Didronel

Etidronate

Didronel is used to treat adults with Paget disease, and to prevent and treat abnormal bone growth after hip replacement surgery or spinal cord injury. It is also in a class of drugs called bisphosphonates, which work by slowing the breakdown of bones to allow new ones to form.

Some common side effects associated with Didronel are:

• bloating
• bone, muscle, or joint pain
• constipation
• diarrhea
• headache
• indigestion
• gas
• nausea
• stomach pain
• vomiting

If any of the following severe side effects occur, medical attention is needed immediately:

• rash
• hives
• difficulty breathing
• tightness in the chest
• swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue
• black or bloody stools
• chest pain
• difficulty swallowing
• pain upon swallowing
• new, worsening, or severe heartburn

On October 1, 2007, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released its conclusion from a review of bisphosphonate drugs, including Didronel. 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.