Fosamax 10mg tablets

Fosamax is used for osteoporosis in post-menopausal women and people who are at risk of developing osteoporosis such as those who take corticosteroids over a long time.

In osteoporosis the strength of the bones is reduced and this can increase the chances of getting bone fractures. Fosamax can make bones stronger in people with osteoporosis which can reduce the chances of getting bone fractures.

Other information about Fosamax:

Do not share your medicine with other people. It may not be suitable for them and may harm them.

The pharmacy label on your medicine tells you how much medicine you should take. It also tells you how often you should take your medicine. This is the dose that you and your prescriber have agreed you should take. You should not change the dose of your medicine unless you are told to do so by your prescriber.

If you feel that the medicine is making you unwell or you do not think it is working, then talk to your prescriber.

Some medicines work best if they are taken at a specific time of day. Getting the most from your medicine can also be affected by what you eat, when you eat and the times at which you take other medicines. Make sure you follow any specific instructions given to you by your prescriber or that are in the Patient Information Leaflet that comes with this medicine.

In the case of Fosamax:

Some medicines have specific instructions about how to take them. This is because they work better when taken correctly. These instructions can include getting the right dose and special instructions for preparing the medicine. Make sure you follow any specific instructions given to you by your prescriber or that are in the Patient Information Leaflet that comes with this medicine.

In the case of Fosamax:

If you are having problems taking this form of Fosamax, you should talk to your prescriber or pharmacist. They may be able to give you advice on other ways to take your medicine or other preparations that are easier for you to take.

Taking extra doses of some medicines can be harmful. In some cases even one extra dose can cause you problems. If you take extra doses of your medicine, you must get medical advice immediately. You may need a test to assess the effect of taking extra doses. This is because the effects of taking too much medicine are very complex so it is very important that you seek medical advice.

Contact your prescriber, pharmacist, specialist clinic or NHS Direct on 0845 46 47 for advice.

Make sure you take all of your medicine containers with you if you are advised to go to hospital.

If you are having any problems taking your medicine you must speak to your prescriber. If you are not having any problems taking this medicine then do not stop taking it, even if you feel better, unless advised to do so by your prescriber.

If you are in any doubt, contact your prescriber, pharmacist, specialist clinic or NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.

The instructions on how you should keep your medicine are on the pharmacy label. You should keep your medicine in the original container. This will help to keep your medicine in the best condition and also allow you to check the instructions. Do not take the medicine if the packaging appears to have been tampered with or if the medicine shows any signs of damage. Make sure that the medicine is out of the sight and reach of children.

In the case of Fosamax:

You must not take the medicine after the expiry date shown on the packaging. If you have any unused medicine, return it to your pharmacist who will dispose of it safely.

Fosamax is not suitable for everyone and some people should never use it. Other people should only use it with special care. It is important that the person prescribing this medicine knows your full medical history.

Your prescriber may only prescribe this medicine with special care or may not prescribe it at all if you:

Furthermore the prescriber may only prescribe this medicine with special care or may not prescribe it at all for someone under 18 years of age.

As part of the process of assessing suitability to take this medicine a prescriber may also arrange tests:

Over time it is possible that Fosamax can become unsuitable for some people, or they may become unsuitable for it. If at any time it appears that Fosamax has become unsuitable, it is important that the prescriber is contacted immediately.

A medicine is only made available to the public if the clinical trials have shown that the benefits of taking the medicine outweigh the risks.

Once a medicine has been licensed, information on the medicine's effects, both intended and unintended, is continuously recorded and updated.

Some side-effects may be serious while others may only be a mild inconvenience.

Everyone's reaction to a medicine is different. It is difficult to predict which side-effects you will have from taking a particular medicine, or whether you will have any side-effects at all. The important thing is to tell your prescriber or pharmacist if you are having problems with your medicine.

Very common: More than 1 in 10 people who take Fosamax

• abnormal laboratory test results

Common: More than 1 in 100 people who take Fosamax

• acid reflux
• bone, muscle or joint pain
• constipation
• diarrhoea
• distension of the stomach
• flatulence
• headaches
• indigestion
• oesophageal problems such as oesophagitis or oesophageal ulcers - seek medical advice if you get any oesophageal irritation such as difficulty swallowing, pain when swallowing or new or worsening heartburn
• stomach pain

Uncommon: More than 1 in 1000 people who take Fosamax

• gastritis
• itching
• melaena
• nausea
• redness of the skin
• skin rash or rashes - some skin rashes may happen with a photosensitivity reaction
• vomiting

Rare: More than 1 in 10,000 people who take Fosamax

• eye or eyesight problems
• fever
• gastrointestinal problems
• general feeling of being unwell
• hypersensitivity reactions including urticaria or angioedema
• metabolic problems
• osteonecrosis of the jaw - this is usually associated with dental procedures or local infection. You or your carer must seek medical advice if you have dental problems such as tooth mobility, pain or swelling. If you need to have a dental procedure, make sure you tell your dentist that you are having treatment with Fosamax

Very rare: Fewer than 1 in 10,000 people who take Fosamax

• skin problems including Stevens-Johnson syndrome or toxic epidermal necrolysis

The frequency of these side-effects is unknown

• feeling dizzy
• hair loss
• joint swelling
• oedema of the extremities
• taste changes
• vertigo
• weakness

The following side effects have been reported in people who have had medicines similar to Fosamax. The frequency of these side-effects in people who take Fosamax is not known

• bone fractures which may heal slowly - these may occur if Fosamax is taken for a long period of time. Seek medical advice if you have any symptoms such as thigh, hip or groin pain

If you feel unwell or if you have concerns about a side-effect, you will need to seek advice. If you feel very ill, get medical help straight away. Contact your prescriber, pharmacist, nurse or call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.

If you are taking more than one medicine they may interact with each other. At times your prescriber may decide to use medicines that interact, in other cases this may not be appropriate.

The decision to use medicines that interact depends on your specific circumstances. Your prescriber may decide to use medicines that interact, if it is believed that the benefits of taking the medicines together outweigh the risks. In such cases, it may be necessary to alter your dose or monitor you more closely.

Tell your prescriber the names of all the medicines that you are taking so that they can consider all possible interactions. This includes all the medicines which have been prescribed by your GP, hospital doctor, dentist, nurse, health visitor, midwife or pharmacist. You must also tell your prescriber about medicines which you have bought over the counter without prescriptions.

The following types of medicine may interact with Fosamax:

If you are taking Fosamax and one of the above types of medicines, make sure your prescriber knows about it.

Medicines can interact with complementary preparations and vitamins.

Make sure you tell your prescriber the names of all the complementary preparations and vitamins that you are taking or are planning to take.

Your prescriber can then decide whether it is appropriate for you to take combinations that are known to interact.

In the case of Fosamax:

If you have been prescribed Fosamax you should only take something on the above list on the specific advice of your prescriber or pharmacist.

When taking any medicine you should be aware that it might interfere with your ability to drive or operate machinery safely.

In the case of Fosamax:

You should see how this medicine affects you before you judge whether you are safe to drive or operate machinery. If you are in any doubt about whether you should drive or operate machinery, talk to your prescriber.

Medicines can interact with certain foods. In some cases, this may be harmful and your prescriber may advise you to avoid certain foods.

In the case of Fosamax:

For more advice speak to your prescriber, nutritionist or pharmacist.

Alcohol can interact with certain medicines.

In the case of Fosamax:

This medicine is only given to post-menopausal women so its effects in pregnancy are not relevant.

This medicine is only given to post-menopausal women so its effects on breast-feeding are not relevant.

Medicines contain active ingredients. They may also contain other, additional ingredients that help ensure the stability, safety and effectiveness of the medicine. They are also added to improve the medicine's taste and appearance and to make it easier to take. Some may be used to prolong the life of the medicine.

You should check that you are able to take the ingredients in your medicine, especially if you have any allergies.

Fosamax contains:

If you are not able to take any of the ingredients in your medicine, talk to your prescriber or pharmacist to see if they can suggest an alternative medicine. If you have reacted badly to Fosamax before, do not take Fosamax. Talk to your prescriber, pharmacist or nurse as soon as possible.