Consumer Information for: RISEDRONATE

Consumer Information

Information about the product including what the product is used for, dosage, warnings, proper use and side effects. This summary will not tell you everything about the product. Contact your healthcare professional if you have any questions about the product.


What the medication is used for
  • To treat or prevent osteoporosis in postmenopausal women.
  • To increase bone density in men with osteoporosis.
  • To treat or prevent osteoporosis in men or women who are taking steroid medicines such as prednisone.
  • To treat men and women who have Paget’s disease of bone.

What it does

In osteoporosis, the body removes more bone than it replaces. This causes bones to get weaker and more likely to break or fracture (usually at the spine, wrist and hip). Spine fractures may result in a curved back, height loss or back pain. RISEDRONATE slows down bone loss which can help to reduce the risk of fractures. In many people RISEDRONATE helps to increase bone density.

It is not known how long RISEDRONATE should be used for treating osteoporosis. Keep talking to your doctor about whether RISEDRONATE is still right for you.

RISEDRONATE is not a pain reliever.

When it should not be used

Do not use RISEDRONATE if:

  • You have low levels of calcium in your blood (hypocalcemia).
  • You are allergic to risedronate sodium or any of the other ingredients in RISEDRONATE.
What the medicinal ingredient is

Risedronate sodium

What the non-medicinal ingredients are

Colloidal silicon dioxide, lactose monohydrate, magnesium stearate, pregelatinized starch, sodium stearyl fumarate, starch and film-coating containing the following:

35 mg: FD&C yellow #6/sunset yellow FCF aluminium lake, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, iron oxide red, iron oxide yellow, polyethylene glycol, polysorbate and titanium dioxide.

What dosage form it comes in

RISEDRONATE is available as tablets. Each tablet contains: risedronate sodium 35 mg (orange).

Warnings and precautions

To help avoid side effects and ensure proper use, talk to your healthcare professional before you take RISEDRONATE. Talk about any health conditions or problems you may have, including if you:

  • have/had problems swallowing or have problems with your esophagus (the tube that connects your mouth to your stomach)
  • have/had stomach or digestive problems
  • have/had kidney problems
  • cannot stand or sit upright for at least 30 minutes (see How to take RISEDRONATE)
  • are pregnant or breastfeeding
  • have one of the following risk factors: cancer, diabetes, chemotherapy, radiotherapy of the head or neck, lowered immune system (immunosuppression), poor oral hygiene, treatment with corticosteroids or cancer drugs such as angiogenesis inhibitors (drugs that slow down the growth of new blood vessels)
  • had/have pain, swelling or numbness of the jaw or loosening of a tooth or any other oral symptoms
  • have sores in the mouth. This can lead to osteonecrosis of the jaw
Your doctor may check you if you:
  • smoke
  • have or have had teeth and/or gum disease
  • have dentures that do not fit well
  • have other relevant medical conditions at the same time, such as: low red blood cell count (called anemia) or if your blood cannot form clots in the normal way.
Your doctor may tell you to stop taking RISEDRONATE until all sores in your mouth are healed.

Other warnings you should know about:
Your doctor should check your mouth and may ask you to see your dentist before you start taking RISEDRONATE. Dental work should be done before you start RISEDRONATE treatment. Take good care of your teeth and gums and see the dentist for regular check-ups while taking RISEDRONATE.

Calcium and vitamin D are also important for strong bones. Your doctor may ask you to take calcium and vitamin D while you are on RISEDRONATE.

Tell your healthcare professional about all the medicines you take, including any drugs, vitamins, minerals, natural supplements or alternative medicines.
Interactions with this medication

the following may interact with RISEDRONATE:
Vitamins, mineral supplements and antacids may contain substances that can stop your body from absorbing RISEDRONATE. They include calcium, magnesium, aluminum and iron. Take these medicines at a different time of day than RISEDRONATE. Talk to your health care provider about how and when to take these medications.

Taking RISEDRONATE with corticosteroids or cancer drugs may increase your chance of jaw bone problems (osteonecrosis of the jaw).

Talk to your doctor before taking pain medication like ASA or other non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs because they may upset your stomach.

Proper use of this medication

How to take RISEDRONATE:
As with all medications, it is important to take as directed by your doctor

  • Take RISEDRONATE in the morning on an empty stomach, at least 30 minutes before you eat, drink or take other medicines.
  • Swallow each RISEDRONATE tablet whole, while you are sitting or standing in an upright position. Drink enough plain water (at least 120 mL or ½ cup) to make sure the tablet gets to your stomach. Do not chew, cut or crush the tablets.
  • Do not lie down for at least 30 minutes after taking RISEDRONATE

Usual Dose

To treat osteoporosis in women after menopause:

  • 35 mg per week of RISEDRONATE
To prevent osteoporosis in women after menopause:
  • 35 mg per week of RISEDRONATE
To increase bone density in men with osteoporosis:
  • 35 mg per week of RISEDRONATE

Overdose

If you think you have taken too much RISEDRONATE, drink a full glass of milk. Do not make yourself vomit. Contact your healthcare professional, hospital emergency room or regional Poison Control Centre immediately, even if there are no symptoms.

Missed Dose

Weekly dose (35 mg):
If you missed your dose on your usual day, take one tablet in the morning after you remember. You can go back to your regular schedule for the next dose. If you have missed your dose by one week, do not take 2 tablets on the same day. Skip your missed dose and go back to your regular schedule

Side effects and what to do about them

These are not all the possible side effects you may feel when taking RISEDRONATE. If you experience any side effects not listed here, contact your healthcare professional.

Drugs like RISEDRONATE may cause problems in your esophagus (the tube connecting the mouth and the stomach), stomach and intestines, including ulcers. If you have trouble or pain upon swallowing, heartburn, chest pain and black or bloody stools, stop taking RISEDRONATE and tell your doctor right away. Remember to take RISEDRONATE as directed.

The most common side effects reported with RISEDRONATE were:

  • Abdominal pain, heartburn, nausea
  • Diarrhea and headache (in studies of Paget’s disease)
RISEDRONATE may cause pain in bones, joints or muscles, rarely severe.

When you take RISEDRONATE once a month, it may cause short-lasting, mild flu-like symptoms. These symptoms usually decrease as you keep taking doses.

Patients receiving RISEDRONATE or other drugs in this class have reported:
  • Rarely, non-healing jaw wounds.
  • Very rarely, unusual fractures in their thigh bone.

Serious side effects, how often they happen and what to do about them
Symptom / effect Talk with your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist only if severe Talk with your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist in all cases Stop taking drug and get immediate medical help
Common
Pain in bones, joints or muscles ✔    
Abdominal pain ✔    
Uncommon
Eye pain, redness or swelling, sensitivity to light, decreased vision     ✔
Rare
Pain in your tongue   ✔  
Jaw bone problems (osteonecrosis). Numbness or a feeling of heaviness in the jaw; poor healing of gums; loose teeth; exposed bone in the mouth; sores in the mouth; discharge; dry mouth; swelling gums; infections; bad breath; pain in the mouth, teeth or jaw.   ✔  
Very rare
Allergic and skin reactions such as hives, rash (with or without blisters); swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat; difficult or painful swallowing; trouble breathing.     ✔
Symptoms of low levels of calcium in the blood such as numbness, tingling or muscle spasms.   ✔  
New or unusual pain in the hip, groin or thigh.   ✔  

If you have a troublesome symptom or side effect that is not listed here or becomes bad enough to interfere with your daily activities, talk to your healthcare professional.

How to store

Keep RISEDRONATE in the original package and store at controlled room temperature (15°C – 30°C). Protect from light.

Keep out of reach and sight of children.

Reporting side effects

You can report any suspected adverse reactions associated with the use of health products to the Canada Vigilance Program by one of the following three ways:

  • Report online at www.healthcanada.gc.ca/medeffect
  • Call toll-free at 1-866-234-2345
  • Complete a Canada Vigilance Reporting Form and:
    • Fax toll-free to 1-866-678-6789, or
    • Mail to:
      Canada Vigilance Program
      Health Canada
      Postal Locator 0701E
      Ottawa ON K1A 0K9

Postage paid labels, Canada Vigilance Reporting Form and the adverse reaction reporting guidelines are available on the MedEffectTM Canada Web site at www.healthcanada.gc.ca/medeffect.

NOTE: Should you require information related to the management of side effects, contact your health professional. The Canada Vigilance Program does not provide medical advice.

More information

If you want more information about RISEDRONATE:

  • Talk to your healthcare professional
  • Find the full Product Monograph that is prepared for healthcare professionals and includes this Patient Medication Information by visiting the Health Canada website (https://health-products.canada.ca/dpd-bdpp/index-eng.jsp); calling the manufacturer at 1- 866-236-4076 or emailing quality@sanis.com.

This leaflet was prepared by:

Sanis Health Inc.
1 President’s Choice Circle
Brampton, Ontario
L6Y 5S5

Last Revised: March 6, 2019

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