Has anyone experienced constipation using Actonel?

[John/Carmen]

Hi guys,
My medical provider won't pay for Fosamax, but they will pay for
Actonel. The generic name for Actonel is risedronate which is the drug
that Actonel contains.
Can anyone tell me if anyone who has taken this drug has gotten
constipated? I easily can get constipated and I won't start taking the
drug if it does.
I went to the Actonel website and checked it out. There are other side
effects that also scared me, but the possible constipation is what I'm
concerned about.
Any answers would be appreciated.

Carmen

Talk to you later.

[John]

I have not heard that problem mentioned by anyone.
I use fosamax and can tell that it does not produce anything
like that for me.

Having said that - and even if it does cause you immediate
problems, it might be worth
trying it for a short term to see if your body can temper to
it.

You say that your medical provider will NOT provide fosamax.
Did you ask why? Is it possible
that their drug formulary is old and was produced BEFORE
fosamax became a mainstream drug. I can
tell you that in another drug instance, the company allow's
me a certain drug based
upon medical necessity as per my doctor.

John

John/Carmen wrote:
>
> Hi guys,
> My medical provider won't pay for Fosamax, but they will pay for
> Actonel. The generic name for Actonel is risedronate which is the drug
> that Actonel contains.
> Can anyone tell me if anyone who has taken this drug has gotten
> constipated? I easily can get constipated and I won't start taking the
> drug if it does.
> I went to the Actonel website and checked it out. There are other side
> effects that also scared me, but the possible constipation is what I'm
> concerned about.
> Any answers would be appreciated.
>
> Carmen
>
> Talk to you later.

[John/Carmen]

Hi John,
I called my medical provider this morning. Fosamax is not on their list
of approved drugs.
They do approve Actonel. I have a doctors appointment for Thursday and I
will ask them.
I have osteopenia. I sure hope that I don't get osteoporosis. I'm am
going to inquire about Actonel.
I've been on a calcium supplement for a few days. I started to drink
milk about a week ago and I do exercise. I'll have to give it a few
months and see how the milk helps my body.

Thank you for posting.

Carmen

Talk to you later.

[bj]

Constipation is listed among the adverse events in the full prescribing
information.
See
http://www.pgpharma.com/pi/US-Actonel.pdf
it's on p. 22
This doesn't mean that YOU will get it, though.
Constipation is also listed as a possible adverse event for Fosamax, but I
have no trouble with it.

Are you saying that if ANYONE gets constipation from something then you
won't try it out?
bj

"John/Carmen" <sheandi18@webtv.net> wrote in message
news:15190-3F673ADD-149@storefull-2275.public.lawson.webtv.net...

> Can anyone tell me if anyone who has taken this drug has gotten
> constipated? I easily can get constipated and I won't start taking the
> drug if it does.

[bj]

They may consider Actonel "similar enough" for osteo-penia/porosis
treatment.

At least they offer *something*!

"John" <n2rdv@optonline.net> wrote in message
news:3F67AD1D.62DDDD5@optonline.net...
>
> You say that your medical provider will NOT provide fosamax.
> Did you ask why? Is it possible
> that their drug formulary is old and was produced BEFORE
> fosamax became a mainstream drug. I can
> tell you that in another drug instance, the company allow's
> me a certain drug based
> upon medical necessity as per my doctor.
>

[John/Carmen]

Hi,
I suffer from accute constipation. Anything can trigger it off for me.
I'm not saying that I won't take the drug if other people experience it.
I just wanted to know if anyone has gotten constipated from using the
drug.

Carmen

Talk to you later.

[John/Carmen]

Hi,

I do appreciate your posts.
I went to my pharmacist and inquired about the price of Fosamax. It's
$66 for a months supply. I don't know what Actonel will cost, but it
does have a generic name.
I'll have to check it out further.

Carmen

Talk to you later.

[bj]

Are you in the USA?
All drugs have a generic name, but not all are available in generic form (&
prices).
The only listing in the FDA orange book for RISEDRONATE (Actonel) is the
brand name.
(see http://www.fda.gov/cder/ob/docs/queryai.htm)
Fosamax (alendronate) is also only listed as brand-name.

Maybe the "exclusivity" condition has something to do with generic
availability sooner for Actonel? This is something I know little about. I
browse the FDA site, but don't always understand some of these details!

Anyway, the pharmacist will know if something is available in generic, &
should be able to find out if will be soon if it isn't now.

You may be able to save a bit by buying larger quantities, esp. if you buy
online (e.g. drugstore.com), if & when you find you can tolerate it and plan
to keep taking it.

Good luck
bj

"John/Carmen" <sheandi18@webtv.net> wrote in message
news:17212-3F688AA7-41@storefull-2273.public.lawson.webtv.net...
> Hi,
>
> I do appreciate your posts.
> I went to my pharmacist and inquired about the price of Fosamax. It's
> $66 for a months supply. I don't know what Actonel will cost, but it
> does have a generic name.
> I'll have to check it out further.
>
> Carmen
>
> Talk to you later.
>
>
>