Actonel is also used to prevent and treat:

• Postmenopausal osteoporosis
• Glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis in men and women

Who should not take Actonel? You should not take Actonel if you have:

• Low calcium levels in the blood.
• Bone or mineral problems that have not been treated by your health care provider.
• Severe kidney problems.

General Precautions with Actonel:

Tell your doctor if you have a history of stomach problems because Actonel can cause difficulty swallowing, inflammation of the esophagus, esophageal ulcer, and stomach ulcer.

If you have a bone-imaging test, tell your doctor or technician you are taking Actonel, because it can interfere with the test.

What should I tell my doctor or health care provider?

Tell your doctor or health care provider if you are:

• taking aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), because taken together with Actonel, aspirin and NSAIDs can increase the probability of stomach irritation.
• trying to become pregnant, are already pregnant, or are breast-feeding.

What are some possible side effects of Actonel? (This is NOT a complete list of side effects reported with Actonel. Your health care provider can discuss with you a more complete list of side effects.)  

Side effects of Actonel are generally mild to moderate and do not require stopping the treatment.

The following is a listing of the most common side effects:

• Flu syndrome
• Chest pain
• Diarrhea
• Abdominal pain
• Nausea
• Constipation
• Swelling
• Joint pain
• Headache
• Dizziness
• Rash

For more detailed information about Actonel, ask your health care provider.