Personal Injury Law

How do Fosamax, Actonel and Boniva compare?

By Michael Monheit

All bisphosphonate drugs have been linked to rare femur or thighbone fractures, esophageal cancer, and jawbone death.

Fosamax, Actonel, and Boniva are in a class of drugs known as bisphosponates.

According to Wikipedia, bisphosphonates prevent the loss of bone mass and are used to treat osteoporosis and similar diseases.

Bone has constant turnover, and is kept in balance by osteoblasts which create bone and osteoclasts which digest bone. Bisphosphonate drugs inhibit the digestion of bone by osteoclasts.

Fosamax or Fosamax Plus D (alendronate sodium) are taken orally once a week (70mg or 70mg/5600 IU vitamin D) at least 30 minutes before the first food, beverage, or medication of the day with 6 to 8 ounces of plain water only. People taking Fosamax or Fosamax Plus D should not lie down for at least 30 minutes after taking their weekly dose or until after eating.

Actonel (risedronate) is dosed either as one 5-mg tablet taken daily or one 35-mg tablet taken once a week. Actonel has the same dosing restrictions as Fosamax. Patients should receive supplemental calcium and vitamin D if dietary intake is inadequate. Calcium supplements may interfere with the absorption of Actonel and should be taken at a different time of the day.

Boniva (ibandronate sodium) is different than either Fosamax or Actonel in its dose administration. Unlike the oral tablets listed above, Boniva is a 2mg to 6mg quarterly dose-proportional intravenous injection. Boniva either binds to the bone rapidly or excretes into the urine. Boniva also has a 2.5mg oral tablet which may be taken daily.

All bisphosphonate drugs have been linked to rare femur or thighbone fractures, esophageal cancer, and jawbone death.

If you or a loved one has been harmed by bisphosphonate drugs like Fosamax, Actonel, and Boniva…please contact the Philadelphia lawyers at Anapol Schwartz law firm to find out if legal actions may be right for you and your family.

Full post as published by Phoenix Personal Injury Lawyer on October 31, 2010 (boomark / email).