Everything About Alendronate Sodium, Alendronate Sodium Side Effects And Ambien Overdose

Alendronate belongs to a family of medications known as bisphosphonates. It is used to treat and prevent osteoporosis for postmenopausal women. It is also used to treat osteoporosis in men.

Alendronate may also get used to treat and prevent steroid-induced osteoporosis for men and women (osteoporosis caused by taking corticosteroids such as prednisone for long periods). You may also use it to treat Paget’s disease of the bone for both men and women.

Alendronate increases bone mineral density (bone mineral density) by slowing down the cells that usually break down bone (osteoclasts). It allows the cells that build bone (osteoblasts) to work more efficiently. By making bones stronger, alendronate can help to reduce the incidence of osteoporosis-related fractures.

Alendronic acid or Alendronate is sold under the brand name of Fosamax. It is a type of drug that prevents the loss of bone density and is generally used in treating osteoporosis and similar diseases. The dose of Alendronate is taken orally and is often recommended together with vitamin D, calcium supplementation, and lifestyle changes.

What Is Alendronate? Why Is It Used?

Alendronate falls under the bisphosphonate category of drugs. It is used to treat and prevent osteoporosis – a condition in which the bones become thin and weak and break easily, especially in women who have undergone menopause, and also to treat osteoporosis in men. Another primary drug use is to treat osteoporosis in men and women who are taking corticosteroids which is a specific medication that causes osteoporosis in some patients. 

Treatment of a bone condition called Paget’s disease in which the bones are soft and weak and may be deformed, painful, or easily broken is also through Alendronate.  

Who Should Not Take Alendronate Sodium?

Do not take alendronate if you:

• Allergic to alendronate or any ingredients of the medication
• Cannot stand or sit upright for at least 30 minutes
• Have an abnormality of the esophagus (the passage leading from throat to stomach) that delays the Emptying of the esophagus into the stomach
• Low blood calcium
• Severely reduced kidney function

Alendronate Sodium Side-Effects

Many medications can cause side effects. A side effect is an unwanted response to a medication when it is taken in regular doses. Side effects can be mild or severe, temporary or permanent.

Some of the common Alendronate side-effects are:

• Abdominal pain
• Bloating
• Changed sense of taste
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Dizziness
• Gas
• Hair loss
• Headache
• Heartburn
• Mild skin rash or redness
• Nausea
• Pain in bones, muscles, or joints
• Rash that is made worse by sunlight
• Spinning sensation
• Vomiting

Stop taking the medication and seek immediate medical attention if any of the following occur:

• Delayed healing and infection of mouth and jaw (usually after tooth extraction)
• New or unusual pain in the hip or thigh
• Signs of a severe allergic reaction (e.g., swelling of face or throat, hives, or difficulty breathing)
• Signs of a severe skin reaction (e.g., high fever; rash; sores; painful blisters on the skin, mouth, or eyes; or skin peeling off)
• Signs of damage to the esophagus (e.g., pain in the esophagus [throat area] or behind the breastbone, chest pain, difficulty swallowing, pain when swallowing, or new or worsening heartburn)
• Symptoms of a stomach or intestinal ulcer (e.g., nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, loss of weight or appetite, black or bloody stools, or vomiting blood)

For more information on Alendronate, click here.

What Is Ambien? More About Ambien Overdose

Ambien is a sedative, also called a hypnotic. It affects chemicals in your brain that may become unbalanced and cause sleep problems (insomnia). Ambien is used for the short-term treatment of insomnia (difficulty falling or staying asleep). This medication causes relaxation to help you fall asleep. 

Ambien may cause a severe allergic reaction. Stop taking it and get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Ambien will make you fall asleep. Never take this medication during your regular waking hours unless you have a total of 7 to 8 hours to dedicate to sleeping.

Ambien Overdose

Ambien can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. You may still feel sleepy the morning after taking the medication. Until you know how this medication will affect you during waking hours, be careful if you drive, operate machinery, pilot an airplane, or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert. 

Do not drink alcohol while you are taking this medication. It can increase some of the side effects of Ambien, including drowsiness. This medication may be habit-forming and should be used only by the person it was prescribed for. Ambien should never be shared with another person, especially someone who has a history of drug abuse or addiction. Keep the medication in a secure place where others cannot get to it. For more information on Ambien, click here. 

Ambien will make you fall asleep. Never take this medication during your regular waking hours unless you have a total of 7 to 8 hours to dedicate to sleeping.

Some people using this medicine have engaged in driving, eating, or making phone calls and later having no memory of the activity. If this happens to you, stop taking Ambien and talk with your doctor about another treatment for your sleep disorder.

Do not use this medication if you are allergic to zolpidem. Ambien tablets may contain lactose. Use caution if you are sensitive to lactose.

Things To Take Care 

Taking a bisphosphonate medication such as alendronate for osteoporosis may increase the risk that you will break your thigh bones. You may feel pain in your hips, groin, or thighs for several weeks or months before the bones break, and you may find that one or both of your thigh bones have broken even though you have not fallen or experienced other trauma.

After a long dose of Alendronate, it is unusual for the thigh bone to break in healthy people, but people who have osteoporosis may break this bone even if they do not take alendronate. In situations where you counter such things, it is advisable to consult your doctor. 

Warning

Ambien and Alcohol warning

Drinking Alcohol can worsen Alendronate stomach health risks. Consult your doctor if you consume alcohol. They can keep a close eye on you if you have stomach issues.

Ambien is a sedative drug that gets used to treating insomnia in individuals for a short period. Ambien induces sleepiness in the patient. 

Doctors tell patients not to take Alendronate with other medications and don’t lie down after taking Alendronate. Thus, taking Ambien and Alendronate can cause severe damage to the patient’s esophagus.

Food warning 

The patient should take this medication with a glass of water on an empty abdomen. They should not consume it with mineral water, tea, coffee, fruit juice, or soda. It can minimize the amount of this medicine absorbed by your body. It can also intensify the adverse effects. After taking alendronate, wait at least 30 minutes before eating or drinking something.

Conclusion

Alendronate is a drug that is used to treat and prevent osteoporosis. It also cures Paget’s disease. The bones become brittle and thin as a result of this disease, and they easily break. Some side effects are minor. They can go away in a matter of days or weeks.

Ambien is a drug that gets used to treat insomnia in individuals for a short period. Ambien and Alendronate can cause serious damage to the patient’s esophagus.

Report to the physician immediately if the patients have any Alendronate sodium side effects.