"Alendronic acid": instructions for use, analogues, reviews

Why is Alendronic acid necessary? The answer to this medical question you will learn from the materials of this article. In addition, we will tell you how to take this medicine, in which cases it is undesirable to use it and whether it has side effects. Also you will learn about the form in which the agent under consideration is released, whether it has analogues, what the patients say about it.

Composition of the drug, its form of release and packaging

"Alendronovaja acid", or so-called preparation "Alendronat", goes on sale in the form of white round tablets. The active substance of this drug is alendronate sodium trihydrate, or alendron acid.

As for additional elements, this preparation includes the following: monohydrate, povidone, microcrystalline cellulose, croscarmellose sodium and magnesium stearate.

In the pharmacies "alendronic acid" can be found in contour cell packs of 4 tablets in each.

Pharmacological properties of medicament

What is Alendronic Acid? The instruction of the drug says that this drug is an inhibitor of bone resorption. The mechanism of action of this drug is associated with a decrease in the activity of osteoclasts. It progressively increases the density (mineral) of bone tissue, and also contributes to its formation.

Pharmacokinetics of medicament

How is "alendronic acid" absorbed? The instruction for the use of this medication contains information that when taken orally, on an empty stomach (2 hours before breakfast), at a dosage of 70 mg, the bioavailability of the active element in the fairer sex is about 0.65%, and in the case of representatives of the stronger sex, About 0.6%.

If you take the medicine for half an hour or an hour before a meal, its bioavailability will noticeably drop (to 0.45% and 0.4%, respectively).

Taking the drug 2 hours after eating does not affect its bioavailability in any way. However, after consuming orange juice and coffee bioavailability is reduced by about 60%.

The binding of the active substance of the drug to blood proteins is approximately 78%.

After taking the medication, first it is distributed on soft tissues, and then along bone, where, in fact, its fixation takes place, and the remnants are excreted by the kidneys.

The concentration of the drug in the blood after taking the therapeutic dose is below the measurement limit (less than 5 ng / ml).

The drug is not biotransformation. It is excreted from the body in unchanged form. The drug is characterized by a rapid decrease in concentration in the blood, as well as very slow release of bone tissue.

Indications for the use of tablets

Now you know what "Alendronic acid" is. Why is this tool necessary? According to the attached instructions, this preparation has the following indications for use:

• Osteoporosis in representatives of the weaker sex in postmenopausal women (as prevention of bone fractures, including the spine and thighs);
• Osteoporosis in the stronger sex;
• Osteoporosis, which was caused by prolonged use of glucocorticosteroid agents;
• Paget's disease.

"Alendronic acid": contraindications to use

When can not we use the drug we are considering? The instruction on the use of the medicine says that this medicine has the following contraindications:

• Hypocalcemia;
• Increased sensitivity of the patient to drug substances;
• Inability of patients to be in an upright position (sit upright or stand) for half an hour;
• Severe disturbances in mineral metabolism;
• Renal failure is severe;
• Hypoparathyroidism is severe;
• Achalasia or stricture of the esophagus, as well as other conditions that lead to difficulty in moving food through the esophagus;
• Glucose-galactose malabsorption, lactase deficiency or lactose intolerance ;
• Lactation period;
• Calcium malabsorption;
• pregnancy;
• childhood.

Careful medication

In what cases is Alendronovaya acid administered with extreme caution? Under the strict supervision of physicians, there must be a category of patients who have any abnormalities in the digestive tract (for example, such ailments as esophagitis, dysphagia, duodenitis, gastritis, peptic ulcer and stomach ulcer). In addition, the drug should be used with extreme caution in patients with vitamin D deficiency.

"Alendronic acid": instruction on the use of a medicinal product

The medication "Alendronate" should be taken only by mouth in the amount of 1 tablet. In this case, the drug is not recommended to chew or dissolve. It is taken on an empty stomach, 2 hours before breakfast (at least half an hour before the first intake of food, water or other medical devices).

The drug should be washed down with plain water. This is due to the fact that other beverages (for example, mineral water, tea, coffee, orange juice) significantly reduce the absorption of the active substance.

The recommended dosage of the drug is 1 tablet (or 10 mg) orally once a day. In some cases, doctors prescribe a different dose to the patient, which looks like this: 1 tablet (or 70 mg) once a week.

For the treatment of osteoporosis in men and women (in postmenopause), as well as osteoporosis, which is caused by prolonged use of glucocorticosteroid agents, this medication is taken at 10 mg per day or 70 mg once a week.

With such an ailment as Paget's disease, the drug we are considering is administered at a dosage of 40 mg per day. The duration of therapy is 6 months.

If you accidentally missed taking the drug once a week, the pill should be taken in the morning of the next day. In this case, it is forbidden to use a medicine in the amount of two tablets once a day.

An overdose of a drug

What will happen if the patient becomes uncontrolled to take such a remedy as "alendronic acid"? Drugs of this type have such overdose symptoms as hypophosphatemia, heartburn, hypocalcemia, erosive-ulcerative lesions of the digestive tract, esophagitis, diarrhea.

In case of occurrence of the presented consequences, the patient should be given whole milk or calcium-containing antacids. This is necessary to bind the medicine. Due to the high risk of irritation of the esophageal mucosa, it is highly advisable not to induce vomiting. In case of an overdose, the patient should be only in an upright position.

Side effects that occur after taking medication

Can Alendronic Acid cause negative effects? Reviews of patients and doctors say that this drug has a fairly large number of side effects. Which ones, we will consider below.

• The digestive system: esophagitis, diarrhea, dysphagia, dyspepsia, abdominal pain, flatulence, constipation and heartburn. Rarely after taking the drug, patients experience: vomiting, melena, nausea, esophageal stricture, gastritis, ulcer of the esophagus, ulcers of the mucous membranes of the pharynx and oral cavity, perforation of the ulcer of the esophagus with the appearance of bleeding.
• Nervous system: headaches.
• Musculoskeletal system: pain in muscles, bones and joints.
• The organs of vision: scleritis and uveitis.
• Allergy: angioedema edema, urticaria, Stevens-Johnson and Lyell syndrome (in isolated cases).
• Other side effects: erythema, rash, photodermatosis, itching and symptomatic hypocalcemia. There are also cases of osteonecrosis of the lower and upper jaws in patients with cancer that undergo anti-tumor therapy, which includes the use of bisphosphonates. Thus, the risk factors for osteonecrosis are: chemotherapy, oncological diseases, glucocorticosteroid treatment, radiation therapy, insufficient mouth hygiene, local infectious or inflammatory process, including osteomyelitis.
• Laboratory studies: a transient and insignificant decrease in the concentration of phosphates and calcium.

One can not help saying that typical symptoms at the beginning of therapy with the drug are the following: malaise, myalgia and fever.

Interaction with other drugs

Together with which drugs, patients are never prescribed "alendronic acid", synonyms for it?

According to the instruction, it is not recommended simultaneous reception of this remedy with medicines that contain calcium and antacids in the composition (due to a possible decrease in the absorption of the active substance of the drug).

The interval between taking Alendronate and taking other medications should be at least half an hour.

Nonsteroid drugs, as well as acetylsalicylic acid, can significantly increase the side effects of the drug on the organs of the digestive tract.

The combined administration of "alendronic acid" (but not simultaneous) with estrogens is not accompanied by a change in their actions and the development of any side effects.

The intake of a drug such as Prednisolone is not accompanied by significant changes in the bioavailability of the acid.

Special instructions for taking medication

What do you need to know before you start taking a remedy like alendronic acid? Analogues and the drug itself can adversely affect the organs of the digestive tract. Therefore, to reduce the irritant effect, it is recommended to take the medication in the morning, on an empty stomach, with a glass of water.

After taking the medicine, it is necessary to stay in an upright position for half an hour. The use of the drug in a horizontal position or at bedtime increases the risk of developing such a deviation as esophagitis.

The patient should be informed of the discontinuation of medication when heartburn occurs, the pain of the sternum and swallowing, as well as the development of dysphagia.

With hypocalcemia, it should be corrected before starting therapy. It is also recommended to eliminate the disturbances of mineral metabolism, which lead to this deviation.

During the use of bisphosphonates, the patient should ensure that adequate amounts of vitamin D and calcium are supplied to the body.

In the process of therapy, due to the positive effect of acid on the bone mineral density, a slight decrease in the concentration of phosphates and calcium in the blood can be observed in the patient.

Before treatment with bisphosphonates, patients with concomitant risk factors (cancer, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, etc.) should undergo dental examinations.

Price and analogues of the medicinal product

Now you know how to take such a drug as "alendronic acid." From what this medicine is prescribed by doctors, we also found out. However, the majority of patients to whom this medication was prescribed are always concerned with the same question: how much does it cost?

Today, "Alendronic acid" can be purchased for 350 rubles (4 tablets). If you take into account the dosing regimen (once a week), this price is not very high.

If, for whatever reason, the medication in question does not suit you, you can replace it with analogs. They include such drugs as Tevanat, Ostalon, Alendronat, Strongos, Alendrochern, Ostealen, Lindron, Alental, Forosa, Ostererepas, Fosamax "And so on.

Reviews of patients and doctors about the drug

What do patients and doctors say about a remedy like alendronic acid? According to their reviews, the drug copes with the task perfectly. It well strengthens bone tissue, treats osteoporosis and Paget's disease.

However, one can not but note the fact that this medication has a rather large number of side effects. In this regard, the drug should be taken only by appointment of specialists. And the latter must necessarily inform the patient about the existing contraindications.

The largest number of negative responses to "Alendronic acid" comes from those patients who have problems with the intestine. This is due to the fact that this drug can adversely affect the stomach, esophagus and intestines.