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DISCLAIMER:
Please be
advised that the
inclusion of any
medication on
this site is not
indicative of an
endorsement. I
do not have any
affiliation with
the
pharmaceutical
corporations
that manufacture
prescription
osteoporosis
medications. I
am not a doctor,
therefore I am
not medically
qualified to
counsel or
advise
osteoporosis
patients about
which medication
is best suited
for their
individual case.
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• actonel • aredia • boniva • didronel • evista • Forteo • fosamax • miacalcin • zometa • vivelle • reclast •
Didronel is a medication from the class of
drugs called bisphosphonates. Didronel slows
bone resorption (the speed at which bone is
broken down before it is replaced), promoting
the formation of healthy bone. It prevents the
bone pain, deformity, and fractures associated
with Paget's disease. In cancer-related
hypercalcemia, this drug slows bone resorption
and thus the flow of calcium from bone into the
blood. Didronel slows the progression of
abnormal bone deposition after hip replacement
and spinal cord injury. In osteoporosis, it
helps to slow the breakdown of bone tissue.
A number of studies have shown it is
effective in the treatment of osteoporosis and
it was used by doctors in this country for the
treatment of osteoporosis prior to the release
of fosamax. It has several advantages over
fosamax. It only has to be taken for 14 days
every three months. It is much less expensive
than Foamex and it may have less GI side
effects. In postmenopausal women with
osteoporosis, Didronel reduces bone loss,
increases bone density in both the spine and
hip, and reduces the risk of both spine
fractures and hip fractures. Side effects from
Didronel are uncommon.
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How can this
medicine affect
other medicines?
The absorption of
didronel from the
gut is reduced if it
is taken at the same
time as the
following:
- calcium
supplements
- calcium-containing
products (eg milk)
- antacids
containing calcium
or aluminium
- iron supplements
- laxatives
containing
magnesium.
These should not be
taken within two
hours of taking
didronel.
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DRUG INTERACTIONS:
Tell your doctor of any over-the-counter or
prescription medication you may take,
including: antacids, "blood thinners" (e.g.,
warfarin), calcium supplements, certain
antibiotics (e.g., tetracyclines or
quinolones such as ciprofloxacin),
magnesium-containing laxatives, vitamin
products.
Avoid taking this medication within two
hours of any dairy product, vitamin with
minerals, or antacids since absorption may
be affected.
Before Using This Medicine
In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of
taking the medicine must be weighed against the
good it will do. This is a decision you and your
doctor will make. For the following should be
considered:
Allergies—Tell
your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or
allergic reaction to Didronel. Also tell your
health care professional if you are allergic to
any other substances, such as foods,
preservatives, or dyes.
Diet—Make
certain your health care professional knows if
your diet includes large amounts of calcium,
such as milk or other dairy products, or if you
are on any special diet, such as a low-sodium or
low-sugar diet. Calcium in the diet may prevent
the absorption of oral Didronel.
Pregnancy—Studies
have not been done in humans. However, studies
in rats injected with large doses of Didronel
have shown that Didronel causes deformed bones
in the fetus.
Breast-feeding—It
is not known if Didronel passes into breast
milk. However, this medicine has not been
reported to cause problems in nursing babies.
Children—Some changes in bone
growth may occur in children, but will usually
go away when the medicine is stopped.
Older adults—When Didronel is
given by injection along with a large amount of
fluids, older people tend to retain (keep) the
excess fluid.
Other medicines—Although certain
medicines should not be used together at all, in
other cases two different medicines may be used
together even if an interaction might occur. In
these cases, your doctor may want to change the
dose, or other precautions may be necessary.
Proper
Use of Didronel:
Take Didronel with water on an empty stomach at
least 2 hours before or after food (midmorning
is best) or at bedtime. Food may decrease the
amount of Didronel absorbed by your body.
Take Didronel only as directed . Do not take
more of it, do not take it more often, and do
not take it for a longer time than your doctor
ordered. To do so may increase the chance of
side effects.
In some patients, Didronel takes up to 3 months
to work. If you feel that the medicine is not
working, do not stop taking it on your own.
Instead, check with your doctor.
It is important that you eat a well-balanced
diet with an adequate amount of calcium and
vitamin D (found in milk or other dairy
products). Too much or too little of either may
increase the chance of side effects while you
are taking Didronel. Your doctor can help you
choose the meal plan that is best for you.
However, do not take any food, especially milk,
milk formulas, or other dairy products, or
antacids, mineral supplements, or other
medicines that are high in calcium or iron (high
amounts of these minerals may also be in some
vitamin preparations), magnesium, or aluminum
within 2 hours of taking Didronel. To do so may
keep this medicine from working properly.
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