Didronel (Etidronate)

Didronel (Etidronate, Etidronic acid or 1-hydroxyethane 1,1-diphosphonic acid)

How does this drug work?
Etidronate is used to treat a certain type of bone disease called Paget's disease. This disease weakens and deforms bones. Etidronate works by slowing bone loss, helping to keep your bones strong and less likely to break. It also helps reduce bone pain from this disease. This medication belongs to a class of drugs called bisphosphonates.
Etidronate is also used to prevent or treat bone problems that may occur after hip replacement surgery or spinal cord injury.
OTHER USES: This section contains uses of this drug that are not listed in the approved professional labeling for the drug but that may be prescribed by your health care professional. Use this drug for a condition that is listed in this section only if it has been so prescribed by your health care professional.
Etidronate may also be used to treat bone loss (osteoporosis) if you are taking corticosteroid drugs (such as prednisone) for long periods. In addition, this drug may be used to treat a high level of calcium in the blood that may occur with some forms of cancers.

How to use Etidronate?
Follow these instructions very closely to make sure you absorb as much of the drug as possible and reduce the risk of injury to your esophagus. Consult your health care professional or pharmacist if you have any questions.
Take drug by mouth without food, usually once a day or as directed by your doctor. Take it on an empty stomach at least 2 hours before or 2 hours after a meal.
Take Etidronate with a full glass of plain water (6 to 8 ounces, 180 to 240 milliliters). Do not take it with any other beverage. After taking the drug, stay fully upright ( standing, sitting, walking) and do not lie down for at least 30 minutes.
Do not take the drug at the same time as food or other drugs because they may prevent its absorption. Take this drugs 2 hours before or 2 hours after taking any products that contain magnesium, aluminum, zinc, iron or calcium. Some examples include quinapril, antacids, certain forms of didanosine (chewable/dispersible buffered tablets or pediatric oral solution), dairy products (such as milk, yogurt), calcium-enriched juice, vitamins/minerals.
The dosage is based on your medical condition, weight, response to treatment, medical condition, weight, response to treatment. If stomach upset occurs, talk to your health care professional about dividing your daily dose into 2 or 3 smaller doses during the day instead of taking one daily dose all at once.
For Paget's disease and bone problems after hip replacement or spinal cord injury, you will usually take this medication for 3 to 6 months. Do not take more of this medication or use it for longer than prescribed because the risk of side effects may increase.
Take this medication regularly to get the most benefit from it. To help you remember, take it at the same time(s) each day.

SIDE EFFECTS:
Remember that your doctor has prescribed this medication because he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects.
Stomach upset or diarrhea may occur. If it persists or worsens, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly.
Tell your doctor immediately if any of these unlikely but serious side effects occur: new or worsening bone/joint/muscle pain, mental/mood changes, jaw pain, signs of infection (such as fever, persistent sore throat).
This medication may infrequently cause irritation and ulcers in your stomach or esophagus. Seek immediate medical attention if any of these serious side effects occur: vomit that looks like coffee grounds, stomach/abdominal pain, black/tarry stools, new/severe/worsening heartburn, chest pain, difficult/painful swallowing.
A very serious allergic reaction to this medication is rare. However, seek immediate medical attention if you notice any of the following symptoms of a serious allergic reaction: trouble breathing, severe dizziness, rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat).
This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.

PRECAUTIONS:
Before taking this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or to other bisphosphonates (such as alendronate); or if you have any other allergies.
This medication should not be used if you have certain medical conditions. Before using this medication, consult your health care professional or pharmacist if you have a certain bone disorder that causes soft/painful bones (osteomalacia).
Before using this medication, tell your health care professional or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: difficult/painful swallowing, kidney disease, inability to sit upright or stand for at least 30 minutes, low level of calcium in the blood, esophagus/stomach/intestinal problems (such as heartburn, ulcers, colitis).
Infrequently, serious jawbone problems (osteonecrosis) have occurred if people take similar drugs. Most people were also using other drugs or had conditions which might have actually caused the jawbone problem. If you have anemia, infections/other diseases of the mouth, cancer, poor dental hygiene or blood clotting disorders see your dentist for a full examination/treatment before you start etidronate. Make sure your dentist knows your entire medical history, including any cancer radiation treatments. Also tell your dentist of all the drugs you are using, especially corticosteroids such as etidronate, cancer chemotherapy, prednisone. Consult your dentist for more details.
Caution is advised if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant in the future. This medication may stay in your body for many years. Its effect on an unborn baby is not known. Discuss the risks and benefits with your health care professional or pharmacist before starting treatment with this medication.
It is not known if this medication passes into breast milk, and the effect on a nursing infant is unknown. Consult your health care professional before breast-feeding.

INTERACTIONS
Your health care professional or pharmacist may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for them. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any drugs before checking with your health care professional or pharmacist first.
Before using this medication, tell your health care professional or pharmacist of all prescription and nonprescription/herbal products you may use.
Check the labels on all your medicines because they may contain aspirin or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs such as ibuprofen, naproxen) that could also cause stomach irritation/ulcers. Ask your health care professional or pharmacist about using these products safely. If your health care professional|doctor} has prescribed low doses of aspirin to prevent heart attack or stroke (usually at dosages of 81-325 milligrams a day), you should continue to take the aspirin. Consult health care professional or pharmacist for more details.
This medication may affect the results of certain lab tests (bone imaging tests). Make sure laboratory personnel and all your doctors know you use this medication.
This list does not contain all possible interactions. Therefore, before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the products you use. Keep a list of all your drugs with you, and share the list with your health care professional or pharmacist

OVERDOSE:
If overdose is suspected, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately. Symptoms of overdose may include: muscle spasms, mental/mood changes.

ALSO:
Do not share this medication with others.
Lifestyle changes that help promote healthy bones include limiting alcohol, increasing weight-bearing exercise, stopping smoking and eating well-balanced meals that contain adequate calcium and vitamin D. You may also need to take calcium and vitamin D supplements. Consult your health care professional or pharmacist for specific advice.
Laboratory and/or medical tests (such as calcium and other blood mineral levels, X-rays, kidney function tests) should be performed periodically to monitor your progress or check for side effects. Consult your health care professional or pharmacist for more details.

MISSED DOSE:
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember, following the dose-timing instructions. If it is near the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and resume your usual dosing schedule. Do not double the dose to catch up.

STORAGE:
Store at room temperature between 59-86 degrees F (15-30 degrees C) away from light and moisture. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep all drugs away from children and pets.
Do not flush drugs down the toilet or pour them into a drain unless instructed to do so. Properly discard this product when it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your health care professional, pharmacist or local waste disposal company for more details about how to safely discard your product.