Risedronate sodium 35 mg film-coated tablets
risedronate sodium
- Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.
- If you have any further questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
- This medicine has been prescribed for you only. Do not pass it on to others. It may harm them, even if their signs of illness are the same as yours.
- If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. See section 4.
The name of your medicine is Risedronate sodium 35 mg film-coated tablets (referred to as Risedronate tablets throughout this leaflet).
1. What Risedronate tablets is and what it is used for
2. What you need to know before you take Risedronate tablets
3. How to take Risedronate tablets
4. Possible side effects
5. How to store Risedronate tablets
6. Contents of the pack and other information
Risedronate tablets belongs to a group of non-hormonal medicines called bisphosphonates which are used to treat bone diseases. It works directly on your bones to make them stronger and therefore less likely to break.
Bone is a living tissue. Old bone is constantly removed from your skeleton and replaced with new bone.
Postmenopausal osteoporosis is a condition occurring in women after the menopause where the bones become weaker, more fragile and more likely to break after a fall or strain.
Osteoporosis can also occur in men due to a number of causes including ageing and/or a low level of the male hormone, testosterone.
The spine, hip and wrist are the most likely bones to break, although this can happen to any bone in your body. Osteoporosis – related fractures can also cause back pain, height loss and a curved back. Many patients with osteoporosis have no symptoms and you may not even have known that you had it.
The treatment of osteoporosis
- in postmenopausal women, even if osteoporosis is severe. It reduces the risk of spinal and hip fractures.
- in men.
- If you are allergic to risedronate sodium or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6)
- If your doctor has told you that you have a condition called hypocalcaemia (a low blood calcium level)
- If you may be pregnant, are pregnant or planning to become pregnant
- If you are breast-feeding
- If you have severe kidney problems.
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Risedronate tablets.
- If you are unable to stay in an upright position (sitting or standing) for at least 30 minutes.
- If you have abnormal bone and mineral metabolism (for example lack of vitamin D, parathyroid hormone abnormalities, both leading to a low blood calcium level).
- If you have had problems in the past with your oesophagus (the tube that connects your mouth with your stomach). For instance you may have had pain or difficulty in swallowing food or you have previously been told that you have Barrett’s oesophagus(a condition associated with changes in the cells that line the lower oesophagus).
- If you have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars (such as lactose).
- If you have had or have pain, swelling or numbness of the jaw or a “heavy jaw feeling” or loosening of a tooth.
- If you are under dental treatment or will undergo dental surgery, tell your dentist that you are being treated with Risedronate tablets.
Your doctor will advise you on what to do when taking Risedronate tablets if you have any of the above.
Risedronate is not recommended for use in children and adolescents below age 18 due to insufficient data on safety and efficacy.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines.
Medicines containing one of the following lessen the effect of Risedronate tablets if taken at the same time:
- calcium
- magnesium
- aluminium (for example some indigestion mixtures)
- iron
Take these medicines at least 30 minutes after your Risedronate tablets.
It is very important that you do not take your Risedronate tablets with food or drinks (other than plain water) so that it can work properly. In particular do not take this medicine at the same time as dairy products (such as milk) as they contain calcium (see section 2, “Other medicines and Risedronate tablets”).
Take food and drinks (other than plain water) at least 30 minutes after your Risedronate tablets.
If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine.
Do not take Risedronate tablets if you may be pregnant, are pregnant or planning to become pregnant (see section 2, “Do not take Risedronate tablets”). The potential risk associated with the use of risedronate sodium (active substance in Risedronate tablets) in pregnant women is unknown.
Do not take Risedronate tablets if you are breast-feeding (see section 2, “Do not take Risedronate tablets”).
Risedronate tablets should only be used to treat postmenopausal women and men.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking any medicine.
Risedronate tablets is not known to affect your ability to drive and use machines.
If you have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars, contact your doctor before taking this medicinal product.
This medicine contains less than 1 mmol sodium (23 mg) per film-coated tablet, that is to say essentially ‘sodium-free’.
Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor or pharmacist has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
The recommended dose is:
Take one Risedronate tablets
(35 mg of risedronate sodium) once a week.
Choose one day of the week that best fits your schedule. Every week, take the Risedronate tablets on your chosen day.
For your convenience, so that you take your tablet on the right day every week, there is a feature included with the Risedronate tablets pack:
Take your Risedronate tablets at least 30 minutes before the first food, drink (other than plain water) or other medicine of the day.
- Take the tablet whilst you are in an upright position (you may sit or stand) to avoid heartburn.
- Swallow it with at least one glass (120 ml) of plain water.
- Swallow it whole. Do not suck or chew it.
- Do not lie down for 30 minutes after taking your tablet.
Your doctor will tell you if you need calcium and vitamin supplements, if you are not taking enough from your diet.
If you or somebody else has accidentally taken more Risedronate tablets than prescribed, drink one full glass of milk and seek medical attention.
If you have forgotten to take your tablet on your chosen day, take it on the day you remember. Return to taking one tablet once a week on the day the tablet is normally taken.
Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.
If you stop treatment you may begin to lose bone mass. Please talk to your doctor before you consider stopping treatment.
If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
Stop taking Risedronate and contact a doctor immediately if you experience any of the following:
- Symptoms of a severe allergic reaction such as;
- Swelling of face, tongue or throat
- Difficulties in swallowing
- Hives and difficulties in breathing
- Severe skin reactions that can include blistering of the skin.
Tell your doctor promptly if you experience the following side effects:
- Eye inflammation, usually with pain, redness and light sensitivity.
- Bone necrosis of the jaw (osteonecrosis) associated with delayed healing and infection, often following tooth extraction (see section 2, “Warnings and precautions”).
- Symptoms from oesophagus such as pain when you swallow, difficulties in swallowing, chest pain or new or worsened heartburn.
However in clinical studies the other side effects that were observed were usually mild and did not cause the patient to stop taking their tablets.
Common: may affect up to 1 in 10 people
- Indigestion, feeling sick, stomach ache, stomach cramps or discomfort, constipation, feelings of fullness, bloating, diarrhoea.
- Pain in your bones, muscles or joints.
- Headache.
Uncommon: may affect up to 1 in 100 people
- Inflammation or ulcer of the oesophagus (the tube that connects your mouth with your stomach) causing difficulty and pain in swallowing (see also section 2, “Warnings and precautions”), inflammation of the stomach and duodenum (bowel draining the stomach).
- Inflammation of the coloured part of the eye (iris) (red painful eyes with a possible change in vision).
Rare: may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people
- Inflammation of the tongue (red swollen, possibly painful), narrowing of the oesophagus (the tube that connects your mouth with your stomach).
- Abnormal liver tests have been reported. These can only be diagnosed from a blood test.
Very rare: may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people
- Talk to your doctor if you have ear pain, discharge from the ear, and/or an ear infection. These could be signs of bone damage in the ear.
During post-marketing experience, the following have been reported (unknown frequency);
- Hair loss
- Liver disorders, some cases were severe.
Rarely, at the beginning of treatment, a patient’s blood calcium and phosphate levels may fall. These changes are usually small and cause no symptoms.
Unusual fracture of the thigh bone particularly in patients on long-term treatment for osteoporosis may occur rarely. Contact your doctor if you experience pain, weakness or discomfort in your thigh, hip or groin as this may be an early indication of a possible fracture of the thigh bone.
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the national reporting system listed in Yellow Card Scheme Website: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store. By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.
Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the carton and blister after EXP. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
This medicine does not require any special storage conditions.
Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help protect the environment.
The active substance is risedronate sodium. Each film-coated tablet contains 35 mg risedronate sodium (equivalent to 32.4 mg risedronic acid).
The other ingredients are:
Tablet core: Lactose monohydrate, crospovidone, hydroxy propyl cellulose, magnesium stearate and cellulose microcrystalline.
Film coating: Hypromellose, titanium dioxide (E171), macrogol 400, hydroxy propyl cellulose, iron oxide yellow (E172), macrogol 8000, iron oxide red (E172) and silica colloidal anhydrous.
Film-coated tablet.
Light orange coloured, circular shaped film coated biconvex tablets debossed with ‘F27’ on one side and plain on the other side.
Transparent PVC / PE / PVdC / Aluminium blisters in a cardboard box, Packs 1, 2, 4, 10, 12 or 16 tablets.
Not all pack sizes may be marketed.
Milpharm Limited
1 Roundwood Avenue
Stockley Park
Uxbridge
UB11 1AF
United Kingdom
APL Swift Services (Malta) Limited
HF26
Hal Far Industrial Estate
Hal Far
Birzebbugia
BBG 3000
Malta
or
Milpharm Limited
1 Roundwood Avenue
Stockley Park
Uxbridge
UB11 1AF
United Kingdom
This leaflet was last revised in 10/2025.
P1540246
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