Actonel (Risedronate) is a prescription medication. It belongs to a group of medicines called bisphosphonates that is used to treat and prevent osteoporosis in men and women. It may also be used to treat Paget’s disease. Risedronate works by slowing bone loss while increasing bone mass, which may prevent bone fractures.
Manufacturer Information
We currently have the brand from Turkey manufactured by Sanofi Aventis, the brand from Canada manufactured by Warner Chilcott. Generic Actonel is also called Risofos made by Cipla in India. The other generic may come from Canada (by Teva known as Teva-Risedronate) and UK. This medication is available in the strength of 5mg, 30mg, 35mg, 75mg and 150mg tablets.
Common side effects include:
• Back pain;
• Cough;
• Diarrhea;
• Flu-like symptoms;
• Headache;
• Nausea;
• Stomach discomfort;
• Weight loss
Serious side effects include:
• Chest pain;
• Joint or muscle pain;
• Low levels of calcium in the blood;
• Severe jaw bone problems;
• Unusual bone fractures
You should not take this medication if you are allergic to Risedronate. Do not take this medication if you cannot sit upright or stand for at least 30 minutes. After you take this medication, you will need to stay upright for at least 30 minutes. Before you start taking this medication, talk to your doctor about all the medications you are taking including OTC and herbal medications. It is unknown whether Actonel will harm an unborn baby. Inform your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using this medication. It is not known whether Risedronate passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Inform your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby. Actonel should not be used in children.