Atelvia and stomach upset
Osteoporosis is a serious and common problem, especially in the elderly. The newly released Risedronic acid(Atelvia) is a bisphosphonate used to strengthen bone, treat or prevent osteoporosis (and treat Paget’s disease of bone). It is recommended that risedronate be taken with the body upright, and followed by a glass of water. Moreover, it is recommended that no food or drink other than water be taken for 2 hours before and 30 minutes after taking risedronate. Risedronate goes faster through the food pipe and, therefore, has less time to damage it It appears to cause less stomach upset than other drugs in this class. The dosage instructions say that risedronate can be taken with less water than other drugs in the class. It is taken weekly but risedronate is also available as a 75mg tablet to be taken on two consecutive days each month (2CDM) in order to optimize patient adherence. These factors may make it preferred for use in the elderly.
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