Actonel

risedronate sodium

In a group of medicines called bisphosphonates, Actonel is used to treat or prevent osteoporosis and Paget’s disease of bone. The medication works by slowing bone loss while increasing bone mass to prevent bone fractures.

If any of the following side effects occur, patients taking Actonel should get emergency medical help:

• hives
• difficulty breathing
• swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat
• chest pain
• difficulty or pain when swallowing
• pain or burning under the ribs or in the back
• new or worsening heartburn
• severe joint, bone, or muscle pain
• jaw pain, numbness, or swelling

Other side effects that should be discussed with a patient’s doctor are:

• mild heartburn or upset stomach
• diarrhea, gas, or constipation
• mild joint or back pain
• headache

On October 1, 2007, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released its conclusion from a review of bisphosphonate drugs, including Actonel. Despite a New England Journal of Medicine article published in May 2007 that raised safety concerns about the drugs, the FDA said doctors and patients should continue using them.