What is Actonel used for?

Actonel is used to treat Paget’s disease of the bone.

Actonel is also used to prevent and treat:

• postmenopausal osteoporosis
• glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis in men and women

Who should not take Actonel?

You should not take Actonel if you:

• have low calcium levels in the blood
• have bone or mineral problems that have not been treated by your health care provider
• have severe kidney problems
• are unable to stand or sit up for at least 30 minutes.

 General Precautions with Actonel:

Tell your doctor if you have a history of stomach problems because Actonel can cause difficulty swallowing, inflammation of the esophagus, esophageal ulcer, and stomach ulcer.

If you have a bone-imaging test, tell your doctor or technician you are taking Actonel because it can interfere with the test.

What should I tell my doctor or health care provider:

Tell your doctor or health car provider if you are:

• taking aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), because taken togetherwith Actonel, aspirin and NSAIDS can increase the probability of stomach irritation.

• trying to become pregnant, are already pregnant, or are breast-feeding.

What are some possible side effects of Actonel? (This is not a complete list of side effects reported with Actonel.  Your health care provider can discuss with you a more complete list of side effects.)

Side effects of Actonel are generally mild to moderate and do not require stopping the treatment.

The following is a listing of the most common side effects:

• flu syndrome
• chest pain
• diarrhea
• abdominal
• pain nausea
• constipation
• swelling
• joint pain
• headache
• dizziness rash

For more detailed information about Actonel, ask your health care provider.