Oral Bisphosphonates Fosamax, Actonel, Boniva and Side Effects: Helpful Food and Nutrition Tips

Under FDA guidelines, drugs to treat osteoporosis must be shown to preserve or increase bone mass as well as maintain bone quality in order to reduce the risk of experiencing broken bones or fractures. Some medications increase bone thickness or slow the rate of bone loss.

These drugs, like most medicines, have some side effects and the potential for food-drug interactions. While it is a difficult and complex problem to determine the exact effects of food and nutrients on a particular drug, there can be dramatic results or problems caused by food-drug interactions, as well as drug-drug and alcohol-food-drug interactions.

 
Although not all medicines are affected by food, some are affected by what you eat and when you eat it. For example, consuming some medicines at the same time that you eat may interfere with the way your body absorbs the medicine. The food may decrease and even delay the absorption of the drug.

 
Let’s begin by taking a closer look at a few popular osteoporosis drugs used to prevent or treat osteoporosis.

ACTONEL, BONIVA, and FOSAMAX

These drugs are in a group of medicines called bisphosphonates, which can inhibit bone breakdown, preserve bone mass, and even increase bone density in your spine and hip, reducing the risk of fractures.

All three drugs should be taken first thing in the morning; Actonel and Fosamax should be taken at least 30 minutes before you eat or drink anything or take any other medicine and Boniva should be taken at least 60 minutes before you consume any other food, drink or medicine. Take the tablet with a full glass (6 to 8 ounces) of water. Use only plain water, not mineral water, coffee, tea, juice, milk, or other dairy products.

After taking Actonel or Fosamax, do not go back to bed, lie down or recline for at least 30 minutes after you take the tablet. Do not eat anything or drink anything other than plain water; do not take any other medicines including vitamins, calcium, or antacids for at least 30 minutes after taking the tablet. For those who take Boniva, make sure you wait at least 60 minutes before lying down or reclining or eating or drinking anything, including vitamins, calcium, or antacids.

Some possible side effects of these drugs include: mild heartburn or upset stomach, diarrhea, gas, constipation, acid regurgitation, and indigestion. Please note this is not a comprehensive list of side effects and other side effects may also occur, so please talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.