Drug name: Actonel

Active Ingredients: Risedronate sodium

Therapeutic effect of Actonel: Risedronate sodium belongs to a class of substances known as bisphosphonate. It is used to inhibit osteoclasts and prevent a breakdown of bone. Actonel which has Risedronate sodium as its primary ingredient is used to treat bone disease called Osteoporosis. Risedronate sodium controls Osteoporosis by binding itself with a compound xydroxylapatite that prevents the functions of osteoclasts. It takes nearly 3 months for Actonel to have considerable impact on the patient and the duration of the treatment usually takes about 16 months.

Indications: Actonel is administered to treat the following conditions:

• Bone disease called Osteoporosis in women who have crossed menopause
• Osteoporosis in men
• Porous bone disease (Osteoporosis) caused by corticosteroids
• Chronic disorder that results in misshapen and enlarged bones (Paget's disease) in both men and women

Precautions and Restrictions: Do not use Actonel under the following circumstances:

• Renal failure with the creatine clearance rate below 30ml/min
• Hypocalcaemia (low calcium levels in blood)
• If the user is below 18 years of age
• If the user cannot sit straight or stand for 30 minutes
• Ailments of the esophagus

Talk to a doctor about using Actonel if you are going to have a dental intervention

Side effects of Actonel: The use of this medicinal drug may give rise to some side effects that are contrary to what is expected. But usually these adverse reactions will not affect every user of this drug.

Some of the potential side effects of Actonel include the following:

• Problems related to the digestive system such as nausea, constipation, diarrhea, swelling of the large intestine (colitis), ulcer in the stomach, inflammation of the duodenum (Duodenitis), difficulty in swallowing (dysphagia) etc.
• Problems of the central nervous system such as autoimmune neuromuscular disease (myasthenia), seizures, fatigue, dizziness, cephalalgia
• Tinnitus, mucous lining drying and iritis
• Various allergic reactions like rashes and itching
• Hypocalcemia, pain in the chest, pain in the bones, bronchitis, arthralgia

The above mentioned side effects are by no means exhaustive, so for the complete list of adverse reactions and possible side effects please see the information provided by the drug manufacturer or consult a doctor or a pharmacist.

Interactions: There is a good chance that Actonel might react with other medicines or substances you are currently using, so before taking this drug it's best to check with your physician or pharmacist or any medical expert or go through the detailed information regarding Actonel provided by the manufacturer. Below provided are some of the medicines or chemical substance that may react with this drug:

• NSAIDs
• Medicines and supplements containing iron
• Medicines and supplements containing magnesium
• Medicines and supplements containing calcium

Additional Information: Actonel tablets should not be used without prior approval of a trained physician and don't share these drugs with anybody else. Actonel tablets are made for specific conditions and it's not advisable to use them for other purposes. Medicines like Actonel in the hands of small children can be hazardous, so keep medicinal drugs out of the reach of children.