Fosamax? For what?

Fosamax: uses

Fosamax is used to prevent and treat certain types of bone loss ( osteoporosis ) . It belongs to a class of medications called bisphosphonates, and they decrease activity of cells which break down bone. Maintaining strong bones by slowing bone loss helps to reduce risk of fractures.

Your risk of developing osteoporosis is greater as you age, after menopause due to the lack of natural estrogen hormones, and if we are taking corticosteroid medications ( e. g. , prednisone ) for long periods.

Fosamax: how to use

Follow these instructions very closely to maximize the amount of drug absorbed and reduce risk of injury to your esophagus. This medicine comes with a patient information leaflet. Read it carefully. Ask your doctor or pharmacist any questions we may have about this medicine.

Fosamax is taken once per week. Choose day of the week that best fits your schedule and take it on that day each week.

Take Fosamax by mouth, after getting up for day and before taking your first food, beverage or other medication. Drink at least 2 ounces ( 60 ml ) of plain water after taking liquid Fosamax. Then stay fully upright ( sitting, standing or walking ) for at least 30 minutes and do not lie down until after your first food of the day. Wait at least 30 minutes ( preferably 1 to 2 hours ) after taking the medication before we eat or drink anything other than plain water.

Do not take Fosamax at bedtime or before rising for day. It may not be absorbed and you may have side effects.

Other medications, vitamins, antacids, coffee, tea, soda, mineral water and food can decrease absorption of Fosamax. Do not take these for at least 30 minutes ( preferably 1 to 2 hours ) after taking Fosamax.

Use Fosamax regularly to get the most benefit from it. Remember to use it on same day each week. It may help to mark your calendar with a reminder.

Fosamax: side effects

Stomach pain, constipation, gas, or nausea may occur while use Fosamax. If these effects persist or worsen, notify your doctor or pharmacist promptly.

Remember that your doctor has prescribed Fosamax because he or she has judged that benefit to we is greater than risk of side effects. Many people using Fosamax do not have serious side effects.

Tell your doctor immediately if any of these unlikely but serious side effects occur:

Fosamax may infrequently cause serious irritation and ulcers of esophagus. If we notice any of following unlikely but very serious side effects, stop taking Fosamax and consult your doctor or pharmacist immediately:

A serious allergic reaction to Fosamax is unlikely, but seek immediate medical attention if it occurs. Symptoms of a serious allergic reaction include:

This isn't a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.

Fosamax: precautions

Before taking Fosamax, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you're allergic to it; or to other bisphosphonates; or if we have any other allergies.

Fosamax should not be used if we have certain medical conditions. Before using this medicine, consult your doctor or pharmacist if you have:

Before using Fosamax, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of:

Infrequently, serious jawbone problems ( osteonecrosis ) have occurred in people taking similar medication. Most people were also using other medications or had conditions which might have actually caused the jawbone problem. If you have cancer, anemia, blood clotting disorders, infections in mouth or other diseases of the mouth, or poor dental hygiene, see your dentist for a full examination/treatment before we start Fosamax. Make sure he/she knows your entire medical history, any cancer radiation treatments, and also all medications you're using, especially corticosteroids such as prednisone, cancer chemotherapy, and Fosamax. Consult your dentist for more details.

Fosamax is not recommended for use in children. Studies have shown that many children who took Fosamax had severe side effects such as vomiting, fever, and flu-like symptoms.

Fosamax should be used only when clearly needed during pregnancy. Discuss risks and benefits with your doctor.

It's not known whether Fosamax passes into breast milk. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.

Fosamax: interactions

See also How to Use section.

Your healthcare professionals ( e. g. , doctor or pharmacist ) may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for it. Do not start, stop or change dosage of any medicine before checking with them first.

Before using Fosamax, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all prescription and nonprescription/herbal products you may use, especially of:

Check labels on all your medicines because they may contain aspirin or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs ( NSAIDs such as ibuprofen, naproxen ) that could cause stomach irritation/ulcers. Ask your pharmacist about the safe use of those products. Low-dose aspirin, as prescribed by your doctor for specific medical reasons such as heart attack or stroke prevention ( usually these dosages are 81-325 milligrams per day ) , should be continued. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more details.

This document does not contain all possible interactions. Therefore, before using Fosamax, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all products we use. Keep a list of all your medications with you, and share list with your doctor and pharmacist.

Fosamax: overdose

If overdose of Fosamax is suspected, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately. US residents can call US national poison hotline at 1-800-222-1222. Canadian residents should call their local poison control center directly. Symptoms of overdose may include: severe stomach pain, painful heartburn, pain in esophagus ( chest pain ) , muscle weakness, mental/mood changes.

Fosamax: notes

Do not share Fosamax with others.

Lifestyle changes that help promote healthy bones include increasing weight-bearing exercise, eating well-balanced meals containing adequate calcium and vitamin D, stopping smoking, and limiting alcohol. Consult your doctor to see if you need to take calcium/vitamin D supplements and discuss lifestyle changes that might benefit you.

Laboratory and/or medical tests ( x-rays, height measurement, blood mineral levels ) should be performed periodically to monitor your progress or check for side effects. Consult your doctor for more details.

Fosamax: missed dose

If we should miss a dose, take it next morning after you remember. Then resume taking your weekly dose on your originally scheduled day of the week. Do not take two doses on the same day. Consult your doctor or pharmacist.

Fosamax: storage

Store Fosamax at room temperature ( 77 degrees F or 25 degrees C ) away from light and moisture. Brief storage between 59-86 degrees F ( 15-30 degrees C ) is permitted. Don't freeze or store in the bathroom. Keep all medicines away from children and pets.

Properly discard Fosamax when it's expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company for more details about how to safely discard your product.

Fosamax with EU shipping

Posture - Dealing With Pain at the Structural Roots

It is interesting that Tylenol is identifying poor posture as a significant factor in tension headaches in their recent ads. Of course they would like to push their pills as a way to get rid of the headaches. The better solution is to correct posture so weight of the head isn't carried inefficiently by neck and shoulders.

There's an abundance of references stating that head weighs 10 lbs. on average. Every inch forward of ideal postural alignment creates an extra 10 pounds of stress on neck and shoulders. It is very common to see people walk around with forward head posture that is 2 or 3 inches. Guess where tension headaches could come from?

Conditions associated to poor posture are commonly referred to as forward head posture, forward head/rounded shoulders posture, kyphosis, hunchback, dowagers hump, etc. They're frightfully common in our population among all ages and fitness levels. Parents wring their hands as they see their kids slouching. What to do? One of my favourite comics is " Zits'. It is a hilarious and typical portrayal of perpetually 15 year old Jeremy, slouch, and his teenage friends. Their posture, habits and attitudes drive his mom nuts, but also reflects on her own posture. One can only imagine what would change in his mother's profile if she stood up straight.

The evident consequence can be found in our growing seniors population. My 95 year old mother lives in a residence I call " Walkerville'. They all require them to get around because they no longer represent Hominus Erectus. The only thing preventing them from crawling around on all fours is their walker or cane. Their center of gravity has changed. Their back has given up. This does not have to be!

There's a large group in middle who are heading that way, through occupational/recreational activity, poor condition, excess weight carried at various key points, or even exercise. Look for another article on exercise and posture in another section.

Align the Spine:

This is not just for looks. Most people are aware individual vertebrae are built to interconnect with even spaces in between them separated by a shock absorbing gelatinous cushion or disk. The muscles and ligaments that hold them together function best when every thing is lined up. Getting out of line requires muscles on one side to let go, and ones on other side to tighten up. Staying that way for a long time causes " let go " muscles to get weak and lazy. The " tighten up " muscles can hold tightly but only over a short range and they lose their elastic stretch capability. Asking them to stay that way causes pain. Asking them to suddenly do something different causes pain. Uneven pressure causes gelatinous, shock absorbing disk to deform. Bone on bone contact is not pleasant. It really is best to keep them in line.

Preserve the Curve:

The body has a natural S curve that acts as a shock absorber, like crumple zone on a car, to protect the occupants. In this case it is inner organs. Not enough crumple results in injury from impact. Too much crumple crushes occupants ( the inner organs ) and that causes injury. In addition, excessive curvature results in height loss, and loss of mobility. Casual observations when walking in public lead me to conclusion that there's another factor here: Excessive weight at key points. It really adds to the pull in all the wrong directions.

There's a whole range of effects from poor posture beyond that, including fibromyalgia, breathing impairment and gas exchange ( I feel another ezine article coming on ) , TMD and blood pressure mal-regulation. That is often why poor posture is associated with myofascial pain and trigger points in the shoulders that keep therapy and massage industry busy. I have been told by back care specialists that virtually all people suffering from temporo mandibular disorder ( TMD ) have forward head posture. Fancy that!

Of course there is obvious connection to spinal pain, including neck, shoulders and low back pain. It is amazing that if we align the top, it changes everything right down to feet, and proper alignment keeps things from wearing out as fast. By way, restoring curve on lower spine changes angle of the pelvis and hips. Would not that help hip and knee joints to last longer?

Restore Core:

Returning spine to its proper position is valuable only if we have support structure to maintain it. Most practitioners know that. The body must know that normal position is an aligned position. That has to be " home base " Most have lost that concept. Then supporting muscles must be adjusted to support that position. The tight muscles must be stretched, without injury, to let go. The weak muscles must be conditioned and strengthened. All the structures need to be mobilized to effectively work together under a new agreement. This must take place from skull down to base of the spine. Neck, shoulder, mid back and lumbar regions need to work together. The " core " is often seen as the power center in abdominal/lumbar region. This really needs to take place all way down spine.

Doing a Google search under the keyword " forward head posture " or even " forward head position " will yield a host of solutions. They fall under following categories:

• Go see a back specialist: orthopeadic surgeon, physical therapist, chiropractor etc. for corrections, exercise, massage, or even surgical intervention.
• Exercise: There are lots of suggestions and programs for sale that stretch and strengthen muscle groups.
• Get a posture changing device; something that applies pressure by either lying on it or applied by someone else. They often act to stretch out tight muscles using your body weight and gravity.
• Get a restraining device: There are lots to choose from. Most are passive and can be worn under clothing to hold you in position, like a brace or a cast. Anyone who has had a cast on remembers wonder of looking at exposed limb when the cast was removed and wondering where muscle went. These are called passive devices.
• Get an active support device. This is a device that trains and enables users to achieve a proper position to point where they do not need it. Eventually it's just used for reference and occasional re-training.

The Eurosearchengine - your guide in medications