Alendronic acid 70mg/75ml oral solution unit dose
Requires a prescription from a doctor or prescriber
Alendronic acid is a second generation bisphosphonate that is used for the treatment of some forms of osteoperosis and Paget's disease[FDA Label][A959,A203111].
Safety information for pregnancy and breastfeeding
Pregnancy
Breastfeeding
Always consult your doctor or midwife before taking any medicine during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. Source: DrugBank (CC BY-NC 4.0).
Official documents, adverse reaction reporting, and safety monitoring
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Official medicine documents
Yellow Card
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Drug safety updates
MHRA alerts for Alendronic acid
Safety monitoring data
Yellow Card reports
The MHRA Yellow Card scheme collects reports of suspected side effects from healthcare professionals and patients. View the Drug Analysis Profile (iDAP) for real-world adverse reaction data.
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Suspected adverse reactions reported for Alendronic acid
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Submit a Yellow Card report to the MHRA
Data from the MHRA Yellow Card scheme. A reported reaction does not necessarily mean the medicine caused it. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
EudraVigilance
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) collects suspected adverse reaction reports from across the EU/EEA through the EudraVigilance system. Search for safety data on this medicine.
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Suspected adverse reactions reported for Alendronic acid
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Learn about EU pharmacovigilance and safety monitoring
EudraVigilance data is published by the European Medicines Agency (EMA). A suspected adverse reaction is not necessarily caused by the medicine.
1 branded products available
WHO defined daily dose (DDD)
10 mg
Not a recommended dose. The DDD is the assumed average maintenance dose per day for a drug used for its main indication in adults. It is a statistical measure used for research and comparison purposes only.
Source: WHO Collaborating Centre for Drug Statistics Methodology, distributed via the NHS dm+d supplementary mapping files (NHSBSA). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Therapeutically similar medicines
Similarity is based on WHO Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) classification and on a factual NHS dm+d therapeutic-grouping code prefix. Source data: NHS dm+d via TRUD (OGL v3.0), WHO ATC/DDD Index.
NHS prescribing volume and spending trends
Guidelines from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence
NICE clinical guidance(8)
Romosozumab for treating severe osteoporosis (TA791)
Bisphosphonates for treating osteoporosis (TA464)
Abaloparatide for treating osteoporosis after menopause (TA991)
Raloxifene and teriparatide for the secondary prevention of osteoporotic fragility fractures in postmenopausal women (TA161)
Raloxifene for the primary prevention of osteoporotic fragility fractures in postmenopausal women (TA160)
Osteoporosis (QS149)
Denosumab for the prevention of osteoporotic fractures in postmenopausal women (TA204)
Hip fracture: management (CG124)
Source: National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Check stock at pharmacies and supply information
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Supply & safety information
Official UK regulator monitoring and safety alerts
Pharmacy links redirect to the retailer's own search and do not represent real-time stock levels. Shortage and safety information sourced from MHRA drug safety updates (gov.uk, Crown Copyright under OGL v3.0).
Codes for healthcare professionals and prescribing systems
These codes are used by healthcare IT systems and prescribers to identify this medicine.
NHS UK identifiers
Browse tools
SNOMED CT and dm+d codes from NHS TRUD (Technology Reference data Update Distribution), licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. ATC codes from the WHO Collaborating Centre for Drug Statistics Methodology (whocc.no).
Active and completed clinical studies from ClinicalTrials.gov
Source: ClinicalTrials.gov, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM), National Institutes of Health (NIH). Data accessed via ClinicalTrials.gov API v2. Trial information is provided for research purposes and does not constitute medical advice.
Academic studies and reviews for this medicine's active substance
Showing the 50 most relevant studies.
Reviews & meta-analyses: 2 · Randomised trials: 6 · 2019–2026
Showing the 50 most relevant studies, sorted by most relevant.
Pawade TA, Doris MK, Bing R, et al.
2021
- Disease Progression
- Aortic Valve Stenosis
- Alendronate
Geers J, Bing R, Pawade TA, et al.
2024
- Alendronate
- Bone Density Conservation Agents
- Vascular Calcification
Hald JD, Weir C, Keerie C, et al.
2025
- Osteogenesis Imperfecta
- Teriparatide
- Bone Density Conservation Agents
IntroductionOsteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is a rare disorder causing multiple fractures throughout life. No treatment has been shown to reduce the risk of fractures in OI. Here, we present the baseline characteristics of participants in the Treatment of Osteogenesis Imperfecta with Parathyroid Hormone and Zoledronic Acid (TOPaZ) trial. The aim of the trial is to determine whether teriparatide and zoledronic acid are superior to standard care in reducing the risk of clinical fractures.MethodsWe summarised data on the baseline characteristics of TOPaZ participants, including demographics, genetic diagnosis, clinical features, bone density measurements, previous treatments, and fracture history.ResultsWe recruited 350 adults with a clinical diagnosis of OI in 27 European referral centres between June 2017 and October 2022. Overall, 266 (76.2%) had type I OI, 55 (15.8%) had type IV, and 19 (5.4%) had type III. The type was unknown in 9 (2.6%). Blue sclera were noted in 80.8%, and 35.8% had dentinogenesis imperfecta. Bisphosphonates had been administered to 28.1% in the 2 years prior to enrolment. Pathogenic variants in COL1A1 or COL1A2 were found in 87.6%. Fractures occurring in the 2 years prior to enrolment were not associated with bone density.ConclusionsThe TOPaZ population represents a unique cohort with which to study the genetic epidemiology and outcome of OI in relation to bone density and biochemical markers of bone turnover. When the trial reports, it will also provide new insights into the effect of an anabolic therapy, followed by antiresorptive treatment in the management of OI.
Abstract licence: CC BY
A. Duckworth, M. McQueen, C. Tuck, et al.
Journal of Bone and Mineral Research, 2019
- Alendronate
- Placebos
- Fracture Healing
Spiering W, Mali WP, de Jong PA
2021
- Aortic Valve Stenosis
- Denosumab
- Alendronate
Bing R, Newby DE, Ralston SH, et al.
2021
- Aortic Valve Stenosis
- Denosumab
- Alendronate
Aine Jakonyte, Egle Gustainyte, Žygimantas Petronis, et al.
Medicina, 2025
- Osteonecrosis
- Diphosphonates
- Imidazoles
D. Bradley, V. Patel, C. Honeyman, et al.
Journal of oral and maxillofacial surgery : official journal of the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, 2020
- Cherubism
- Mandible
- Maxilla
Heurtebize MA, Faillie JL
2024
- Diabetes Mellitus
- Hyperglycemia
- Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions
BackgroundDrug-induced hyperglycemia and diabetes have negative and potentially serious health consequences but can often be unnoticed.MethodsWe reviewed the literature searching Medline database for articles addressing drug-induced hyperglycemia and diabetes up to January 31, 2023. We also selected drugs that could induce hyperglycemia or diabetes according official data from drug information databases Thériaque and Micromedex. For each selected drug or pharmacotherapeutic class, the mechanisms of action potentially involved were investigated. For drugs considered to be at risk of hyperglycemia or diabetes, disproportionality analyses were performed using data from the international pharmacovigilance database VigiBase. In order to detect new pharmacovigilance signals, additional disproportionality analyses were carried out for drug classes with more than 100 cases reported in VigiBase, but not found in the literature or official documents.ResultsThe main drug classes found to cause hyperglycemia are glucocorticoids, HMG-coA reductase inhibitors, thiazide diuretics, beta-blockers, antipsychotics, fluoroquinolones, antiretrovirals, antineoplastic agents and immunosuppressants. The main mechanisms involved are alterations in insulin secretion and sensitivity, direct cytotoxic effects on pancreatic cells and increases in glucose production. Pharmacovigilance signal were found for a majority of drugs or pharmacological classes identified as being at risk of diabetes or hyperglycemia. We identified new pharmacovigilance signals with drugs not known to be at risk according to the literature or official data: phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors, endothelin receptor antagonists, sodium oxybate, biphosphonates including alendronic acid, digoxin, sartans, linosipril, diltiazem, verapamil, and darbepoetin alpha. Further studies will be needed to confirm these signals.ConclusionsThe risks of induced hyperglycemia vary from one drug to another, and the underlying mechanisms are multiple and potentially complex. Clinicians need to be vigilant when using at-risk drugs in order to detect and manage these adverse drug reactions. However, it is to emphasize that the benefits of appropriately prescribed treatments most often outweigh their metabolic risks.
Abstract licence: CC BY-NC-SA
Ripolin A, Volpe-Zanutto F, Sabri AH, et al.
2024
- Rats, Sprague-Dawley
- Osteoporosis
- Hydrogels
As of 2023, more than 200 million people worldwide are living with osteoporosis. Oral bisphosphonates (BPs) are the primary treatment but can cause gastrointestinal (GI) side effects, reducing patient compliance. Microarray (MAP) technology has the potential to overcome GI irritation by facilitating the transdermal delivery of BPs. This study examines the delivery of alendronic acid (ALN) and risedronate sodium (RDN) using dissolving and hydrogel-forming MAPs for osteoporosis treatment. In vivo testing on osteoporotic female Sprague Dawley rats demonstrated the efficacy of MAPs, showing significant improvements in mean serum and bone alkaline phosphatase levels, bone volume, and porosity compared to untreated bilateral ovariectomy (OVX) controls. Specifically, MAP treatment increased mean bone volume to 55.04 ± 2.25 % versus 47.16 ± 1.71 % in OVX controls and reduced porosity to 44.30 ± 2.97 % versus 52.84 ± 1.70 % in the distal epiphysis of the femur. In the distal metaphysis, bone volume increased to 43.32 ± 3.24 % in MAP-treated rats compared to 24.31 ± 3.21 % in OVX controls, while porosity decreased to 55.39 ± 5.81 % versus 75.69 ± 3.21 % in OVX controls. This proof-of-concept study indicates that MAP technology has the potential to be a novel, patient-friendly alternative for weekly osteoporosis management.
Abstract licence: CC BY
Sources: aggregated from Europe PMC (EMBL-EBI), OpenAlex, Crossref, PubMed and other open scholarly databases. Retracted articles are excluded. Study information is provided for research purposes and does not constitute medical advice.
Pharmacology and chemical data from DrugBank
Key facts
Drug status
Approved
Major interactions
198 found
Half-life
Not available
Mechanism
Alendronic acid binds to bone hydroxyapatite[FDA Label].
Food interactions
4 warnings
Human targets
6 targets
Data: DrugBank · CC BY-NC 4.0
Pharmacokinetics at a glance
Absorption
0.64%
Half-life
10 years
Protein binding
78%
[A176771]
…
Volume of distribution
28L
Metabolism
[A176750]
Elimination
50%
[A176771]
…
Clearance
71mL/min
Pharmacokinetic data: DrugBank · CC BY-NC 4.0
[A959][A176750]
However, alendronic acid is not indicated for use in pediatric populations or patients with a creatinine clearance <35mL/min[FDA Label].
Known interactions with other medicines. Always consult a healthcare professional.
Showing 50 of 420 interactions
No information for treatment of overdose is available, however patients should be given milk or antacids to bind alendronic acid and vomiting should not be induced[FDA Label]. Patients may experience hypocalcemia, hypophosphatemia, and upper gastrointestinal events.[FDA Label].
There are currently no studies for safety and efficacy in pregnancy, though studies in pregnant rats show fetal and maternal complications at 4 times the clinical dose and pregnant rabbits do not show complications at as high as 10 times the clincal dose[FDA Label].
Excretion in breast milk, and therefore safety in lactation, is unknown[FDA Label].
Alendronic acid has been studied for use in pediatric patients[FDA Label]. The oral bioavailability is similar to that in adult patients, but an increase in the portion of patients experiencing vomiting[FDA Label].
There is no significant difference in efficacy or safety of alendronic acid in geriatric populations, though there is potential for even greater sensitivity in patients at a further advanced age than those in the study[FDA Label].
Alendronic acid is not recommended for patients with creatinine clearance <35mL/min, but no dosage adjustment is necessary in hepatic impairment[FDA Label].
How the body processes this drug — absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination
[A176750]
Bioavailability of alendronic acid decreases by up to 40% if it is taken within an hour of a meal[FDA Label].
[A176771]
[A176750]
[A176771]
No alendronic acid is recovered in the feces[FDA Label].
[A176750][A176768]
Men excrete less alendronic acid than women, though race and advanced age do not affect elimination[FDA Label].
Proteins and enzymes this drug interacts with in the body
PMID:25825441 PMID:27246854
Regulates neuronal cell homeostasis by protecting neurons against apoptosis .
PMID:20086240
Negatively regulates TLR4-induced interferon beta production by dephosphorylating adapter TICAM2 and inhibiting subsequent TRAM-TRIF interaction .
PMID:25825441
Also dephosphorylates the immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motifs/ITAMs of the TCR zeta subunit and thereby negatively regulates TCR-mediated signaling pathway (By similarity). May act at junctions between the membrane and the cytoskeleton
PMID:21454754
Binding to chondroitin sulfate and heparan sulfate proteoglycans has opposite effects on PTPRS oligomerization and regulation of neurite outgrowth. Contributes to the inhibition of neurite and axonal outgrowth by chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans, also after nerve transection. Plays a role in stimulating neurite outgrowth in response to the heparan sulfate proteoglycan GPC2.
Required for normal brain development, especially for normal development of the pituitary gland and the olfactory bulb. Functions as a tyrosine phosphatase .
PMID:8524829
Mediates dephosphorylation of NTRK1, NTRK2 and NTRK3 (By similarity). Plays a role in down-regulation of signaling cascades that lead to the activation of Akt and MAP kinases (By similarity).
Down-regulates TLR9-mediated activation of NF-kappa-B, as well as production of TNF, interferon alpha and interferon beta PMID:26231120
ATC M05BB03
ATC M05BA04
ATC M05BB06
ATC M05BB05
Chemical identifiers
CAS, UNII, InChI Key and database cross-references
Show
Chemical identifiers
CAS, UNII, InChI Key and database cross-references
Linked compound data from DrugBank Open Data (CC BY-NC 4.0)
Alendronic acid
Additional database identifiers
Drugs Product Database (DPD)
13353
ChemSpider
2004
BindingDB
25313
PDB
212
ZINC
ZINC000003801919
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:3631
GenAtlas
FDPS
GeneCards
FDPS
GenBank Gene Database
J05262
GenBank Protein Database
182399
Guide to Pharmacology
644
UniProt Accession
FPPS_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:9656
GenAtlas
PTPN4
GeneCards
PTPN4
GenBank Gene Database
M68941
GenBank Protein Database
190748
UniProt Accession
PTN4_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:9681
GeneCards
PTPRS
GenBank Gene Database
U35234
GenBank Protein Database
1109792
Guide to Pharmacology
1866
UniProt Accession
PTPRS_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:9669
GeneCards
PTPRE
GenBank Gene Database
X54134
GenBank Protein Database
35792
UniProt Accession
PTPRE_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:851
GeneCards
ATP6V1A
GenBank Gene Database
L09235
GenBank Protein Database
291868
UniProt Accession
VATA_HUMAN
DrugBank citations
If you use DrugBank data in your research, please cite:
- DrugBank 6.02024Recommended citationKnox C., Wilson M., Klinger C.M., et alDrugBank 6.0: the DrugBank Knowledgebase for 2024Nucleic Acids Res. 2024 Jan 552(D1):D1265-D1275
- DrugBank 5.02018Wishart D.S., Feunang Y.D., Guo A.C., et alDrugBank 5.0: a major update to the DrugBank database for 2018Nucleic Acids Res. 2017 Nov 846(D1):D1074-D1082
- DrugBank 4.02014Law V., Knox C., Djoumbou Y., et alDrugBank 4.0: shedding new light on drug metabolismNucleic Acids Res. 2014 Jan 142(1):D1091-7
- DrugBank 3.02011Knox C., Law V., Jewison T., et alDrugBank 3.0: a comprehensive resource for 'omics' research on drugsNucleic Acids Res. 2011 Jan39(Database issue):D1035-41
- DrugBank 2.02008Wishart D.S., Knox C., Guo A.C., et alDrugBank: a knowledgebase for drugs, drug actions and drug targets.Nucleic Acids Research2008 Jan36(Database issue):D901-6
- DrugBank 1.02006Wishart D.S., Knox C., Guo A.C., et alDrugBank: a comprehensive resource for in silico drug discovery and exploration.Nucleic Acids Research2006 Jan 134(Database issue):D668-72