ALENDRONATE SODIUM (Generic for FOSAMAX)

Alendronate Sodium 70mg, Oral tablet, weekly

Food

· Severity: Major

· Notes for Consumers: Take Alendronate with water only, on an empty stomach at the start of the day. Taking Alendronate with food may decrease the actions of the drug. Take Alendronate at least 30 minutes before any other beverage, food, or other medication for the day. In particular, avoid dairy products and orange juice within 2 hours of this drug. Also avoid laying down for at least 30 minutes after taking this medicine. To avoid irritation to the esophagus (tube connecting mouth to the stomach), this medicine must be taken as directed.

· Notes for Professionals: Absorption of alendronate is very poor; oral bioavailability is less than 1%. Because of this, food interactions can be very significant. Alendronate oral absorption becomes almost negligible if alendronate is taken within 2 hours of breakfast. Even orange juice or coffee can reduce bioavailability by about 60%. To achieve maximum possible bioavailability alendronate must be taken in the fasting state and at least 2 hours before a standard breakfast.

<b>DISCLAIMER:</b><em> This drug information content is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Patients should always consult their physician with any questions regarding a medical condition and to obtain medical advice and treatment. Drug information is sourced from GSDD (Gold Standard Drug Database ) provided by Elsevier.</em>