Know About Osteoporosis Drug Fosamax GenericIn 1995, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved alendronate or alendronic acid for the treatment of osteoporosis in post-menopausal women. Postmenopausal osteoporosis is a bone-weakening condition that affects over eight million women and is responsible for causing more 1.5 million fractures each year in the U.S.
Alendronate is the active drug composition of Fosamax Generic, which increases bone mineral density, reducing the risk of fractures in elder women with osteoporosis. Fosamax generic also treats osteopenia, which is low bone density that does not meet the criteria for osteoporosis.
Fractures caused due to osteoporosis are an important cause of permanent disability in postmenopausal women. Hip fractures can lead to hospitalization, which need surgical intervention and often result in long-term medical care. Vertebral fractures due to osteoporosis can cause debilitating backache and increase the risk of early death.
Fosamax generic belongs to a class of drugs called bisphosphonates that work by slowing down the resorption and breakdown of normal bone remodeling. In fact, Fosamax generic isone of the oldest drugs for treating osteoporosis in women who attained their climacteric age. If used regularly, the drug improves bone mineral density, preventing osteoporosis and eventually easy fractures.
In 2008, researchers published a report on a few postmenopausal women with an average age of 66, who used Fosamax generic. They took Fosamax generic for an average of five years and experienced a remarkable improvement in their bone mineral density.
Physicians often diagnose osteoporosis with the help of dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry that measures bone mineral density. They recommend that a woman with osteoporosis should strongly consider taking Fosamax generic in order to reduce the risk of fracture.
Postmenopausal women with osteopenia should also consider taking this medication. Experts suggest that women with osteopenia should take Fosamax generic if the FRAX calculator says that their 10-year risk for a hip fracture is 3% or their 10-year risk for any major fracture is 20%.
Currently, there is no consensus on how long a postmenopausal woman should take Fosamax generic. Until there are sufficient studies, women taking Fosamax generic who have severe osteoporosis or osteopenia should probably continue doing so. Some studies suggest that women can take a break for a brief period.
As with any conventional drug, do not take Fosamax Generic unless you are sure you actually need it. If you are already taking the medicine and concerned about its long-term effects, please talk to your physician about taking a break from the treatment. It has been found that bisphosphonates stay in your bone for years, so it is unclear that a "drug-holiday" will reduce the risk of possible long-term side effects. Make sure you have your bone density checked after a year if you have decided to take a break. If the figures have declined significantly, consider resuming Fosamax generic therapy.
In the meantime, you can continue all the other safety measures that help protect and maintain your bone mineral density, such as taking calcium and vitamin D supplements every day, getting 30 minutes of weight-bearing exercise, and staying away from smoking and limiting alcohol.
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