Drug Groups

approved; investigational

Description

Risedronate is a bisphosphonate used to strengthen bone, treat or prevent osteoporosis, and treat Paget's disease of bone.

Indication

For the treatment of Paget's disease of the bone (osteitis deformans), postmenopausal and glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis

Pharmacology

Risedronate is a pyridinyl bisphosphonate that inhibits osteoclast-mediated bone resorption and modulates bone metabolism and is indicated for the treatment and prevention of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women.

Toxicity

Side effects include abdominal pain, anxiety, back pain, belching, bladder irritation, bone disorders and pain, bronchitis, bursitis, cataracts, chest pain, colitis, constipation, depression, diarrhea, difficulty breathing, dizziness, dry eyes, eye infection, flu-like symptoms, gas, headache, high blood pressure, infection, insomnia, itching, joint disorders and pain, leg cramps, muscle pain, muscle weakness, nausea, neck pain, nerve pain, pain, pneumonia, rash, ringing in ears, sinus problems, sore throat, stomach bleeding, stuffy or runny nose, swelling, tendon problems, tumor, ulcers, urinary tract infection, vertigo, vision problems, and weakness.

Affected Organisms

Biotransformation

No evidence found for metabolization of risedronate in humans or mammals

Absorption

Rapid absorption (~1 hr) after an oral dose, occurs throughout the upper gastrointestinal tract

Half Life

1.5 hours

Protein Binding

~24%

Elimination

Risedronate is excreted unchanged primarily via the kidney. Insignificant amounts (<0.1% of intravenous dose) of drug are excreted in the bile in rats.

Distribution

* 13.8 L/kg

Clearance

* 122 mL/min
* 73 mL/min [osteopenic postmenopausal women]

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