Actonel (Risedronate) for Osteoporosis

What Members Say Top Tips Side Effects FAQs

Actonel (risedronate) is a prescription medication approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat osteoporosis in women after menopause. It is also approved to increase bone mass in men with osteoporosis.

What Members Say

MHT logo These insights are based on 837 comments about Actonel from MyOsteoTeam members. These are the experiences of a small number of people and are not meant to be medical advice.

Benefits:

Once-weekly or monthly dosing feels manageable for many daily routines.
Bone density often stays stable or improves on follow-up DEXA scans.
Some describe fewer fractures or less spinal pain over time.

Considerations:

Stomach upset, heartburn, reflux, nausea, and abdominal pain are common concerns.
Strict dosing instructions can feel burdensome and require planning around meals and water.
Jaw problems and dental procedure concerns come up, especially with long-term use.

How Actonel Works and How It's Taken

Actonel is a type of medicine called a bisphosphonate. It slows the activity of osteoclasts, which are cells that break down bone. This reduces bone loss.

In women with osteoporosis after menopause, Actonel has been shown to reduce the chance of spinal and certain nonspinal fractures.

Doctors prescribe Actonel when treatment is needed to:

Treat or prevent osteoporosis in women after menopause
Increase bone mass in men with osteoporosis
Treat or prevent osteoporosis caused by glucocorticoid medicines

Actonel comes as a tablet taken by mouth. The dose and schedule depend on why you are taking it.

Take Actonel exactly as your doctor tells you. Take it after getting up for the day and before your first food, drink, or other medicine. Swallow the tablet whole with 6 to 8 ounces of plain water while sitting or standing.

Do not take Actonel with mineral water, coffee, tea, soda, or juice. Wait at least 30 minutes after taking Actonel before eating, drinking anything other than plain water, or taking other medicines or supplements. Do not chew or suck the tablet.

Do not lie down for at least 30 minutes after taking Actonel and after eating your first food of the day.

If you do not get enough calcium and vitamin D from your diet, your doctor may recommend supplements. Take calcium supplements, antacids, magnesium-based supplements or laxatives, and iron supplements at a different time of day because they can reduce how much Actonel your body absorbs.

Typical Dosing for Osteoporosis

The Actonel dose depends on the condition being treated:

Treatment of osteoporosis in women after menopause — The dose is 5 milligrams once daily, 35 milligrams once a week, 75 milligrams on two days in a row each month, or 150 milligrams once a month.
Prevention of osteoporosis in women after menopause — The dose is 5 milligrams once daily or 35 milligrams once a week. A doctor may also consider 75 milligrams on two days in a row each month or 150 milligrams once a month.
Men with osteoporosis — The dose is 35 milligrams once a week.
Osteoporosis caused by glucocorticoid medicines — The dose is 5 milligrams once daily.

The best length of treatment is not known. For people at low risk for fracture, a doctor may consider stopping Actonel after three to five years. The risk of fracture should be checked again over time.

This information is based on prescribing information, but your healthcare provider may tailor your treatment plan. Always follow their guidance.

Top Advice From Members on Actonel

MHT logo These insights are based on 837 comments about Actonel from MyOsteoTeam members. These are the experiences of a small number of people and are not meant to be medical advice.

Members who use Actonel often say that routines matter, especially taking it the same way each time and paying attention to how they feel afterward. Many also suggest keeping up with follow-up scans, staying active, and talking with a doctor if side effects, stomach issues, or dental concerns come up.

1

Talk to your doctor about how to take Actonel correctly.
"You have to take it first thing in the morning and then wait at least 30 minutes before you eat anything, and you cannot lay down after taking it either."
2

Stay active and take calcium or vitamin D if your doctor recommends them.
"I take Actonel, calcium, and vitamin D. I exercise regularly and try to eat healthy. So far, I feel like my treatment is going well."
3

Ask your doctor about side effects that feel unusual.
"I have found if I bend over too much on that day I can get quite bad stomach pains and feel ill."

Connect with others who understand life with osteoporosis. Join MyOsteoTeam for free.

Actonel Side Effects

In clinical studies of Actonel, the most common side effects were reported in more than 10 percent of people. These included:

Back pain
Joint pain
Abdominal pain (stomach pain)
Dyspepsia (upset stomach)

Serious Side Effects and Warnings

Actonel can cause serious side effects that may require immediate medical attention. These include:

Esophageal problems — Irritation, inflammation, or ulcers in the tube that connects your mouth to your stomach can cause trouble swallowing, pain when swallowing, chest pain, or new or worsening heartburn.
Hypocalcemia (low blood calcium) — Calcium levels can drop, which may cause muscle cramps or spasms, or numbness or tingling in your fingers, toes, or around your mouth.
Osteonecrosis of the jaw — Severe jawbone problems may occur, often linked with dental procedures or infection and delayed healing.
Severe bone, joint, or muscle pain — Pain can be severe or disabling.
Atypical fractures, including femur fractures — These unusual breaks in the thigh bone can happen with little or no injury, sometimes with new thigh, hip, or groin pain beforehand.
Severe allergic and skin reactions — These may include swelling under the skin, widespread rash, blistering skin reactions, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, or toxic epidermal necrolysis.
Eye inflammation — Rare cases of iritis or uveitis can cause eye pain, redness, or vision changes.

Get medical help right away if you think you are having a serious reaction.

What To Know Before Taking Actonel

Before starting Actonel, your doctor will check your blood calcium level. Hypocalcemia (low blood calcium) must be treated before you start Actonel.

Before starting Actonel, tell your doctor if you have an allergy to risedronate or any ingredient in Actonel.

Tell your doctor about all medicines you take, including prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Be sure to tell your doctor if you take antacids, aspirin, or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

Also tell your doctor if you:

Have problems swallowing
Have stomach or digestive problems
Have low blood calcium
Plan to have dental surgery or teeth removed
Have kidney problems
Have been told that your body has trouble absorbing minerals from your stomach or intestines

Do not take Actonel if you:

Have certain esophagus problems that slow the movement of food or medicine into the stomach, such as a stricture or achalasia
Cannot sit or stand upright for at least 30 minutes
Have low blood calcium
Are allergic to Actonel or any of its ingredients

Actonel is also FDA-approved to treat Paget's disease of bone.

If you miss a dose:

35 milligrams once a week — Take 1 tablet the morning after you remember. Then return to your usual once-a-week schedule. Do not take 2 tablets on the same day.
75 milligrams on two days in a row each month — Follow the missed-dose instructions based on how close you are to your next scheduled doses. Do not take more than 2 tablets within seven days.
150 milligrams once a month — Follow the missed-dose instructions based on how close you are to your next scheduled dose. Do not take more than 1 tablet within seven days.

If you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding while taking Actonel, talk with your doctor about the risks and benefits.

Community FAQs

These answers are fact-checked by our editorial staff.

How effective is Actonel for osteoporosis?

Here are the key clinical study findings for Actonel in different types of osteoporosis:

Women after menopause — Actonel 5 milligrams daily reduced new spinal fractures over three years. In one study, rates dropped from 16.3 percent to 11.3 percent, and in another, they dropped from 29.0 percent to 18.1 percent.
Nonspinal fractures — In one study, certain osteoporosis-related nonspinal fractures dropped from 8 percent to 5 percent over three years.
Bone density — Actonel increased bone mineral density in the spine and hip. With 35 milligrams once a week, lower spine bone density increased by about 3.9 percent after one year.
Men with osteoporosis — Actonel 35 milligrams once a week increased bone mineral density over two years. Compared with placebo (an inactive treatment), lower spine bone density improved by 4.5 percent.
Osteoporosis caused by glucocorticoid medicines — Actonel 5 milligrams daily helped maintain or increase bone density. In two studies, spinal fractures were also lower with Actonel than with placebo.

How long does Actonel take to work for osteoporosis?

Changes in markers of bone breakdown can be seen as early as 14 days after starting Actonel. These laboratory changes do not tell us exactly when protection from fractures begins.

In a study of women taking Actonel to prevent osteoporosis after menopause, increases in bone mineral density were seen as early as three months. In studies treating osteoporosis after menopause, increases in bone mineral density in the lower spine were significant by six months and continued during treatment.

Does Actonel interact with other medicines?

Yes. Actonel can interact with some medicines and supplements.

Calcium supplements, antacids, and medicines that contain certain minerals can reduce how much Actonel your body absorbs. Take them at a different time of day from Actonel.
Magnesium-based supplements or laxatives and iron supplements should also be taken at a different time of day.
Aspirin and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can affect the stomach and digestive tract, so your doctor should know if you take them.
Hormone replacement therapy may be used with Actonel if your doctor thinks it is appropriate.

Tell your doctor about all prescription medicines, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and supplements you take.