Actonel in a monthly dosage of 75mg

According to the study, this factor is affected by the frequency of the medicine intake. Currently Actonel is available in weekly and monthly dosage. The proven effectiveness of the treatment is another important factor influencing the preferences of patients. The researchers believe that the monthly drug administration, effectively reducing the risk of vertebral, non-vertebral and hip fractures, will allow a doctor to offer patients, satisfying all the criteria, a new type of treatment.

The double-blind study was intended to establish the efficacy and safety of Actonel in a monthly dosage. In this study, post-menopause women suffering from osteoporosis were taking Actonel in a monthly dosage of 75 mg for two consecutive days to keep the total dose of the drug in a daily administration of 5 mg for 30 days. 1229 women were randomly prescribed Actonel in a dose of 75 mg for two consecutive days each month or 5 mg daily.

The final figure of the study was the rate of change in bone mineral density of the lumbar spine compared to the base values at the 12th month. The effectiveness of the monthly dosage was also tested by measuring the mean rate of changes in the lumbar spine, femur, trochanter and femoral neck, as well as BTMs. The study lasted for two years and was accompanied with supplements of 1000 mg of calcium and 400-800 IU of vitamin D3.

In a year of study, the researchers concluded that based on primary BMD and BTMs figures, Actonel in a monthly dosage of 75 mg taken during two consecutive days each month is not less effective than Actonel taken daily in the dosage of 5 mg. Other performance indicators like frequency of fractures, etc were similar and showed a marked improvement in any dosage. New vertebral fractures were observed in 1% of the participants in each treatment group. Both treatments had a high level of tolerability and safety.

The most common side effects were similar in both groups and included pain in the joints and spine and back pain. In conclusion, it should be noted the following: the study proved that Actonel received in a monthly dosage of 75 mg during two consecutive days is not inferior to receiving a daily dose of 5 mg in terms of efficacy and safety. This opens up the possibility of an additional type of treatment, which is more convenient for patients, improves compliance with treatment regimen and ultimately provides better constancy in the drug's administration.