Boniva

ibandronate

Boniva is in the group of medicines called bisphosphonates, and works by slowing bone loss while increasing bone mass to prevent bone fractures. It is used to treat osteoporosis in women after menopause.

Common side effects associated with Boniva are

• redness or swelling of your eyes
• diarrhea
• flu symptoms
• redness or swelling where the medicine was injected
• nausea or upset stomach
• pain in your arms or legs

If a patient taking Boniva experiences any of the following symptoms, a doctor should be called immediately:

• 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

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