Actonel (Risedronate) Dosages: Your GoodRx Guide

Wondering which osteoporosis medication might be right for you? For many people, a medication from the bisphosphonate class, such as Actonel (risedronate), is the best place to start.

If your healthcare professional prescribes you Actonel, there are several different ways you may be able to take the medication: daily, weekly, or 1 to 2 days a month. Below, we review factors that may influence how often you take it and typical Actonel dosages.

How to take Actonel

No matter your Actonel dosage, there are important instructions to follow each time you take the medication. 

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Take your Actonel doses first thing in the morning on an empty stomach. Then, wait for at least 30 minutes before eating or drinking anything else and before taking any other medications or supplements. If you take Actonel with other medications, it can prevent your doses from being absorbed and working properly. 

Be sure to swallow your Actonel tablets with a full glass of plain water. Do not crush or break the tablets. And don’t let them dissolve in your mouth. After taking your doses, stay upright for the next 30 minutes. Otherwise, the tablets can irritate your esophagus and cause damage.

What’s the typical Actonel dosage?

Actonel comes as oral tablets that are available in multiple doses:

• 5 mg

• 30 mg

• 35 mg

• 75 mg

• 150 mg

Actenol has several FDA-approved uses. These include the treatment and prevention of osteoporosis that can occur after menopause or after long-term corticosteroid (steroid) use. It’s also approved to treat osteoporosis in men and Paget’s disease of bone. A typical Actonel dosage depends on what the medication is being taken for.

Treatment or prevention of osteoporosis in women who’ve gone through menopause

If you’re prescribed Actonel to treat or prevent osteoporosis after menopause, the typical dosage ranges from 5 mg daily to 150 mg monthly. There are several dose and frequency options to choose from:

• 5 mg by mouth once daily

• 35 mg by mouth once weekly

• 75 mg by mouth once daily for 2 consecutive days, for a total of 2 doses each month

• 150 mg by mouth once monthly

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Treatment of osteoporosis in men

The typical Actonel dosage for treating osteoporosis in men is 35 mg by mouth once weekly.

Treatment or prevention of steroid-induced osteoporosis

If you require steroids to manage a chronic health condition, your prescriber may have you take Actonel to treat or prevent osteoporosis. This is because steroids can affect your bone health, especially if you take high dosages for longer periods of time.

The typical Actonel dosage for treating or preventing steroid-induced osteoporosis is 5 mg by mouth once daily.

Treatment of Paget’s disease

Paget's disease of bone is a chronic health condition in which bones break down and rebuild at an abnormally rapid rate. This results in bones that are larger but weaker, softer, and more prone to deformities.

The typical Actonel dosage for treating Paget’s disease of bone is 30 mg by mouth daily for 2 months. Depending on how you respond to the medication, your prescriber may recommend another round of treatment at least 2 months later.

Are there any dosage adjustments for health conditions?

If you have mild or moderate kidney disease, you can take a typical Actonel dosage. But Actonel isn’t recommended if you have severe kidney disease (creatinine clearance below 30 mL/min).

Actonel has not been studied in people with liver problems. Even so, dosage adjustments likely aren’t necessary since Actonel isn’t broken down by the liver.

What happens if you miss a dose of Actonel?

If you miss a dose of Actonel, what you should do next depends on which dosage schedule you have. But keep in mind that Actonel should always be taken first thing in the morning and that you shouldn’t take more than 1 tablet a day.

If you take Actonel once daily

This one is pretty simple: Skip the missed dose and continue with your regular medication schedule the following morning.

If you take Actonel once weekly

Take the missed dose the following morning. Then, continue your usual once-weekly schedule. But remember, do not take 2 doses on the same day.

If you take Actonel on 2 consecutive days per month

If you miss 1 dose and your next month’s dose is more than 7 days away, take the missed dose the following morning. If both doses were missed, take the missed doses over the following two mornings. Then, continue with your regular medication schedule the next month.

If you miss 1 or both doses, and your next month’s dose is scheduled within the next 7 days, skip the missed doses and wait until your next regularly scheduled doses. 

If you take Actonel once monthly

If your next month’s dose is more than 7 days away, take the missed dose the following morning. Then, continue with your regular once-monthly medication schedule.

If next month's dose is due within the next 7 days, skip the missed dose and wait until the next regularly scheduled dose.

Remembering to take your medication once weekly or monthly can be challenging. Try using amedication reminder app or a calendar to help keep you on track with your Actonel doses. 

What should you do if you take too much Actonel?

Taking too much Actonel can put you at risk for serious side effects. Examples include decreased calcium (hypocalcemia) and phosphorus (hypophosphatemia) levels in your body. This may require supplementing your body's calcium.  

If you think you may have taken too much Actonel, contact your prescriber immediately. You can also contact Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 for guidance or go to the closest ER if you have symptoms that feel life-threatening. 

How to save on Actonel

There are ways to save on Actonel, which is available as a brand-name and generic medication. With a free GoodRx coupon, you may be able to save over 60% off the average retail price of the generic version at certain pharmacies. With a coupon, the price for generic Actonel may be as low as $ at certain pharmacies.

Why trust our experts?

Written by:

Brian Leonard, PharmD, BCACP, BCGP

Brian Leonard earned his doctorate in pharmacy from the University of Florida College of Pharmacy and is board certified in Ambulatory Care and Geriatric Pharmacy.

Edited by:

Alyssa Billingsley, PharmD

Alyssa Billingsley, PharmD, is the director of pharmacy content for GoodRx. She has over a decade of experience as a pharmacist and has worked in clinical, academic, and administrative roles.

Reviewed by:

Austin Ulrich, PharmD, BCACP

Austin Ulrich, PharmD, BCACP, is a board-certified ambulatory care clinical pharmacist. In his early career, he provided direct patient care in a variety of settings, including hospital and community pharmacies, and in a primary care clinic as a clinical pharmacist.

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