How long actonel should be taken

Consumers should never disregard medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something they may have read on this website. How do I take it? What else should I know? What about other medications? Specifically, Actonel works by decreasing the activity of cells in your body called osteoclasts. These cells break down bone cells as your bone tissue makes new bone cells. This helps to improve the strength and thickness of your bone tissue.

Actonel starts to work in your system right away. In fact, Actonel helps to reduce breakdown of your bone tissue within 14 days of use. Animal studies have shown some risk to developing pregnancies when Actonel was given to pregnant females. If you become pregnant or think you may be pregnant while taking Actonel, talk with your doctor right away. The manufacturer of Actonel recommends that you stop taking Actonel once a pregnancy is confirmed.

This drug comes with several precautions. Before taking Actonel, talk with your doctor about your health history. Actonel may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors affecting your health.

Using more than the recommended dosage of Actonel can lead to serious side effects. Do not use more Actonel than your doctor recommends. You can also call the American Association of Poison Control Centers at or use their online tool. But if your symptoms are severe, call or your local emergency number, or go to the nearest emergency room right away.

When you get Actonel from the pharmacy, the pharmacist will add an expiration date to the label on the bottle. This date is typically 1 year from the date they dispensed the medication. The expiration date helps guarantee that the medication is effective during this time. If you have unused medication that has gone past the expiration date, talk to your pharmacist about whether you might still be able to use it.

How long a medication remains good can depend on many factors, including how and where you store the medication. They should be kept in a tightly sealed container away from light. Avoid storing this medication in areas where it could get damp or wet, such as bathrooms.

This helps prevent others, including children and pets, from taking the drug by accident. It also helps keep the drug from harming the environment. This article provides several useful tips on medication disposal. You can also ask your pharmacist for information on how to dispose of your medication. Actonel comes as tablets that are administered by mouth. Dosage varies by the condition being treated.

Actonel contains the bisphosphonate risedronate. Risedronate acts by slowing bone cell turnover and reducing resorption to slow loss of bone and help increase bone thickness. Absolute bioavailability of Actonel is up to 0. Steady-state concentration is reached within 57 days of daily dosing. The elimination half-life of Actonel is approximately 23 days. Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date.

However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or other healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.

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Actonel risedronate. What is Actonel? Actonel generic. Actonel side effects. Actonel dosage. Actonel vs. Alternatives to Actonel. Common questions about Actonel.

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Actonel and pregnancy. Actonel and birth control. Actonel and breastfeeding. When taking risedronate, it's important to not take any other medicines at the same time. This is because they can interfere with how well your body absorbs risedronate and may stop it working properly. If you take risedronate first thing in the morning, when you get up, wait for at least 30 minutes before taking your other medicines.

If you take risedronate between meals or in the evening, wait at least 2 hours before taking your other medicines. For safety, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you're taking any other medicines, including herbal medicines, vitamins or supplements.

In osteoporosis, risedronate slows down the cells that break down bone. This maintains bone density and makes your bones stronger and less likely to break. In Paget's disease of bone, risedronate reduces the abnormal bone turnover that this condition causes. This helps to reduce deformity and pain and makes your bones stronger and less likely to break. For osteoporosis, risedronate usually starts to work after 2 weeks. However, it may take 6 months for the medicine to fully protect your bones.

When used for Paget's disease of bone, risedronate reduces bone pain, but it may take 3 to 6 months for your symptoms to improve. For Paget's disease of bone, risedronate is usually taken for 2 months. You may need to start taking it again if your symptoms come back. For osteoporosis, you'll usually take risedronate for a long time. If you're having long-term treatment with steroids, you'll usually take risedronate until your steroid treatment stops — maybe longer.

If you have osteoporosis, your doctor will usually assess your risk of broken bones after 5 years. This may include tests to check the strength density of your bones. Depending on the results, you'll either keep taking risedronate, take a break from it or stop taking it completely.

Once you stop taking risedronate the effects of the medicine will gradually wear off. Your bones may continue to benefit for up to 1 year afterwards. Risedronate is generally prescribed for a long time. While you're taking it, you're less likely to break a bone.

In a very small number of people, taking risedronate for more than 2 years can increase their chances of getting a rare type of bone damage in their inner ear and certain types of breaks to their thigh bones. If risedronate works for you long-term, your doctor will look at the benefits and risks of your treatment after 5 years.

Then they'll decide if you should keep taking it. This may involve some tests to check the strength density of your bones. The benefits of taking risedronate generally outweigh the risks.

If you're concerned or have any questions, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. Missing the odd dose probably will not affect the health of your bones. But if you keep forgetting to take your risedronate or you do not want to take it, for whatever reason, then speak to your doctor.

There are other treatments that can help your bones. Any treatment can have side effects. But the benefits of risedronate usually far outweigh the risks. By not having treatment, you're more likely to break a bone. Broken bones are painful and can have serious consequences. In older people, for example, a broken hip can mean they're no longer able to live independently. Bisphosphonates are the main group of medicines used for osteoporosis and they are usually the first treatment given.

Bisphosphonates all work in the same way. If you cannot take a bisphosphonate medicine, there are some other options. These include denosumab, raloxifene, teriparatide and hormone replacement therapy. Your doctor will find the right medicine for you depending on your medical history. It's important to take good care of your teeth while you're taking risedronate. This is because risedronate might affect your jawbone. Keep your teeth clean and have a dental check-up every 6 months. Your doctor may also recommend a dental check-up before your treatment starts.

After that, your doctor will consider your risk factors in determining whether you should continue to take these or other osteoporosis medications. These drugs help strengthen bones and prevent fractures. The most common sites for osteoporosis fractures are the wrist, hip and spine. A broken hip can result in a severe decline in quality of life and even increases the risk of death. To reduce the risk of these rare complications, your doctor may recommend that you temporarily stop taking bisphosphonates after 3 to 5 years.

This is sometimes called a bisphosphonate holiday. People who have severe osteoporosis may need to wait for 10 years before they stop taking these drugs. A bisphosphonate holiday typically lasts at least a year, but it may last indefinitely for some people if the risks of treatment outweigh the benefits. Luckily, the bone-strengthening effects of bisphosphonates appear to continue for several years after people stop taking the drugs.

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