What should I watch for?
Visit your doctor or health care professional for regular check ups. It may be some time before you see benefit from this medicine. Do not stop taking your medicine unless your doctor tells you to. Your doctor or health care professional may order blood tests or other tests to check how you are doing.
You should make sure you get enough calcium and vitamin D while you are taking this medicine, unless your doctor tells you not to. Discuss the foods you eat and the vitamins you take with your health care professional.
Some people who take this medicine have severe bone, joint, and/or muscle pain. This medicine may also increase your risk for a broken thigh bone. Tell your doctor right away if you have pain in your upper leg or groin. Tell your doctor if you have any pain that does not go away or that gets worse.
Common and Rare Side Effects
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
More common
Bone pain or tenderness (increased, continuing, or returning—in patients with Paget's disease)
Less common
Bone fractures, especially of the thigh bone
Rare
Abdominal or stomach pain or burning
bloody, black, or tarry stools
chills
cough or hoarseness
general feeling of tiredness or weakness
lower back or side pain
noisy breathing
painful or difficult urination
pale skin
skin rash or itching
sores, ulcers, or white spots on the lips or inside the mouth
swelling of the arms, legs, face, lips, tongue, or throat
swollen glands
tightness in the chest
unusual bleeding or bruising
Incidence not known
Blistering, peeling, loosening of the skin
bone, joint, or muscle pain that is severe and occasionally disabling
burning, crawling, itching, numbness, prickling, "pins and needles", or tingling feelings
difficulty in moving
difficulty in swallowing
discouragement
feeling sad or empty
heavy jaw feeling
irritability
lack of appetite
large, hive-like swelling on the face, eyelids, lips, tongue, throat, hands, legs, feet, or sex organs
loosening of a tooth
loss of interest or pleasure
loss of memory
pain or burning in the throat
pain, swelling, or numbness in the mouth or jaw
problems with memory
rash with flat lesions or small raised lesions on the skin
red irritated eyes
red skin lesions, often with a purple center
redness or discoloration of the skin
seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there
trouble concentrating
trouble sleeping
unusual tiredness or weakness
vomiting
Get emergency help immediately if any of the following symptoms of overdose occur:
Symptoms of overdose
Abdominal or stomach cramps
confusion
convulsions
difficulty in breathing
irregular heartbeats
mood or mental changes
muscle cramps in the hands, arms, feet, legs, or face
numbness and tingling around the mouth, fingertips, or feet
shortness of breath
Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
Incidence not known
Burning feeling in the chest or stomach
hair loss, thinning of hair
headache
indigestion
leg cramps
stomach upset
tenderness in the stomach area
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
