Alendronic acid

Also known as: Alendronate sodium

Therapeutic indications

Alendronic acid is indicated for:

Osteoporosis

Irrespective of gender only Adults (18 years old or older)

Alendronic acid is indicated for the treatment of:

osteoporosis in post-menopausal women to prevent fractures
osteoporosis in men to prevent fractures
glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis and prevention of bone loss in post-menopausal women considered at risk of developing the disease

For this indication, the medical literature mentions below treatments (click for details):

Treatment 1: Oral - 70 mg once weekly

Treatment 2: Oral - 10 mg once a day

Contraindications

Active ingredient Alendronic acid is contraindicated in the following cases:

Renal impairment where creatinine clearance is less than 35 ml/min

Alendronate is not recommended for patients with renal impairment where creatinine clearance is less than 35 ml/min, due to lack of experience.

Breast-feeding

It is unknown whether alendronate/metabolites are excreted in human milk. A risk to the newborns/infants cannot be excluded. Alendronic acid should not be used during breast-feeding.

Pregnancy

Aledronic acid should not be used during pregnancy. There are no adequate data from the use of aledronic acid in pregnant women. Animal studies do not indicate direct harmful effects with respect to pregnancy, embryonal/fetal development, or postnatal development. Aledronic acid given during pregnancy in rats caused dystocia related to hypocalcemia.

Inability to stand or sit upright for at least 30 minutes

Alendronic acid is contraindicated in inability to stand or sit upright for at least 30 minutes.

Hypocalcaemia

Alendronic acid is contraindicated in hypocalcaemia.

Delay of oesophageal emptying such as stricture or achalasia

Alendronic acid is contraindicated in abnormalities of the oesophagus and other factors which delay oesophageal emptying such as stricture or achalasia.

Previous: Overview

Next: Precautions