Actonel Side Effects

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Actonel (known generically as risedronate sodium) is a prescription medication used to treat and prevent osteoporosis in post-menopausal women. It is part of a class of drugs known as bisphosphonates which are used to slow the rate of bone loss. It is estimated that close to 36 million women use medications such as Actonel to reduce their chances of developing osteoporosis or improve bone density if they have already contracted the illness. Actonel is produced by Proctor & Gamble and marketed by it marketing partner Sanofi-Aventis. In March of 1998, the US Food and Drug Administration gave the drug approval for human consumption.

Actonel works by blocking the cells that cause bone dissolution in osteoporosis. In the body, bone is contantly forming and dissolving. In osteoporosis, bone dissolves faster than it is formed, causing the bone to lose density. By effectively blocking the cells that cause bone dissolution, Actonel allows the bone to gain density by forming faster than it dissolves. This in turn causes the bone to gain strength and reduces the risk of stress fractures, which are painful and can be life threatening in certain cases.

In clinical trials, Actonel side effects have been found to range from mild to severe, depending on the side effect and the person reporting. The most common side effects of Actonel are as follows:

• 1 in 5 patients or 20% reported headaches
• 1 in 5 patients or 20% reported diarrhea
• 1 in 3 patients or 33% reported joint pain
• 1 in 9 patients or 11% reported abdominal pain
• 1 in 9 patients or 11% reported the appearance of a rash
• 1 in 10 patients or 10% reported nausea

Other side effects of Actonel include flu-like symptoms, chest pain, constipation, and swelling.
It has been found that if Actonel lodges in the esophagus during swallowing, it can cause esophageal ulcers. Therefore, medical professionals recommend that Actonel is taken sitting upright or standing and followed by an entire 8 ounce glass of water. To prevent Actonel stickling in the esophagus, it is also recommended that the patient continue standing or sitting upright for at least one-half hour after taking the medication.

Individuals taking Actonel are recommended to avoid tooth extractions and other major dental procedures while using the drug, due to a connection found between Actonel usage and a serious bone disease called Osteonecrosis of the Jaw (ONJ), also known as Dead Jaw. The link between bisphosphonates, such as Actonel, and ONJ was discovered in 2004, six years after Actonel was released to the public. After the findings were published in the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the drug manufacturer, Proctor & Gamble, issued a warning to healthcare professionals and the general public about the increased risk of ONJ while on medications such as Actonel.

ONJ is a condition in which the jaw bone refuses to heal after minor damage, such as with a tooth extraction. This refusal to heal properly leads to infection, rotting, and eventual bone death. Serious cases require the dying bone tissue to be removed through surgery, along with a long term antibiotic regiment. Experts estimate that over 2,400 individuals taking bisphosphonates, such as Actonel, have suffered jaw bone decay and death due to ONJ since 2001, some suffering from such severe pain and debilitation that they have become bedridden. Healthcare professionals state that prevention of ONJ and early treatment of those who contract the disease is vital to preserve the jaw bone.

Do I have an Actonel Lawsuit?

The Defective Drug Litigation Group at our law firm is an experienced team of trial lawyers that focus exclusively on the representation of plaintiffs in Actonel lawsuits. We are handling individual litigation nationwide and currently accepting new Actonel cases in all 50 states.

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