How and when to take risedronate - Brand names: Actonel, Actonel Once a Week

Risedronate comes as a tablet that you take once a week, or a tablet that you take once a day.

Follow your doctor's instructions about exactly how and when to take your medicine. If you're taking a weekly dose, you need to take your medicine on the same day each week, so choose a day that suits your routine.

Dosage and strength

Risedronate tablets come in strengths of 5mg, 30mg and 35mg.

For Paget's disease of bone, the usual dose for adults is 30mg, taken once a day.

For osteoporosis, the usual dose for most adults is 35mg taken once a week. You may prefer to take 5mg, once a day.

How to take it

Take your medicine first thing in the morning, when you get up. Take it on an empty stomach, at least 30 minutes before you have anything to eat or drink (other than plain water) and before you take any other medicines or supplements.

It's important to take risedronate while you're sitting up or standing, so that it does not irritate or damage your food pipe (oesophagus). Stay upright for 30 minutes after taking your medicine.

Risedronate works best when your stomach is empty, so your body can absorb it properly.

If you cannot take it first thing in the morning, you can take it later in the day, but in this case do not eat or drink anything (other than plain water) or take any other medicines for 2 hours before and after taking your tablet.

Swallow the tablet whole with a large glass of plain tap water (at least 120ml). Do not chew, break, crush or suck the tablet. Do not take it with mineral water.

It's important to follow the instructions for this medicine very carefully. If you do not, it may not work, or it could irritate and damage your food pipe as you swallow it.

How long to take it for

How long you'll need to take risedronate depends on why your doctor has prescribed it.

For Paget's disease of bone, you'll usually take it for 2 months. You may need to start taking it again if your symptoms come back.

For osteoporosis, you'll usually take risedronate for a long time.

If you're having long-term treatment with steroids, you'll usually take risedronate until your steroid treatment stops, and maybe for longer.

If you have osteoporosis, your doctor will usually assess your risk of broken bones after 5 years. This may include tests to check the strength (density) of your bones.

Depending on the results, you'll either keep taking risedronate, take a break from it or stop taking it completely.

If you forget to take it

If you miss a dose, what you do next depends on how often you're supposed to take risedronate. If you usually take it:

• once a day (5mg or 30mg) – take it later in the day, but do not eat or drink anything (other than plain water) or take any other medicines or supplements by mouth for 2 hours before and 2 hours after taking the tablet. If this is not possible, then just skip the missed dose and take your next dose on the following day, in the morning
• once a week (35mg) – wait until the next day and then take your medicine first thing in the morning. After this, go back to taking your weekly dose on your usual day

Never take 2 doses to make up for a forgotten one.

If you take risedronate once a week, some packaging has a space to mark the day of the week and the dates you take your tablets. This can help you remember to take your medicine on the right day.

If you often forget doses, it may help to set an alarm to remind you. You could also ask your pharmacist for advice on other ways to help you remember to take your medicine.

If you take too much

If you take an extra dose of:

• your 5mg daily or 35mg weekly tablet – it's unlikely to harm you. Drink a full glass of milk immediately if you can, and stay upright for at least 30 minutes
• your 30mg daily tablet – drink a full glass of milk immediately if you can, and stay upright for at least 30 minutes

If your child takes an extra dose, get them to drink a full glass of milk immediately if possible. Contact their doctor or contact 111 straight away. Keep your child sitting up or standing for at least 30 minutes.

Do not make yourself or your child sick (vomit), as this may irritate the food pipe.