According to MayoClinic.com, alendronate is an oral medication that doctors prescribe for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis which is a condition characterized by the thinning of bones and a loss of bone density. Alendronate increases bone mass for postmenopausal women, for men who have osteoporosis, and for women and men who have osteoporosis brought on by prolonged use of a class of drugs called glucocorticoids. Patients taking alendronate need to be monitored by their doctors at regular intervals during treatment because the drug can cause some serious side effects.
Damage to the Esophagus
Alendronate can damage the tissue of the esophagus leading to difficulties in swallowing, says MayoClinic.com. Other signs of esophageal problems include heartburn that feels worse than usual, a painful feeling in the middle of the chest, and the sensation that food traveling to the stomach becomes lodged in the esophagus. Patients who have these symptoms should stop taking alendronate and call their doctor right away.
Musculoskeletal Pain
According to Drugs.com, patients taking alendronate for osteoporosis may experience intense pain in bones, joints, or muscles. This side effect occurs most frequently in postmenopausal women, and initially appears anywhere from one day to several months after the start of therapy.
Dental Problems
People taking alendronate may be at increased risk of developing osteonecrosis of the jaw if they need to undergo a dental procedure such as a tooth extraction or dental implant, says Drugs.com. Osteonecrosis of the jaw refers to the death of jaw bone tissue, and leads to pain, swelling, infection and exposed bone. Patients who stop taking alendronate before undergoing an invasive dental procedure may reduce their risk of osteonecrosis of the jaw.
Renal Insufficiency
According to the Monthly Prescribing Reference, patients with severely compromised kidney function should not be treated with alendronate. There is very little clinical data on the use of alendronate in patients with severely compromised kidney function, and therefore little is known about the ability of such patients to eliminate the drug from their system.
Hypocalcemia and Vitamin D Deficiency
Hypocalcemia is a disorder in which the patient's blood levels of calcium are below normal. According to Healthscout.com, hypocalcemia and vitamin D deficiency are two mineral metabolism problems that need to be corrected before a person begins osteoporosis therapy with alendronate. The building of new bone tissue requires adequate blood levels of not only calcium but also vitamin D which helps the body to absorb calcium.
Once hypocalcemia and vitamin D deficiency have been treated and the patient begins taking alendronate, it is important that the patient's doctor monitor serum calcium during the course of osteoporosis therapy.
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