Pregnancy, breastfeeding and fertility while taking risedronate - Brand names: Actonel, Actonel Once a Week

Risedronate and pregnancy

Risedronate is not generally recommended during pregnancy because there is little information on its safety.

If you become pregnant while taking risedronate, contact your doctor or hospital specialist for advice about whether to keep taking it or not.

Risedronate and breastfeeding

If your doctor says your baby is healthy, you can take risedronate while you're breastfeeding.

It is likely that only tiny amounts will get into your breast milk which would not be expected to cause any problems in your baby.

Although it's generally OK to take this medicine while breastfeeding, it may not be suitable in a very few cases. Check with your doctor about what's best for you and your baby.

If your baby is not feeding as well as usual, is being sick or is constipated or you have any other concerns about your baby, talk to your doctor, pharmacist, health visitor or midwife.

Risedronate and fertility

There's no good evidence to suggest that taking risedronate reduces fertility in either men or women.

If you're trying to get pregnant and are taking risedronate, speak to your doctor or hospital specialist. This is because they may consider taking you off the medicine while you're trying to get pregnant.

Find out more about how bisphosphonate medicines such as risedronate can affect you and your baby in pregnancy on the Best Use of Medicines in Pregnancy (BUMPS) website.