Actonel (Risedronate)

Description

Actonel, also known as Risedronate, is a medication used to treat a number of bone disorders. The medication is mainly used to treat and prevent a condition known as osteoporosis. This medication is used amongst both men and women.

 

 

 

How it works

 

This medication belongs to a group of drugs known as bisphosphonates. These medications have the ability to influence an individual’s bone formation. They also have a considerable amount of control over bone breakdown. Actonel works by slowing down the process of bone loss while enhancing bone mass. This enables the medication to prevent possible bone fractures.

 

Its uses

 

The medication is mainly used to treat a number of bone losses amongst adults. This includes conditions such as osteoporosis, Paget’s disease, etc. This medication is used by older adults to reduce the risk of bone fracture. Moreover, it can also increase the strength of bones amongst women who are going through menopause.

 

Dosage

 

The dosage of this medication relies on your personal health status as well as your response to the treatment.

 

However, this medication is usually taken only once a day on a daily basis. If you want to get the best results from this medication, you need to take it frequently. Do not accidently miss or purposely skip your dose since it can affect the productivity of the treatment. You must not make any changes to the dose without your physician’s consultancy.

 

This medication should not be taken with food. So, take this medication with a full glass of water. Do not chew, bite or suck the medication. It must be swallowed whole in order to reduce the risk of side effects.

 

Side effects

 

The following are some side effects of this medication that you might or might not experience during your treatment.

 

 Ongoing indigestion
 Difficulty in swallowing
 Pain under the ribs
 Severe skin reaction
 Severe muscle pain
 Worsening heartburn
 Unusual pain in the hip
 Joint pain
 Headache

 

If you do experience any of these symptoms, make sure to contact your physician immediately.

 

Precautions

 

Adhering to the following precautionary methods can help you to reduce the risk of the above side effects to a great extent.

 

 If you are getting dental surgery, inform your dentist about the use of this medication well ahead

 

 Do not consume alcohol since it can increase the occurrence of side effects

 

 Do not use mineral water when taking this medication

 

 Inform your physician about your current medications before you use this drug

 

 Do not take any vitamin or calcium tablets since they can reduce the effectiveness of this medication

 

 Check whether you are allergic to any of the ingredients used in this medication

 

Self-care

 

It is not known whether this medication can affect an unborn baby or not. Anyhow, it is best to stay away from this medication during the period of pregnancy. You will have to avoid the medication during breastfeeding too.

 

This medication will not work if you do not follow a healthy living style. So, make sure to follow a beneficial diet plan and exercise routine to make this treatment a successful one.