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Risedronate Sodium Tablets
A bisphosphonate medication that comes in tablet form, risedronate sodium (Actonel®) is used to slow down the rate at which bone breaks down and encourage normal reformation. It is specifically approved for the following uses:
- Treating Paget's disease of the bone in men and women
- Treating osteoporosis in men
- Preventing and treating osteoporosis in postmenopausal women
- Preventing and treating osteoporosis in men and women who take steroids.
Risedronate can be taken on a number of dosing schedules (daily, weekly, or monthly), depending on what your healthcare provider recommends. When taken monthly, one tablet is taken daily for two days in a row each month.
(To learn more about how to take these tablets, click Risedronate. This overview article also offers in-depth information on what to expect, safety issues to discuss with your healthcare provider, and more.)
Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD