Fosamax vs. Fortical

• Are Fosamax and Fortical the Same Thing?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Fosamax?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Fortical?
• What is Fosamax?
• What is Fortical?
• What Drugs Interact with Fosamax?
• What Drugs Interact with Fortical?
• How Should Fosamax Be Taken?
• How Should Fortical Be Taken?

Fosamax (alendronate sodium) and Fortical (calcitonin-salmon rDNA origin) Nasal Spray are used to both treat and prevent osteoporosis.

Fosamax is also used to treat Paget's disease.

Fosamax is a bisphosphonate and Fortical Nasal Spray is a form of a hormone secreted by the thyroid gland.

Fosamax is taken orally and Fortical is administered in a nasal spray.

Common side effects of Fosamax include:

• gas,
• constipation,
• heartburn,
• diarrhea,
• bloating,
• nausea,
• vomiting,
• stomach pain,
• joint pain or swelling,
• swelling in your hands or feet,
• dizziness,
• headache,
• eye pain,
• back pain, or
• weakness.

Serious side effects of Fosamax include:

• severe pain (joints, bone, muscle, jaw, back or heartburn),
• chest pain,
• difficulty swallowing,
• bloody stools,
• eye pain,
• skin blisters, and
• swelling of the face, tongue, or throat.

Common side effects of Fortical include:

•  runny or stuffy nose
• nosebleeds
• nasal irritation or discomfort
• dry nose with crusting/scabs/sores
• nasal itching or tenderness
• redness in or around the nose
• headache
• dizziness
• nausea
• flushing (warmth, redness, or tingly feeling under your skin) of the face, or
• back pain

Fosamax (alendronate sodium) is a bisphosphonate that is a specific inhibitor of osteoclast-mediated bone resorption used to both treat and prevent osteoporosis, and to treat Paget's disease.

Fortical (calcitonin-salmon rDNA origin) Nasal Spray is a manmade form of a hormone secreted by the thyroid gland used to treat brittle bone disease (osteoporosis) in women who are at least 5 years past menopause.

Fosamax may interact with aspirin or other NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs).

Fortical may interact with other drugs. Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use.

Fosamax is available in a tablet or oral liquid form. Each bottle of the oral solution contains 91.35 mg of alendronate monosodium salt trihydrate, which is the molar equivalent to 70 mg of the drug. The recommended initial dosage is one 70 mg molar equivalent tablet or oral liquid bottle once weekly or one 10 mg molar equivalent tablet per day. Fosamax must be taken at least one-half hour before the first food, beverage, or medication of the day with plain water only to avoid any reduction in gastrointestinal adsorption.

The recommended dose of Fortical Nasal Spray in postmenopausal osteoporotic patients is 1 spray (200 International Units) per day administered intranasally, alternating nostrils daily.