merck free medications fosamax

What is the most important information I should know about Fosamax?
• Some forms of alendronate are taken once a day merck free medications fosamax. Others are taken onlyonce a week merck free medications fosamax. It is very important that you follow your doctor's directions merck free medications fosamax. If you take alendronate once a week, take it on the same day each week merck free medications fosamax.
• 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 merck free medications fosamax.
• Do not crush, chew, or suck the tablets merck free medications fosamax. Swallow them whole merck free medications fosamax.
• Do not take alendronate at bedtime or before getting up for the day merck free medications fosamax.

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

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 merck free medications fosamax.
• 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 merck free medications fosamax.
• Fosamax is in the FDA pregnancy category C merck free medications fosamax. This means that it is notknown whether Fosamax will harm an unborn baby merck free medications fosamax. Do not take Fosamax withoutfirst talking to your doctor if you are pregnant merck free medications fosamax.
• It is also not known whether Fosamax passes into breast milk merck free medications fosamax. Do nottake Fosamax without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feedinga baby merck free medications fosamax.

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

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 merck free medications fosamax. Missing one dosewill not affect your treatment merck free medications fosamax. Do not take two tablets at the same time merck free medications fosamax.
• If you take alendronate once a week and you miss a dose, take the misseddose on the morning after you remember merck free medications fosamax. Do not take two tablets on the sameday merck free medications fosamax. Return to taking one tablet once a week, as originally scheduled on yourchosen day merck free medications fosamax.

What happens if I overdose?
• Seek emergency medical attention merck free medications fosamax.
• 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 merck free medications fosamax.

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

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 merck free medications fosamax.
• Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur merck free medications fosamax. 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 merck free medications fosamax.
• Side effects other than those listed here may also occur merck free medications fosamax. Talk to yourdoctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome merck free medications fosamax.

What other drugs will affect Fosamax?
• Antacids and other medicines taken by mouth may decrease the effectsof Fosamax merck free medications fosamax. Do not take any other medicines within 30 minutes after a dose ofFosamax merck free medications fosamax. Talk to your doctor before taking any other medicines during treatmentwith Fosamax merck free medications fosamax.
• 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 merck free medications fosamax. Talkto your doctor before taking anti-inflammatory medications, pain relievers orfever reducers during treatment with Fosamax merck free medications fosamax.
• Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with Fosamax merck free medications fosamax. Talkto your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-countermedicines merck free medications fosamax.

Where can I get more information?
• Your pharmacist has more information about Fosamax written for healthprofessionals that you may read merck free medications fosamax.

Copyright 2005 D-S LTD.
All Rights Reserved.