Osteoporosis is a disease characterized by a deterioration in bone structure and a decrease in bone mass, resulting in an increased risk of fractures. The problem of osteoporosis is quite acute all over the world, in 90% of cases severe fractures spontaneously occur in old age. In addition, 50% of injured patients cannot continue to do without outside help.
One of the consequences of osteoporosis can also be a curvature of the spine, which affects both the appearance of a person and the ability to move freely.
To reduce the impact of the disease on the body, as well as to avoid serious consequences, it is necessary to carry out timely and high-quality prevention and treatment. Like any disease, osteoporosis can be treated with medication. One of the most effective drugs in the treatment of osteoporosis, according tomany specialists, is the drug "Foroza", instructions for use, price and reviews of which are described below.
Medication description
The drug is produced in the form of white round-shaped tablets, which are coated for efficiency and ease of use. The active substance of the drug "Foroza" instructions for use indicates alendronad sodium, belonging to the category of bisphosphonates. This substance, without having a direct effect on bone formation, is able to restore bone tissue with the help of osteoclasts. Osteoclasts are giant cells that control the amount of bone tissue and are necessary for the resorption of bone structures. Osteoblasts create new bone, while osteoclasts break down old bone.
During the treatment with the drug "Foroza" (instruction for use notes this), the process of not only restoring the bone, but also its renewal takes place. Thus, a new bone with all its initial properties is formed in patients. In addition, the drug "Foroza" is recommended to be taken regardless of the cause and nature of osteoporosis. For example, osteoporosis often occurs in women after menopause.
Indications for use of the drug
Pills "Foroza", the price of which ranges on average from 539 to 590 rubles for 4 pieces, are shown in the following cases:
- In the treatment of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women, including to reduce the risk of compression fractures of the femoral neck andspine.
- In the treatment of osteoporosis in men, the goal is to prevent fractures.
- In the treatment of osteoporosis caused by long-term use of GCS (glucocorticosteroids).
Contraindications to the use of the drug "Foroza"
The instructions for the drug contain information about the following contraindications to its use:
- Achalasia or strictures of the esophagus, as well as other conditions that can lead to a slowdown in the movement of food through the esophagus.
- Increased sensitivity of the patient to alendronate or other components that make up the product.
- Hypocalcemia.
- Patient unable to sit or stand for 30 minutes.
- Severe violation of mineral metabolism.
- Lactation and pregnancy.
- Children's age.
With extreme caution, patients with various diseases of the gastrointestinal tract should take the drug, such as:
- gastritis;
- dysphagia;
- hypovitaminosis D;
- duodenitis;
- peptic ulcer in the acute stage, etc.
Use of the drug during pregnancy and lactation
There are no data on the safety of alendronic acid in pregnant women. Studies were conducted only on animals, as a result of which they found dysfunction of labor activity associated with hypocalcemia, as well as a violation of the formation of bone tissue in the fetus when using large doses of alendronic acid. It is not worth using the drug during pregnancy, as evidenced by the drug "Foroza" instructions for use. The price to be paid for the effects of the drug during pregnancy may be too high.
It is also not known whether alendronic acid is able to penetrate into a woman's breast milk, so if you decide to use Foroza as a treatment, you should consider the possibility of stopping breastfeeding.
Method of application and dosage of the drug "Foroza"
Instructions for use states that the drug "Foroza" was created for the treatment of osteoporosis. In addition, the drug can significantly reduce the risk of fractures of the spine and hip bones. But the main thing that needs to be taken into account when taking the drug is the rules of administration and dosage. The medicine is taken orally, as it is available in the form of tablets. One tablet of the drug, whose weight is 70 mg, is recommended to be taken once a week, as the reviews show about the Foroza drug, this is quite enough for a safe and effective effect on the human body.
As for the time of taking the medicine, it is necessary to take it in the morning, almost immediately after waking up. This condition is mandatory, since the drug must be taken on an empty stomach. The taken tablet should be washed down with a sufficient amount of clean water. It is also worth noting that the instructions for use recommend eating after using the Foroza preparation no earlier than 30 minutes later. This also applies to the intake of any drinks other than water, as well asother medicines, as all this can reduce the effect on the body of the components of Foroza.
Considering the above, the following rules for taking the drug can be noted:
- Take the pill in the morning with a full glass of clean water.
- Swallow the pill whole without chewing it, as some of its components can adversely affect the mucous membrane.
- The patient should not lie down for 30 minutes after taking the drug "Foroza" (tablet), before the first meal.
Side effects of taking Foroza medicine
Given that a person may be sensitive to individual components of the drug, various side effects may occur, which are indicated by the instruction on the Foroza preparation. The price of the drug is quite high, so you should pay attention to side effects. There is no specific list of violations from the use of the drug, since they are determined by the body affected by the drug. So, if the remedy caused disturbances in the functioning of the nervous system, quite frequent headaches will occur. Side effects also include disorders of the musculoskeletal and digestive systems, which may include abdominal pain, impaired stool, bloating, dizziness, joint and muscle pain, and others.
Because of all this, before taking the drug, you must carefully study the indications and contraindications for use. And only after studying the composition of the medicine, as well asmaking sure that it does not contain components harmful to your body, you can take the remedy.
It is forbidden to take the drug "Foroza" in certain diseases of the esophagus, such as achalasia, as well as hypocalcemia. People who are unable to stand or sit for half an hour should not take medicine.
In rare cases, as the reviews show about the Foroza preparation, minor allergic reactions are possible in the form of a skin rash, skin flushing, urticaria, photosensitivity and fever.
Foroza overdose
You should take the drug with great responsibility, because an overdose can cause quite serious consequences. So, an increased dose of the drug can cause diseases such as hopophosphatemia and hypocalcemia. In addition, there are cases when, due to improper use of the drug, indigestion, ulcers, gastritis, heartburn, and more.
There is no specific amount of the drug that causes an overdose, but in case of its symptoms, you need to give the patient a large amount of milk that can bind alendronade. It is recommended to support the patient in an upright position. You should not induce vomiting in a patient, since the components of Foroza can cause disturbances in the esophagus.
Special Instructions
It is very important to drink the medicine only with clean water, other drinks adversely affect the absorption of the drug. It is not recommended to take alendronad at bedtime orin the supine position, as there is a risk of developing esophagitis. Before taking the drug, it is necessary to correct hypocalcemia, as well as other metabolic disorders. Due to the increase in bone mineral density during alendronad therapy, a slight asymptomatic decrease in the level of phosphate and calcium in the blood is possible, especially for patients who take glucocorticosteroids (GCS), which may reduce calcium absorption. Therefore, it is especially important for patients taking corticosteroids to get enough vitamin D and calcium into the body.
If you accidentally missed taking the medicine (dosage of 1 tablet 1 time per week), you need to take 1 tablet in the morning of the next day, it is forbidden to take 2 tablets on the same day. Next, you need to continue taking the drug 1 tablet on the day of the week chosen at the beginning of therapy.
Some Features
There is also evidence that osteonecrosis of the jaw has been observed in patients with osteoporosis taking bisphosphonates. Therefore, before taking bisphosphonates, you need to undergo a dental examination. During therapy, patients should avoid dental intervention. If patients develop osteonecrosis of the jaw while on bisphosphonate therapy, dental intervention may only aggravate their condition.
Long-term use of alendronic acid can lead to low-energy fractures of the proximal shaft of the femur. Fractures can occur even with minimal or no trauma at all.absence.
For each patient, the decision to treat with Foroza should be made individually, after a detailed benefit/risk assessment.
Alendronic acid has no effect on the ability to drive a car, as well as on various activities that require increased concentration.
Drug Interactions
It is not recommended to take the drug with other drugs, due to the fact that they can reduce the absorption of the drug. Other medicines, as well as food, can be taken no earlier than half an hour after the Foroza preparation has been taken. The price of the drug is quite high, so for greater effectiveness, you should fully adhere to the instructions.
Gastrointestinal side effects of alendronic acid may be exacerbated by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, including acetylsalicylic acid.
Foroza release form, analogues
The drug is produced in the form of film-coated tablets, the active substance in which is 70 mg. Tablets are packed in blisters from 2 to 12 pieces in a carton box.
Among the analogues of the drug, the most popular are:
- Tevanat (Israel);
- Alendronat (Russia);
- Fosamax (Netherlands);
- Ostalon (Poland).
Foroza drug: reviews
The drug "Foroza" is widely used by both women and men with problemsosteoporosis. Many doctors recommend the drug to prevent hip and spinal fractures.
Many patients after long-term use of the drug note a decrease in pain in the spine. After the first dose of Foroza, as the reviews of some patients show, nausea, bloating and even heartburn can be noticed, but soon everything goes away. Further treatment with medication is generally going well.
