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Alendronate

Medication bisphosphonate hormonal
Aka: Fosamax, alendronic acid
Brands seen in Singapore: Fosamax, Apo-Alendronate, Alendronate Sandoz, Fosacord, Binosto
Not medical advice. Check with your doctor or pharmacist before you start, stop or change the timing of anything you take.
How to use
What it’s for
Osteoporosis in postmenopausal women and in men
When to take
SG label: on waking, 30 min before food or medicine
Take with
Plain water only · label: upright for 30 minutes after
Pros & cons
Pros
  • SG label: one 70 mg tablet once weekly
  • Label: no dose change in mild-moderate renal impairment
  • HealthHub: generally well tolerated
Cons
  • Stomach upset, headache and joint aches are common
  • Calcium, iron and magnesium block absorption
  • Rare jaw and thigh-bone problems are reported
Sources
  1. HSA — Listing of Registered Therapeutic Products (data.gov.sg d_767279312753558cbf19d48344577084), Forensicclassification column; all 5,511 rows cached at /tmp/hsa_all.json and filtered locally, not re-fetched · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “FOSAMAX TABLET 70 mg SIN11446P | ALENDRONATE SODIUM 91.37 mg EQV ALENDRONIC ACID | Prescription Only | M05BA04; APO-ALENDRONATE 10MG SIN13558P; ALENDRONATE SANDOZ 70MG SIN14582P; FOSACORD 70 SIN16511P; BUFFERED BINOSTO 70MG SIN15268P — all 9 alendronate rows Prescription Only”
  2. MOH National Drug Formulary (Singapore) — FOSAMAX TABLET 70 MG [SIN11446P], product information · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “ALENDRONATE SODIUM 91.37 MG EQV ALENDRONIC ACID - 70 MG … Forensic Classification PRESCRIPTION ONLY MEDICINES … Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) code M05BA04 … Prescription-only Medicines with Exemptions for Supply without Prescription NA”
  3. MOH National Drug Formulary (Singapore) — APO-ALENDRONATE 10MG TABLET [SIN13558P], product information (the only 10 mg alendronate registered in SG) · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “ALENDRONATE (EQV ALENDRONATE SODIUM TRIHYDRATE 13.05 MG) - 10 MG … Forensic Classification PRESCRIPTION ONLY MEDICINES … Prescription-only Medicines with Exemptions for Supply without Prescription NA”
  4. MOH National Drug Formulary (Singapore) — FOSAMAX [SIN11446P], II. Indications · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “FOSAMAX is indicated for the treatment of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. For the treatment of osteoporosis, FOSAMAX reduces the incidence of fractures, including those of the hip and spine … FOSAMAX is indicated for the treatment of osteoporosis in men.”
  5. MOH National Drug Formulary (Singapore) — FOSAMAX [SIN11446P], III. Dosage and Administration · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “Treatment of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women and in men The recommended dosage is one 70 mg tablet once weekly.”
  6. MOH National Drug Formulary (Singapore) — FOSAMAX [SIN11446P], administration timing · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “FOSAMAX must be taken at least one-half hour before the first food, beverage, or medication of the day with plain water only … patients should not lie down for at least 30 minutes”
  7. MOH National Drug Formulary (Singapore) — FOSAMAX [SIN11446P], renal dosing · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “No dosage adjustment is necessary for the elderly or for patients with mild-to-moderate renal insufficiency (creatinine clearance 35 to 60 mL/min). FOSAMAX is not recommended for patients with more severe renal insufficiency (creatinine clearance < 35 mL/min)”
  8. MOH National Drug Formulary (Singapore) — FOSAMAX [SIN11446P], V. Contraindications · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “Abnormalities of the esophagus which delay esophageal emptying such as stricture or achalasia … Inability to stand or sit upright for at least 30 minutes … Hypocalcemia”
  9. HealthHub (MOH Singapore) — Alendronic acid, medication information leaflet (reviewed 13 July 2026) · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “Alendronic acid belongs to a class of medication called “bisphosphonates”. They are used to treat and prevent osteoporosis – a condition which causes the bones to become weak and fragile.”
  10. HealthHub (MOH Singapore) — Alendronic acid, how to take it · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “Take this medication first thing in the morning upon waking up, on an empty stomach … Swallow the tablet whole with a full glass of plain water (no other drinks)”
  11. HealthHub (MOH Singapore) — Alendronic acid, precautions · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “You have any existing kidney problems … Maintain good oral hygiene and go for regular dental check-ups. Your doctor may also require you to visit a dentist before starting on Alendronic acid.”
  12. HealthHub (MOH Singapore) — Alendronic acid, common side effects · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “Generally, this medication has been well tolerated … Common side effects include: Mild stomach disturbances (e.g. acid reflux, stomach fullness or bloatedness, diarrhoea or constipation) Headache Bone, muscle and/or joint aches”
  13. HealthHub (MOH Singapore) — Alendronic acid, rare but serious side effects · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “Prolonged gum pain and swelling Any numbness/pain in the jaw, loosening of tooth, delayed healing of ulcer in the mouth … Any bone pain/persistent dull aching in hips, groin or thigh without any injury or trauma”
  14. HealthHub (MOH Singapore) — Alendronic acid, food and drug interactions · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “Avoid any food or products that are high in calcium, iron or magnesium for at least 30 minutes (but preferably 2 hours) after taking the medication … Dairy products … Soya products … antacids, calcium, iron or magnesium supplements, multivitamins.”
  15. NHS medicines A–Z — Alendronic acid, taking it with other medicines and herbal supplements (reviewed 7 May 2025) · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “antacids to relieve indigestion or heartburn laxatives containing magnesium … steroids such as prednisolone or dexamethasone – these may increase the risk of damage to your jawbone … non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen”
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Updated 2026-08-29. Every line above traces to a numbered source. Kozen-X is not a medical device and does not give medical advice. It lists what published sources have written down — nothing more. A pair not listed is unrecorded, not cleared. Before you start, stop or re-time anything, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.