Risedronate

Introduction

Written by Patricia Weiser, PharmD
Medically reviewed by Christina Bookwalter, PharmD, MS MED, BCPS, BCACP 
Updated on October 16, 2023

Risedronate (ris ED roe nate) is a generic medication prescribed for bone conditions including osteoporosis and Paget’s disease. Risedronate belongs to a group of drugs called bisphosphonates.

Specifically, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved risedronate to:

• treat or prevent osteoporosis in adult females* after menopause
• treat osteoporosis in males*
• treat osteoporosis caused by taking steroid medications in adults
• treat Paget’s disease in adults

These approved uses differ based on the form of risedronate your doctor prescribes.

This article doesn’t provide coupons for all forms of risedronate. To find coupons for risedronate delayed-release oral tablet, see this article. 

* Sex and gender exist on spectrums. In this article, we use the terms “male” and “female” to refer to a person’s sex assigned at birth.

Side effects of risedronate

Risedronate may cause mild or serious side effects. More common mild side effects of risedronate and its serious side effects are listed below. This article doesn’t include all possible side effects of the drug. Side effects can vary based on your age, overall health, and any other medications you take.

To learn more about risedronate’s side effects, ask your doctor or pharmacist. You can also refer to the prescribing information for risedronate listed in the “Resources” section.

Mild side effects

More common mild side effects reported with some forms of risedronate are listed below. These side effects may differ based on the form of risedronate you take. 

This article doesn’t include all possible mild side effects of the drug. To learn more about risedronate’s side effects based on the form, refer to the prescribing information for risedronate listed in the “Resources” section.

With many drugs, mild side effects may go away within a few days or a couple of weeks. If the side effects are bothersome, tell your doctor or pharmacist. They may be able to suggest ways to manage them.

Risedronate oral tablet’s mild side effects include:

• diarrhea
• joint pain
• back pain
• pain in your abdomen
• mild allergic reaction*

Risedronate delayed-release (DR) oral tablet’s mild side effects include:

• back pain
• joint pain
• pain in your abdomen
• indigestion
• mild allergic reaction*

* For details about this side effect, see the “Interactions and warnings for risedronate” section.

Serious side effects

Serious side effects of risedronate are listed below. These side effects may differ based on the form of risedronate you take. 

This article doesn’t include all possible serious side effects of the drug. To learn more about risedronate’s side effects based on the form, refer to the prescribing information for risedronate listed in the “Resources” section.

With many drugs, serious side effects are possible but not common. If you have serious side effects from this drug, call your doctor right away. If you’re having severe symptoms or a medical emergency, call 911 or a local emergency number. 

In general, risedronate’s serious side effects* include:

• problems in the esophagus (the tube connecting your mouth to your stomach), such as sores or bleeding
• severe pain in your muscles, bones, or joints
• low levels of calcium in your blood
• breakdown of the bone in your jaw
• increased risk of unusual femur (thigh bone) fractures 
• severe allergic reaction†

* Some of these side effects weren’t reported in studies of risedronate. But they’ve been reported after the drug was approved for use. For details about risedronate’s studies, see its prescribing information in the “Resources” section below.

† For details about this side effect, see the “Interactions and warnings for risedronate” section.

Common questions about risedronate

Below you’ll find answers to a few commonly asked questions about risedronate.

Will my doctor have me stop taking risedronate for osteoporosis after a certain length of time?

Possibly. Doctors aren’t completely sure of the ideal length of time someone should take risedronate for osteoporosis. 

From time to time during risedronate treatment, you and your doctor will consider your risk for bone fractures. You’ll also discuss whether the benefits of continuing treatment outweigh the risk of possible side effects.

Depending on the form of risedronate you take and whether your doctor considers you to be at low risk for fractures, they may have you stop taking risedronate after 3–5 years. If they consider you to be at high risk for fractures, they may have you continue to take risedronate for longer than 3–5 years.

You should not stop taking risedronate without first discussing it with your doctor. To learn more about your fracture risk and how long you’ll need to take risedronate for osteoporosis, talk with your doctor.

Is risedronate similar to alendronate?

Yes, they’re similar. Both risedronate and alendronate are prescribed for bone conditions including osteoporosis and Paget’s disease. Both medications belong to the same group of drugs: bisphosphonates.

Both drugs are available as oral tablets. Also, alendronate is available as an oral solution (liquid form).

If you’d like to know more about alendronate as a possible alternative to risedronate, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. 

How does risedronate work? And how long does it take to start working?

Your bones naturally undergo a continuous turnover process of being broken down and built back up. Osteoclasts are the cells responsible for bone breakdown. Risedronate works by blocking the activity of osteoclasts. This slows or stops your bones from breaking down. In doing so, the drug helps your bones build up faster than they break down. This can make your bones stronger and less likely to fracture (break).

After you start treatment, risedronate starts working within 14 days to reduce bone turnover. But it may take 6 months of treatment for the drug to reach its full effects. Your doctor can tell you how long you should continue taking risedronate.

If you’d like to know more about this, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. 

Uses of risedronate

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves prescription drugs such as risedronate for certain conditions. Approved uses for risedronate are described below. These uses differ based on the form of risedronate prescribed.

Use for osteoporosis

Doctors may prescribe risedronate oral tablet or delayed-release (DR) oral tablet for osteoporosis. It’s used for this purpose in certain adults. It’s usually prescribed as a long-term treatment.

With osteoporosis, your bones become weak and more likely to fracture (break).

Specifically, the FDA has approved risedronate oral tablet to:

• treat or prevent osteoporosis in adult females* after menopause
• treat osteoporosis in males*
• treat osteoporosis caused by taking steroid medications in adults

Also, the FDA has approved risedronate DR oral tablet to:

• treat osteoporosis in adult females after menopause

Risedronate may be prescribed together with calcium and vitamin D supplements.

Doctors may not continue to prescribe risedronate oral tablet or DR oral tablet in certain situations, such as for people who have already taken the drug for 3–5 years and are at low risk for bone fracture.

* Sex and gender exist on spectrums. In this article, we use the terms “male” and “female” to refer to a person’s sex assigned at birth.

Use for Paget’s disease

Doctors may prescribe risedronate oral tablet for treating Paget’s disease. It’s used for this purpose in adults. It’s usually prescribed as a long-term treatment.

With Paget’s disease, the bones become weak and, over time, may curve or become deformed. It’s a chronic (long-term) condition that increases the risk of bone fractures. Treatment can help reduce or prevent bone deformities and related symptoms.

Interactions and warnings for risedronate

Below you’ll find information about risedronate’s possible interactions and warnings. 

Interactions of risedronate

Certain things may affect how a drug works. These include getting vaccines, consuming alcohol or certain foods, or taking the drug with other medications. This effect is called a drug interaction. 

Before you take risedronate, ask your doctor to check for possible interactions. Be sure to tell them about any of the following you take or use:

• prescription or over-the-counter drugs
• vitamins, herbs, or supplements

To learn about drug-condition interactions, see the “Warnings for risedronate” section below.

Warnings for risedronate

Some people should not take risedronate, and others should take it cautiously.

Risedronate could cause harm to people with certain health conditions. This effect is called a drug-condition interaction. Other factors can also affect whether risedronate is a safe option for you. 

Ask your doctor about specific warnings for risedronate, and be sure to tell your doctor about your:

• current health, including any allergies to medications
• past health conditions or surgeries

Allergic reaction

Risedronate can cause an allergic reaction in some people. Severe allergic reactions are rare but possible.

If you’ve had an allergic reaction to risedronate or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe risedronate. They can tell you about medications that are safer options for you.

A mild allergic reaction may cause the following symptoms:

• skin rash
• itchiness
• flushing (temporary warmth, redness, or deepening of skin color)

A severe allergic reaction may cause the following symptoms:

• swelling under your skin, usually in your hands, feet, eyelids, or lips
• swelling of your mouth, throat, or tongue, which can cause breathing problems 

If you have an allergic reaction to risedronate, call your doctor right away. If you have severe symptoms, call 911 or a local emergency number.

Overdose of risedronate

You should not take more risedronate than your doctor prescribes. For some drugs, doing so may lead to harmful effects or overdose.

If you think you’ve taken too much risedronate, call your doctor or pharmacist right away. Or you could call 800-222-1222 to speak with someone at America’s Poison Centers. You can also use its online resource. If you have concerning symptoms, call 911 or a local emergency number immediately. You can also go to the closest emergency room.

Pregnancy or breastfeeding and risedronate

Information about risedronate and pregnancy and breastfeeding is described below.

Risedronate and pregnancy

It’s not known whether risedronate should be taken during pregnancy. If you’re planning a pregnancy or can become pregnant, talk with your doctor before taking this medication. 

Risedronate and breastfeeding

It’s not known whether risedronate should be taken while breastfeeding. If you’re currently breastfeeding or planning to do so, talk with your doctor before taking this medication. 

What to ask your doctor

Let your doctor know if you have questions about risedronate or would like more details about it.

Here’s a list of some possible questions you may want to ask your doctor:

• How does risedronate compare to other treatment options for my condition?
• How often should I get scans or other tests during risedronate treatment?
• Does risedronate interact with any of my other medications?
• While taking risedronate, can any lifestyle changes help reduce the risk of bone fractures?

Resources

• Food and Drug Administration. (2023). Orange Book: Approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence evaluations. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/ob/index.cfm
• Risedronate sodium tablet, delayed release. (2021). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/04e4baa7-62a5-45d0-8f8d-a4daea68c5aa/spl-doc
• Risedronate sodium tablet, film coated. (2023). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/e0b5f0ed-ff40-4f0d-bb86-81a7ace9f339/spl-doc

Disclaimer: Optum Perks has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.