidelines. Get the facts. Your options Take a bisphosphonate to lower the risk of bone fractures. Also use healthy habits to help protect your bones. Don't take a bisphosphonate. Try healthy habits alone to protect your bones.
This information may not be right for you if: You are a man. You are a woman who has not been through menopause. You have osteoporosis caused by another medical condition, such as cancer or a bone disease. Your doctor told you that you have osteoporosis because of a side effect of taking medicines, such as steroids.
Or you are taking steroids now or plan to start taking a long-term course of them. Key points to remember The decision about whether or not to take bisphosphonates depends on what your risk of a fracture is and how you feel about the pros and cons of your options.
There isn't only one right decision. If you are at a higher risk of having a fracture, taking bisphosphonates is more likely to help you prevent a fracture. If your risk of a fracture is lower, it's less likely that these medicines will help you. Your doctor might use the FRAX tool to help predict your risk of a fracture. Bisphosphonates can cause problems with the jaw or thigh bone. But most women do not have these side effects.
They seem to be more likely if women take bisphosphonates for more than 5 years. Whether you take medicine or not, healthy habits can help protect your bones. Get enough calcium and vitamin D. Get regular weight-bearing exercise. Avoid drinking too much alcohol. If you smoke, quit. Your doctor may suggest a different medicine depending on your health or if you are having a problem with side effects from bisphosphonates.
What is osteoporosis? What is low bone density? Low bone density means you are at a higher risk for osteoporosis. What healthy habits can help protect your bones? Whether or not you take medicine, experts recommend that you: footnote 2 Get enough calcium and vitamin D.
Avoid smoking. What are bisphosphonates? They include: Alendronate Fosamax. Ibandronate Boniva. Risedronate Actonel or Atelvia. Zoledronic acid Reclast. How are they taken? What are the benefits of these medicines? The higher your risk of a fracture, the more likely it is that bisphosphonates can help prevent a fracture. The lower your risk of a fracture, the less likely it is that taking these medicines can help prevent a fracture.
How can you find out your risk of a fracture? Your risk depends on several things, including: Your age, height, and weight.
If you've had a fracture in the past. If one of your parents ever fractured a hip. If you smoke. How much alcohol you drink. The results of a bone density test, if you've had one. Who is helped the most by bisphosphonates?
For women who have been through menopause: If you have osteoporosis your T-score is This includes lowering your risk of a hip fracture, which is a more harmful kind of fracture that can happen with osteoporosis. This evidence is not as strong. Experts recommend that you and your doctor think about not only your bone density but also those other things about you that affect your risk of having a fracture.
That will tell you how likely it is that taking bisphosphonates might prevent a fracture. What are the side effects of these medicines? Bone side effects Certain bone problems have been reported in women taking bisphosphonates.
This is called osteonecrosis. Research has shown that bisphosphonates seem to increase the chance of this jaw problem. If it happens, surgery may be needed.
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