How many years should you take Fosamax?
Recent guidelines suggest that 4 years may be the magic number when it comes to alendronate. Four years of Alendronate has been shown to decrease the risk of hip and spine fractures without considerable risk of side effects that could lead to brittle bones.
Is it safe to take Fosamax long-term?
There are concerns about the long-term safety of bisphosphonates (such as Fosamax) as long-term use has been associated with atypical femur fractures, osteonecrosis of the jaw, and esophageal cancer. Fracture risk reduction may also persist for years after treatment has stopped.
How long should a woman take Fosamax?
They advise that women whose risk is still high should continue to take oral bisphosphonates for up to 10 years or IV therapy for up to six years. However, fracture risk should be reassessed every two to three years during extended therapy.
What can I take instead of Fosamax?
Boniva is the brand name for the generic drug ibandronate. Like Fosamax, Boniva is also a bisphosphonate. It is FDA-approved to prevent and treat postmenopausal osteoporosis.
What are the long term side effects of Fosamax?
Esophagus Problems esophagitis, esophageal ulcers and esophageal erosions.
Is Fosamax worth taking?
March 17, 2004 – There is good news about the drugs used to treat and prevent osteoporosis-related bone loss. The longest-ever study of one of the most widely prescribed of these drugs suggests it continues to protect bones after a decade of use.
Is Boniva safer than Fosamax?
Based on several studies, we know that Fosamax also reduces the risk of hip fractures and nonvertebral fractures. But we aren’t quite sure whether Boniva reduces the risk of hip or nonvertebral fractures. Because of this, clinical guidelines generally recommend Fosamax over Boniva.
Is it safe to take Fosamax once weekly?
The safety of FOSAMAX 70 mg once weekly for the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis was assessed in a one-year, double-blind, multicenter study comparing FOSAMAX 70 mg once weekly and FOSAMAX 10 mg daily. The overall safety and tolerability profiles of once weekly FOSAMAX 70 mg and FOSAMAX 10 mg daily were similar.
How is Fosamax used to treat osteoporosis?
Fosamax is used in women to treat or prevent osteoporosis caused by menopause and in men and women to treat osteoporosis caused by taking steroids. Fosamax is also used to increase bone mass in men who have osteoporosis, and to treat Paget’s disease of bone in men and women.
When did the Merck Fosamax patent expire?
Approved in the US on September 29th 1995, Fosamax has made billions of dollars to pharmaceutical giant Merck. Its patent expired in February 2008, and since then, generic alendronate sodium is widely available and still used by millions of women and men all over the world.
What are the inactive ingredients in Fosamax tablets?
Tablets FOSAMAX for oral administration contain 6.53, 13.05, 45.68, 52.21 or 91.37 mg of alendronate monosodium salt trihydrate, which is the molar equivalent of 5, 10, 35, 40 and 70 mg, respectively, of free acid, and the following inactive ingredients: microcrystalline cellulose, anhydrous lactose, croscarmellose sodium, and magnesium stearate.