Actonel

Actonel is used for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis in both men and women. It is also used for the treatment of Paget’s disease of bone and to increase the bone mass. It is a prescription drug available in the form of quick release and delayed release tablets.

Before using Actonel, you must know all about the risks and complications associated with it.

The patient is the authoritative figure when it comes to any medical procedure or any drug therapy. It is important for the patient to know all the details about the drug and then start using it.

Doctor also has a duty to bring out answers from the patient which play important role in treatment like history, any allergy or any medical condition the patient has. For this purpose, it is important to have a detailed session between patient and the physician before starting this drug to sort out all the details.

Detailed history of a patient is extremely important prior to any medical therapy and in this case it is more likely that a drug be started after it.

Allergies or any history of allergy to any drug, food, preservatives, dyes or animal products; history of drug usage, past medical or surgical procedure should also be kept in record to predict any drug interaction.

Physical examination should be done before starting this drug so that any physiological or pathological condition by which this drug may interfere may be ruled out.

Age specific analysis is vital to have information about side effects of different age groups. It is not used in children. Studies have revealed that it is safe for use in geriatric population. There not enough studies to prove its safety in pregnant or breastfeeding women.

Drug interactions are the effects on the therapy or the condition for which the drug is used by other drugs used concomitantly. It is necessary that no drug be started without consulting a physician as other drug may cause alteration in the effect of drug or its removal from the body.

Esomeprazole is known to result in increased interactions, so its usage with this drug is either not recommended or used only in lower dose. Patient should also be counseled about effects of alcohol and tobacco on the patient as these may cause severe interactions.

Medical conditions, other than the condition for which this drug is used, may also affect working of the drug and cause harm. It is important for the patient to give detailed history, and important for the doctor to derive such details from the patient to avoid such circumstances.

The conditions which may interact with this drug include:

• anemia,
• blood clotting problems,
• cancer,
• dental issues,
• infection,
• poor oral hygiene,
• any surgery,
• esophagus disease,
• low calcium in the blood,
• inability to stand or sit upright for at least 30 minutes,
• kidney problems,
• difficulty swallowing,
• stomach or bowel problems.

To use Actonel properly, you must follow all instructions given by your doctor.

It is a prescription drug which comes with a medication guide which should be read and understood thoroughly before initiation of therapy.

Delayed release tablet should be taken early in the morning to have its effect throughout the day while quick release form can be taken at any time when the stomach is empty.

Drug therapy can be made more effective by using diet or supplements containing calcium and vitamin D. However, it is important that no intake should be done within 30 minutes of drug intake.

Before using Actonel, there are some precautions you must take.

Precautions are the part and parcel of any treatment and patient must adhere to these to improve the outcome. It is the duty of the doctor or any medical care provider to make the patient aware about these tips as an aid to the therapy.

Regular checkup is necessary to look for the progress of the treatment.

Quick release form should not be taken if the patient is using delayed release tablet.

Tell your dentist that you are using this medication prior to any dental procedure.

If there is some other problem, tell your doctor about usage of this drug before starting any new therapy or undergoing any surgery.

Blood tests should be done regularly to check blood calcium level as this drug can cause lowering of this mineral.

Dye used for bone scans may interact with this medication, so it is important to tell the respective personnel about its usage.

Do not start any other drug, prescription or non-prescription, without consulting your physician.

Get emergency help in case of an overdose or suspected side effect.

Store it in a dry place at room temperature. Keep it away from the reach of children.

Make sure you meet with your doctor in using Actonel to avoid unwanted potential side effects.

There is no drug in the world which is without its unwanted effects. Some drugs are relatively safe for use while for some drug, the patient should be cautious as these drugs may cause more harm than good.

Patient should always get medical help in case of any adverse effect, no matter how much trivial it is.

Common side effects include abdominal:

• pain,
• skin rash,
• belching,
• bone pain
• difficulty swallowing,
• redness of eye.

There are some symptoms associated with overdose which include:

• confusion,
• convulsions,
• trouble breathing,
• irregular heartbeats,
• muscle cramps,
• numbness and tingling sensations,
• shortness of breath and tremors.