fosamax once a week dosage

What is the most important information I should know about Fosamax?
• Some forms of alendronate are taken once a day fosamax once a week dosage. Others are taken onlyonce a week fosamax once a week dosage. It is very important that you follow your doctor's directions fosamax once a week dosage. If you take alendronate once a week, take it on the same day each week fosamax once a week dosage.
• After swallowing the tablet, do not lie down, remain fully upright sitting,standing or walking, for at least 30 minutes and until after you have eaten fosamax once a week dosage.
• Do not crush, chew, or suck the tablets fosamax once a week dosage. Swallow them whole fosamax once a week dosage.
• Do not take alendronate at bedtime or before getting up for the day fosamax once a week dosage.

What is alendronate?
• Alendronate is a compound that alters the cycle of bone formation andbreakdown in your body fosamax once a week dosage. alendronate increases new bone formation fosamax once a week dosage.
• Fosamax is used to treat and prevent osteoporosis and to treat Paget'sdisease fosamax once a week dosage. Fosamax is also used to treat osteoporosis that is caused by treatmentwith a corticosteroid fosamax once a week dosage.
• Fosamax may also be used for purposes other than those listed in thismedication guide fosamax once a week dosage.

Who should not take Fosamax?
• Before taking Fosamax, tell your doctor if you
· have a problem swallowing, such as a narrowing of your esophagus;
· have esophageal ulcers or an esophageal disease;
· have a condition that causes low levels of calcium in your body;
· have kidney disease;
· have stomach ulcers or other stomach or digestive problems; or
· are unable to stand or sit upright for at least 30 minutes fosamax once a week dosage.
• You may not be able to take Fosamax, or you may require a lower doseor special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listedabove fosamax once a week dosage.
• Fosamax is in the FDA pregnancy category C fosamax once a week dosage. This means that it is notknown whether Fosamax will harm an unborn baby fosamax once a week dosage. Do not take Fosamax withoutfirst talking to your doctor if you are pregnant fosamax once a week dosage.
• It is also not known whether Fosamax passes into breast milk fosamax once a week dosage. Do nottake Fosamax without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feedinga baby fosamax once a week dosage.

How should I take Fosamax?
• Take Fosamax exactly as directed by your doctor fosamax once a week dosage. If you do not understandthese directions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you fosamax once a week dosage.
• Some forms of alendronate are taken once a day fosamax once a week dosage. Others are taken onlyonce a week fosamax once a week dosage. It is very important that you follow your doctor's directions fosamax once a week dosage. If you take alendronate once a week, take it on the same day each week fosamax once a week dosage.
• Take Fosamax first thing in the morning, at least 30 minutes before youeat any food or drink any liquid (other than plain water) fosamax once a week dosage. This timing is veryimportant for getting the maximum amount of medication from each dose fosamax once a week dosage. Foodsand beverages greatly decrease the effect of Fosamax fosamax once a week dosage.
• Take each dose with a full glass (6 to 8 ounces) of tap water or bottledwater fosamax once a week dosage. Taking each dose with a full glass of water will ensure proper swallowingof the tablet and reduce the risk of mouth or throat irritation fosamax once a week dosage. Do not takethis medication with mineral water, juice, or any other beverage fosamax once a week dosage.
• After swallowing the tablet, do not lie down, remain fully upright sitting,standing or walking, for at least 30 minutes and until after you have eaten fosamax once a week dosage.
• Do not crush, chew, or suck the tablets fosamax once a week dosage. Swallow them whole fosamax once a week dosage.
• Do not take Fosamax at bedtime or before getting up for the day fosamax once a week dosage.
• If you have difficulty or pain upon swallowing, chest pain, or new orworsening heartburn, stop taking Fosamax and call your doctor fosamax once a week dosage.
• It is important that you continue taking Fosamax for as long as yourdoctor prescribes it fosamax once a week dosage. Fosamax can treat or prevent osteoporosis only if youcontinue to take it fosamax once a week dosage.
• Store Fosamax at room temperature away from moisture and heat fosamax once a week dosage.

What happens if I miss a dose?
• If you take alendronate every day and you miss a dose, skip that doseand take your next regularly scheduled dose the following day fosamax once a week dosage. Missing one dosewill not affect your treatment fosamax once a week dosage. Do not take two tablets at the same time fosamax once a week dosage.
• If you take alendronate once a week and you miss a dose, take the misseddose on the morning after you remember fosamax once a week dosage. Do not take two tablets on the sameday fosamax once a week dosage. Return to taking one tablet once a week, as originally scheduled on yourchosen day fosamax once a week dosage.

What happens if I overdose?
• Seek emergency medical attention fosamax once a week dosage.
• The symptoms of an Fosamax overdose are unknown, but the following symptomsmight be expected: nausea, heartburn, pain in your abdomen, other stomach-relatedsymptoms, muscle cramps, uncontrollable facial grimacing, seizures, irritability,and abnormal behavior fosamax once a week dosage.

What should I avoid while taking Fosamax?
• Follow you doctor's recommendations about drinking alcohol and smoking fosamax once a week dosage. These activities are related to decreased bone density fosamax once a week dosage.

What are the possible side effects of Fosamax?
• Stop taking Fosamax and seek emergency medical attention or contact yourdoctor immediately if you experience any of the following serious side effects:
· an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of your throat;swelling of your lips, tongue, or face; or hives);
· difficulty or pain when swallowing;
· chest pain;
· pain or burning under your ribs or in your back; or
· new or worsening heartburn fosamax once a week dosage.
• Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur fosamax once a week dosage. Continueto take Fosamax and talk to your doctor if you experience
· abdominal discomfort;
· stomach upset, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or constipation;
· headache;
· muscle, bone, or joint soreness or aches;
· eye pain;
· a rash; or
· an altered sense of taste fosamax once a week dosage.
• Side effects other than those listed here may also occur fosamax once a week dosage. Talk to yourdoctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome fosamax once a week dosage.

What other drugs will affect Fosamax?
• Antacids and other medicines taken by mouth may decrease the effectsof Fosamax fosamax once a week dosage. Do not take any other medicines within 30 minutes after a dose ofFosamax fosamax once a week dosage. Talk to your doctor before taking any other medicines during treatmentwith Fosamax fosamax once a week dosage.
• Aspirin and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen(Motrin, Advil, Nuprin, others), ketoprofen (Orudis KT, Orudis, Oruvail), indomethacin(Indocin, Indocin SR), naproxen (Anaprox, Aleve, Naprosyn), oxaprozin (Daypro),nabumetone (Relafen), piroxicam (Feldene), and others may increase the riskof damage to your stomach if they are taken during treatment with Fosamax fosamax once a week dosage. Talkto your doctor before taking anti-inflammatory medications, pain relievers orfever reducers during treatment with Fosamax fosamax once a week dosage.
• Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with Fosamax fosamax once a week dosage. Talkto your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-countermedicines fosamax once a week dosage.

Where can I get more information?
• Your pharmacist has more information about Fosamax written for healthprofessionals that you may read fosamax once a week dosage.

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