Generic Fosamax i.e. Alendronate comes from the medicines group called as bisphosphonates and works by altering the bone formation cycle and breakdown in the human body. Fosamax is used in men and women to treat or prevent osteoporosis that is caused by menopause or by taking steroids. Fosamax is also used to increase bone mass in men who have osteoporosis, thus helping to prevent bone fractures. It is also used to treat Pagets disease of bone in men and women.

However, before taking Alendronate i.e. Fosamax medication, ask your pharmacist or doctor for a copy of the manufacturer’s information for the patient and read it carefully. Talk to your doctor about all the possible risks of taking Fosamax medication. However, Fosamax may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide. Hence, for more information, consult your doctor and your medical pharmacist.

Follow the directions given by the doctor exactly for the usage of the Fosamax i.e. Alendronate medication and also read the prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand.

Generic Fosamax i.e. Alendronate is an oral medication. Fosamax should be taken once a day, empty stomach in the morning. Take Fosamax with 8 ounce of water i.e. a full glass of water. You should wait for at least half an hour after taking medication and before you take other medicines, drink or eat. Do not take Fosamax with milk, orange juice, coffee, mineral water and other dairy products. Swallow the whole tablet and do not chew or suck.

After taking Fosamax, do not lie down for at least 30-40 minutes. Seating or standing decreases the risk of injury to esophagus and heartburn, and gives you the benefit of a full dose. If you need to get any dental work, inform the dentist well ahead that you are using Fosamax. As we discussed, risks are minimal, you will just need to stop using Fosamax for a very short duration. For the best results with Fosamax, test your bone mineral density regularly and consult the physician if some changes in the dosage are required.

If you notice any of the symptoms, which seem severe or persistent to you, please contact your doctor immediately. However, your doctor may need to monitor you carefully for side effects and alter the doses if necessary.

The most common side effects seen are: Hives, swelling in throat, tongue or lips, difficulty in breathing etc. Some serious side effects include: Flu symptoms, fever, body aches, pain in the back or ribs, extreme heartburn etc.

However, generic Fosamax i.e. Alendronate is generally well tolerated. Side effects are infrequent and mild. Side effects include stomach pain or upset constipation, diarrhea, muscle ache and headache. Alendronate can irritate the esophagus to cause heartburn in patients who lie down flat after swallowing thereby delaying passage of the medication to the stomach is necessary.

Inform your doctor if you experience any of these side effects or some new side effects occur which appear too bothersome to you.

Inform your doctor if you are allergic to the formulation of this medication or any other medication in any other form and also inform your doctor about any other medication you may be taking in any other form, as they may affect the way your medicine works.

However, Fosamax i.e. Alendronate may interact with NSAIDs such as: Piroxicam, Diclofenac, Indomethacin, Ibuprofane, Ketoprofane etc.

Moreover, Fosamax i.e. Alendronate may also interact with some kind of foods, varied medications, herbal products, nutritional supplements, vitamins, other OTC medicines, some vaccinations etc. Acquire more information about the interactions of the Fosamax medication from your doctor and the medical pharmacists.

In case of overdose call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222.
If the suffering patient has collapsed or is not breathing call local emergency services at 911. Canadian residents should call their local poison control center directly.

Over dose symptoms typically include: stomach pain, nausea diarrhea, tingling or numbness, convulsions i.e. seizures, unusual behavior and thoughts, stiffness in face muscles, irritability, muscle cramps, heartburn.

Do not allow any other person to use your medication without getting doctor’s prescription themselves and also avoid using this medicine for other health conditions on your own. Keep the medicine away from the children and pets.

Also inform your doctor, if you are pregnant or are breast feeding. If you conceive during the course, inform your doctor immediately. Do not share your medicines with anyone, even if they have the same symptoms, for it may harm them. Do not begin, increase, decrease, or stop using this medicine on your own. In short discuss your complete medical history with your doctor, before taking the medicine.

Remember, it is very important to keep regular appointments with your doctor to study the way your body is responding to the course. And if you are going to have a surgery, tell your health care professional that you are using Fosamax medication.

Carry with you at all times an ID card mentioning your name, the medicine you are taking, the dosage, the name of the person and your health care professional they should call in case of an emergency. Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory and keep regular checks ups.

Also avoid alcohol and alcohol containing beverages whilst on a course with this medication.

And in case, if you wish to use the medicine in children, please contact your pediatrician for sure before its use.

If you missed the Fosamax i.e. Alendronate medication dose, do take the medicine immediately provided that there is ample of time in between the next dose. However, if it is almost time for the next dose skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule. Never double your doses to cope up with the missed. And in case, if you miss your one or two consecutive doses consult to your doctor or physician for guidance and continue further.

Generic Fosamax i.e. Alendronate works best and is prescribed for postmenopausal women to treat and prevent osteoporosis. Fosamax significantly reduces the chances of fractures such as that of spine and hip. Fosamax also works as the best remedy for glucocorticoid. Fosamax is used for treating Paget’s bone disease in men and women.

Fosamax cures induced osteoporosis in men and women receiving daily dose of 7.5 mg or greater of prednisone. Especially those with low mineral bone density are advised to take Fosamax for treating the condition. Fosamax is also a great medication for increasing bones mass of men suffering from osteoporosis. Thus Fosamax is a magic medication with multiple benefits and negligible risks.

However, it may also be used to treat some other medical conditions which may be determined by your doctor accordingly and consult a pediatrician for the use of this medication in children.

The generic Fosamax i.e. Alendronate medication may be prescribed for other uses also and hence ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information about the Fosamax i.e. Alendronate medication.

Store generic Fosamax i.e. Alendronate, at room temperature in between 15-30°C and 59-86°F, in a cool and dry place. Keep the medicine in the container, it came in and always keep it tightly closed. Check Expiry date without fail. Keep all medicines away from women, newborns, children and pets. Do not freeze in any case. Also, keep it away from heat, dampness and direct light. Heat or moisture may cause the medicine to break down. When the medicine is not in use or outdated it should be discarded. Take help of your pharmacist in disposing this medicine properly. In any case, do not store the Fosamax medication in the bathroom.

Following precautions must be taken during consuming generic Fosamax i.e. Alendronate:

1. Inform your doctor if you have or have ever had: kidney disease, lung disease, liver disease, heart disease, diabetes, low or high blood pressure, asthma, heart attack, anemia/blood disorder, seizures, stomach ulcers, esophageal ulcers or the any ulcers that cause low calcium levels in the body, other digestive problems, kidney disease serious injury/infection or any other severe disease etc. Also inform, if you drink alcoholic beverages or are a tobacco smoker etc.

2. Also acknowledge your doctor if you need to undergo any kind of surgery, including dental surgery or need an x-ray procedure that uses contrast agents. So, inform your doctors immediately about it, so that the doctor can decide whether to continue taking Fosamax medication or stop it during the surgery.

3. Let the doctor also know, if you are in-taking or are planning to take any prescribed or non prescribed medicines, health supplements or any other OTC medications, vitamins etc.

4. Do not use the Fosamax i.e. Alendronate medication, if you have any kind of allergy to it or to any ingredients of it and tell your doctor or pharmacist about the allergy and get treated accordingly.

5. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breast feeding before taking Fosamax medication. Hence also, inform your doctor immediately when you plan to conceive, or become pregnant during the course.

6. Do not share the drug with others unless they are prescribed by the doctor themselves. And if your symptoms of side effects do not improve in few weeks or if they become worse and bothersome, check these conditions immediately with your doctor.

7. Please, use the Fosamax medicine in the prescribed amount and do not overdose it or use it for the longer period of time. Do not discontinue on your own and consult your doctor before doing so to avoid further problems.

8. Regularly, keep your appointments with your doctor and keep an eye on the progress or side effects that has been noticed during the complete course.

9. Also, avoid smoking and consuming alcohol and alcohol containing beverages during the complete course to achieve good results.

10. For more information, contact your doctor and your pharmacists and also discuss the risks and benefits of the generic Fosamax.

11. Remember: Fosamax falls in the FDA pregnancy category C medications list, which means it’s unknown whether Fosamax is harmful to an unborn baby. Hence, it is important that your doctor check your progress at regular intervals.