Get Informed: Actonel
Active Ingredient(s)
Risedronic Acid
What does it do?
This product is primarily used for the treatment and prevention of osteoporosis, and is also used in the treatment of Paget's disease. It is a bisphosphanate, and is believed to work by reducing the activity of bone removal cells (osteoclasts).
- Last Text Update:
- 2010-Mar-20 9:17 PM
- Last Data Update:
- 2010-Mar-20 9:02 PM
Other Names
- Actonel
- Actonel ONE A Week
- Risedronate Sodium
- Risedronic Acid
How Safe Is It?
- Your Risk Rating
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- Average Risk Rating
-
- Pregnancy Category:
- C
- Black Box Warning:
- No
Facts & Figures
- Date Approved
- 27 Mar 1998
- Est US Patients*
- 2,284,000
- Generic Available
- Yes
- OTC Available
- No
User Age Distribution*
< 21
21-39
40-59
60+
Age (Years)
* Estimated number of US people currently taking Actonel or its active ingredient based on population adjusted patient numbers registered with iGuard.org.
Recent alerts for Actonel
There have been no iGuard.org alerts regarding Actonel during the past year.
Actonel Safety Report
Learn more about iGuard's risk ratings
- Please login or register (it's free) so iGuard can check how Actonel interacts with other drugs and diseases in your profile.
What is Actonel used for?
iGuard is currently tracking more than 15,200 patients that use Actonel (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)). Use the table below to learn why iGuard users take this product; click on any underlined condition to get information on other medications used for treatment.
| Disease / Condition | % | Average Severity |
|---|---|---|
| Osteoporosis | 100% | 
|
How well does Actonel work?
iGuard regularly polls our more than 15,200 users taking Actonel (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)) using the Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medications (TSQM) . This feedback is continuously updated in tables below for the benefit of the iGuard community. To request scores for specific patient subgroups, please contact research@iguard.org.
Average Satisfaction Score
(out of 10)
Average Effectiveness Score
(out of 10)
- 81%
- of patients are confident that the good things about Actonel outweigh the bad things.
- 8%
- of patients wish they were told more before they started taking Actonel.
Common Side Effects of Actonel
iGuard regularly polls our more than 15,200 users taking Actonel (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)) to monitor the development and frequency of side-effects. This feedback is continuously updated in tables and graphs below for the benefit of the iGuard community.
9% of patients experience side-effects on Actonel
< 1% of patients experience signifcant side-effects on Actonel
Most Common Side Effects...
-
Dental Problems
-
Muscle Pain/Cramps
-
Bone/Joint Pain
-
= 10%
Global Patient Feedback for Actonel (Risedronic Acid) ( Post a comment )
Question/Comment:
I was diagnosed with osteopenia and my endocrinologist prescribed Actonel 1 pill a week. I took this for many months and my last 2 bone density tests came back in the normal range. Then, I stopped seeing the endocrinologist and my primary doctor advised me to stop taking Actonel because some patients developed fractures of the femur. I discontinued taking it 5 months ago and will have a bone scan in a few more months.
67 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2010-03-17 20:29:35
Question/Comment:
I was put on the once a month ACTONEL 150 mg. pill last week for osteoarthiritis. Now I keep tasting salt, even in water! Everything tastes very salty! Has anyone else experienced this side-effect? I'm a 77 year old female.
Thanks
78 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-09-28 03:41:35
iGuard Answer/Reply:
At this time, Actonel does not appear to have any patient reports of increasing the salt taste in foods or a general salty taste in the mouth. Actonel may cause heartburn or GERD symptoms which may cause changes in taste. If you have not changed anything else in your diet or medication regimen, and if the symptoms continue, please contact your doctor to see about an underlying cause.
Posted: 2009-10-05 13:58:21
Question/Comment:
I was taking actonel for 29months, developed hip and shoulder pain, I was diagnosed with Osteoporosis 10 years ago. I am 49yers old, I am currently taking no medication for my condition, as the Rheumatologist is at a loss as to what to give me, as I am pre-menopausal.
Any help would be welcome. thanks
I still have some shoulder and hip pain, although it has subsided, I have not taken Actonel for two years now.
49 year old female.
50 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-09-21 15:16:42
Question/Comment:
I took Actonel 35 mg once a week for about 3 months. Developed back pain, hip pain, neck pain & muscle pains. Have been off of it for 2 months & the pain is still there. It hasn't diminished at all. I wish I had been told more before I began taking it. I've decided we must become more proactive about our own health care & do our research before we start taking any meds the doctors prescribe. I wish I'd never taken it. I hurt all the time but if I'm not active, I hurt even worse. Don't take the chance.
62 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-08-20 09:34:51
Answer/Reply:
Thank you, I have an appointment next week and we are suppose to talk about taking this actonel. I have been diagnose ostopenia for 30 years and taking 1600mg of calcium a day with 800 D. I am a Celiac and 63 years of age and having some hip pain and neck pain. My doctor said there is side effects that can come with this actonel. He is leaning more toward excercise and increasing my calcium and D. He does not recommend anything like Actonel unless you have a full case of osteoprosis. Thanks again for your info.
64 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-08-25 15:14:57
Answer/Reply:
Like everything in life, what is good for one person, may not be good for another. I have been
taking actonel since it first came out in the late 80's, and I am still taking it, and have no complaints...each of us is different from one and another. But that's life.
I am 87 years old.
88 year old Male – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-08-27 15:44:17
Question/Comment:
Started taking Actonel in October 2008 after being diagnosed with Osteoporosis. I stopped taking the drug, per my doctors recommendations, on May 18th, 2009. Stopped because of severe shoulder pain and stiffness in both shoulders, enough to affect my sleep. The doctor said to stop taking for 3 months to see if the pain goes away. It's now July 12th, almost 1 1/2 months since I stopped and the joint shoulder pain is still with me. As a matter of fact....the pain hasn't gotten any better. My quality of life went down hill.....There's got to be a better drug for folks that have this disease. For more information/blogs on side effects of this drug, visit "Ask a patient.com". I found it to have a wealth of information like this web site.
58 year old Male – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-07-12 16:17:03
Answer/Reply:
I have been taken Actonel for serveral years with no problems until a few months ago. My shoulders has been bothering me mostly at night which affects my sleep. But I thought it was a side affect from my prescription Aromasin for my breast cancer. Now I don't what to think.
59 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-08-19 22:40:10
You may post comments for the benefit of other patients or post questions other patients might be able to answer. Comments are submitted for possible publication on the condition that they may be edited. Only your age and gender will be published with your comment, although your other user details will be securely recorded for verification purposes.
Comments may be either questions or answers to previously posted questions. Any iGuard.org user may post questions and reply.
66
Patient Comments about
Actonel