Adronat

Country: Australia

Language: English

Source: Department of Health (Therapeutic Goods Administration)

Active ingredient:

Alendronate sodium

Available from:

Merck Sharp & Dohme Australia Pty Ltd

Class:

Medicine Registered

Patient Information leaflet

ADRONAT(R) ONCE WEEKLY 
1 
ADRONAT(R) ONCE  
WEEKLY 
_Alendronate sodium _
CONSUMER MEDICINE INFORMATION 

WHAT IS IN THIS LEAFLET 
This leaflet answers some common 
questions about ADRONAT Once 
Weekly.  It is particularly important 
that you read the sections "When to 
take it" and "How to take it" before 
you take this medicine.  This leaflet 
does not contain all the available 
information.  
It does not take the place of talking  
to your doctor or pharmacist.  
All medicines have risks and 
benefits.  Your doctor has weighed 
the risks of you taking ADRONAT 
Once Weekly against the benefits 
they expect it will have for you.  
IF YOU HAVE ANY CONCERNS ABOUT 
TAKING THIS MEDICINE, ASK YOUR 
DOCTOR OR PHARMACIST.  
KEEP THIS LEAFLET WITH THE MEDICINE.  
You may need to read it again.  
WHAT ADRONAT ONCE 
WEEKLY IS USED FOR 
ADRONAT Once Weekly is used to 
treat osteoporosis.  
This condition is caused by changes 
in the way bone is normally 
maintained.  
_UNDERSTANDING BONE _
Bone is living, growing tissue.  
Throughout life, our bodies are 
breaking down old bone and 
rebuilding new bone in a continuous  
cycle.  Until our late 20s, while 
bones are still developing, we gain 
bone by building more than we lose.  
From then until about age 35 the 
process is usually in balance, so that 
the amount of bone lost is about 
equal to the amount that is replaced.  
After about age 35 this balance is 
disturbed, with bone loss occurring  
at a slightly faster rate than it can be 
replaced.  In women, after 
menopause, hormonal changes cause 
bone loss at an even faster rate.  
When bone loss is excessive, bones 
can become thinner and weaker, and 
therefore are more likely to break.  
_OSTEOPOROSIS _
 "Osteo" means bone, and "porosis" 
means something that has holes in it, 
like a sponge.  Therefore, 
osteoporosis

Summary of Product characteristics

FSM-MF-032010s 

PRODUCT INFORMATION 

ADRONAT
®
(ALENDRONATE SODIUM) 

ADRONAT® PLUS 
(ALENDRONATE SODIUM/COLECALCIFEROL) 

ADRONAT PLUS D-CAL 
TM
(ALENDRONATE SODIUM/COLECALCIFEROL/CALCIUM) 

TABLETS  

ADRONAT tablets contain alendronate sodium.  

ADRONAT PLUS tablets contain alendronate sodium and colecalciferol
(vitamin D
3
) 

ADRONAT PLUS D-Cal is a combination pack containing ADRONAT PLUS
(alendronate sodium and 
colecalciferol [vitamin D3]) in addition to BoneCal
®
 tablets (calcium carbonate) 

Alendronate sodium is described chemically as:
(4-amino-1-hydroxybutylidene) bisphosphonic acid 
monosodium salt trihydrate. 

The empirical formula is C4H12NNaO7P2•3H2O.  The formula weight
is 325.12.  The CAS Registry Number is 
121268-17-5.  The structural formula is: 

Colecalciferol 

The chemical name of colecalciferol is
(3β,5_Z_,7_E_)-9,10-secocholesta-5,7,10(19)-trien-3-ol.  The
empirical 
formula of colecalciferol is C
27
H
44
O and its molecular weight is 384.6.  The CAS
Registry Number is 67-97-0.  
The structural formula is: 

CH
2
H
HO
CH
3
H
H
CH
3
H
CH
3
H
3
C

® Registered Trademark of Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., a
subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Whitehouse Station, NJ, USA 
TM Trademark of Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., a subsidiary of Merck
& Co., Inc., Whitehouse Station, NJ, USA 

1
FSM-MF-032010s 

Calcium carbonate 
Calcium carbonate is described chemically as carbonic acid calcium
salt (1:1). The empirical formula of calcium 
carbonate is CaCo
3
 and its molecular weight is 100.09.  The CAS Registry Number is
471-34-1. 

DESCRIPTION

Alendronate sodium, MSD is a bisphosphonate that acts as a potent,
specific inhibitor of osteoclast-mediated 
bone resorption. Bisphosphonates are synthetic analogs
of pyrophosphate that bind to the hydroxyapatite found 
in bone.   

Alendronate is a white, crystalline, nonhygroscopic�