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What are the side effects of Actonel?

Actonel (generic name risedronate) is a drug used to prevent bone loss and increase bone mass. It is used to treat or prevent osteoporosis in postmenopausal women, to prevent osteoporosis due to medicines called corticosteroids, and to treat Paget's disease, a condition that causes weak or deformed bones. .

In clinical studies, patients have safely used Actonel for up to three years. People who received Actonel were no more likely to experience side effects than those taking a placebo. The most common side effects from Actonel include infection, back pain, joint pain, stomach pain, nausea, and vomiting, constipation, gas, headache, and heartburn.

Take Actonel on an empty stomach before your first meal, with a full glass of water. To reduce the risk for pain or bleeding in the throat, do not lie down for at least 30 minutes after taking Actonel.

Stop taking Actonel and tell your health care provider if you have difficult or painful swallowing, chest pain, or bad heartburn that doesn’t get better.

Actonel may cause jaw bone problems in some people. Talk to your doctor before having a dental procedure.

There is a possibility of severe and sometimes incapacitating bone, joint, and/or muscle (musculoskeletal) pain in people taking Actonel. If you have any of these problems, contact your doctor immediately.

Sources:
Actonel Product Information, Procter & Gamble Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 2008.
Fogelman, Ignac. " Risedronate Reverses Bone Loss in Postmenopausal Women With Low Bone Mass: Results From a Multinational, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial," Obstetrical and Gynecological Survey 55 (2000).
Harris, Steven. "Effects of Risedronate Treatment on Vertebral and Nonvertebral Fractures in Women with Postmenopausal Osteoporosis: A Randomized Controlled Trial." The Journal of the American Medical Association 282 (1999).
Micromedex® Healthcare Series. Thomson Micromedex, 2006.

Drug Facts and Comparisons, Facts & Comparisons, 2007.

This answer prepared 1/17/2001.
This information updated 1/8/2008.