Alendronic acid is used to treat osteoporosis. The prescription drug is commercially available in tablet or oral solution form. Alendronic acid is also known as alendronate.
What is alendronic acid?
Alendronic acid is used to treat osteoporosis. The prescription drug is commercially available in tablet or oral solution form. Alendronic acid is a medicinal substance from the group of bisphosphonates. The substance is usually present as sodium alendronate in salt form. The drug is mainly sold as Alendronic acid AL 10 mg and 70 mg tablets. There is also an oral solution containing 70 ml of alendronic acid in 100 ml. The active strength and dosage form are determined individually by the treating physician. The physician uses the active substance alendronic acid to treat postmenopausal osteoporosis in women and osteoporosis in men. The drug increases bone density. Therapy with it reduces the risk of hip and vertebral fractures.
Pharmacologic effect
The action of alendronic acid is based on its structural similarity to pyrophosphate. Like the latter, alendronic acid is rapidly integrated into the bone substance. There it accumulates preferentially in the osteoclasts, whose main task is to resorb bone substance. This process, also known as osteolysis, gradually dissolves the bone tissue. In principle, this process fulfills an important task in the steady remodeling of bone. In excess, however, osteolysis leads to bone resorption. Alendronic acid inhibits such a process. The active ingredient introduces toxic ATP analogs into the osteoclasts. ATP is adenosine triphosphoric acid. The ATP analogs inhibit the farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase that takes place in the osteoclasts. Thus, the osteoclasts forfeit their biological function. Alendronic acid not only has an inhibitory effect on the function of osteoclasts, but also has a positive effect on osteoblasts. This cell type in turn is responsible for the formation of new bone. Osteoclasts and osteoblasts are natural antagonists in bone formation and maintenance. Alendronic acid brings both into balance. The body can absorb about 50% of the alendronic acid and incorporate it into the bones. The second half leaves the organism after a good 6 hours virtually unchanged via the kidneys.
Medical use and application
Osteoporosis often causes no symptoms at first. Gradually, it thins the bone structure and weakens it. Without treatment, osteoporosis puts people at high risk for bone fractures, even from ordinary everyday activities such as housework or lifting heavy objects. Typical fracture sites for bones weakened by osteoporosis include the hip, spine and wrist. Limited mobility and the so-called “widow’s hump” are further consequences of untreated osteoporosis. Therapy with alendronic acid effectively prevents and improves impairments that have already occurred. Supportive adjustments to personal lifestyle are helpful. For example, doctors recommend exercise, dietary corrections or giving up smoking. Patients should strictly adhere to the dosage and method of taking alendronic acid prescribed by their doctor, as it has been specially formulated for them. Because of the high acid content of the drug, attention should be paid to timely intake and behavioral rules. For example, accidental double intake or reflux from the stomach back into the esophagus can increase stress on it. Maintain a sitting, standing, or walking position for at least 30 minutes after taking alendronic acid. In the event of ingestion errors or clustered complaints such as heartburn or similar, consult the attending physician. Children and adolescents as well as pregnant and breastfeeding women should not take alendronic acid. The preparation contains lactose. People with lactose intolerance must clarify in a medical consultation whether the drug is suitable for them at all, depending on the severity.
Risks and side effects
Because half of alendronic acid is excreted again by the kidneys, it is contraindicated in chronic kidney failure and in acute infections of the digestive tract. Likewise, the drug is off-limits in upper gastrointestinal tract disorders. Children, adolescents, pregnant women and nursing mothers are also excluded from treatment with alendronic acid. Like other bisphosphonates, alendronic acid can irritate the mucous membranes of the upper gastrointestinal tract.Particularly in the area of the esophagus, problems can occur such as inflammation, ulcers as well as erosions and rarely even strictures or perforations. Heartburn is another phenomenon. Gastritis or duodenitis may develop in the gastrointestinal tract. Therefore, close attention should be paid to the multiple symptoms that occur in connection with this.
