Osteoporosis is a serious disease that causes degradation of bone tissue. Even minor injuries caused by this pathological process lead to a violation of the usual lifestyle and disability. Ostalon and Ostalon Calcium-D are used to treat and prevent osteoporosis. These drugs are designed to slow down and stop the negative changes in tissues in women during the postmenopausal period. But taking medications should be carried out in accordance with the instructions and adhere to the indications for the use of Ostalon, since ignoring the recommendations leads to the opposite effect of therapy.
Release form and composition
The drug is made in tablet form. The tablets are white, each has an M14 engraving. The active ingredient is alendronic acid (70 mg). In addition, in the composition of the medicine there are additional substances that contribute to the correct distribution of the active substance, and also enhance its effect.
Main auxiliary components:
- colloidal silicon dioxide;
- magnesium stearate;
- microcrystalline cellulose;
- croscarmellose sodium.
In the package of the drug "Ostalon Calcium-D" there are 2 types of tablets. One of them is completely identical to Ostalon in appearance and composition, and the second contains calcium carbonate with colecalciferol. The second type of tablet has an oblong shape and a brownish yellow tint.
Pharmacological action of the drug
Ostalon is part of the bisphosphonates group. Their mechanism of action is the selective formation of a stable bond with bone mineral. Also, its action is aimed at capturing osteoclast, which provokes degradation changes in bone tissue. This means that the alendronic acid molecule is localized exactly in the place where the bone tissue underwent deformation as a result of osteoporosis.
As a result, the active component of the drug blocks the synthesis of the enzyme farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase, which leads to osteoplast dysfunction. As a result of this, destructive processes slow down and then stop. In addition, alendronic acid serves as the "foundation" for the formation of new cells in damaged bones.
Ostalon and Ostalon Calcium-D also increase osteocyte survival in postmenopausal women.
In a complex about the drug, we can say that it performs the following functions in the body:
- normalizes phosphorus-calcium metabolism;
- helps to improve the composition and structure of bone tissue.
Pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics
When it enters the body, the active component is initially distributed in the soft tissues, and then penetrates the bone tissue. When absorbed into the blood, its connection with proteins is about 78%.
Taking the medicine in the morning, 2 hours before a meal, allows him to be absorbed at a level of 0.64%. And with a reduction in the waiting period, this indicator decreases to the level of 0.39-0.46%, and the effectiveness of the active component does not fall.
The combination of the drug with coffee drinks and citrus fruit juice reduces the bioavailability of the drug by 60%.
Studies have not confirmed the metabolism of the drug in the body. The absorbed active component that has not integrated into the bone tissue is excreted along with urine.
Six hours after oral administration of the drug, its concentration in the blood decreases to 95%. The half-life is about ten years, and this once again proves that alendronic acid is able to be present for a long time in bone tissue.
If hypocalcemia is present, it is necessary to correct it before starting treatment with Ostalon. Therapy should be combined with a diet enriched with Ca2 + salts.
Ostalon Calcium-D has some differences in the process of absorption and subsequent excretion from the body due to the presence of colecalciferol (a bioavailable substance) and calcium carbonate. When taken orally, the active component is absorbed by one third of the small intestine. This is due to the presence of vitamin D and depends on the level of acidity.
Colecalciferol is partially excreted through the kidneys (20%), and the remaining amount through the intestines.
Main indications
Reception of Ostalon and the drug Ostalon Calcium-D is prescribed in the following cases:
- For the treatment of degradation disorders of bone tissue, provoked by prolonged use of glucocorticosteroids.
- To reduce symptoms and treat osteoporosis in women throughout the postmenopausal period. Indeed, it is in this period that the risk of fractures of the spine and the head of the hip bone increases.
- For men, as part of the complex therapy of osteoporosis. Admission in this case allows you to reduce the fragility of the bones of the spine and pelvis.
Contraindications
The drug has a number of contraindications that must be considered. Otherwise, the medicine can provoke the development of side effects.
The main contraindications:
- Diseases of the esophagus, as well as other pathological processes that impede the patency of food.
- Deficiency or excess in the body of vitamin D.
- Hypocalcemia, hypercalciuria, hyperparathyroidism.
- Severe form of chronic renal failure (creatinine clearance less than 35 ml / min.).
- Individual intolerance to the components that make up the drug.
- Pregnancy, lactation.
- Children's, teenage age.
- Osteoporosis provoked by immobilization.
- Tuberculosis and inadequate mineral metabolism, requiring adjustment.
- The inability of a person to be upright for less than half an hour.
With caution, a medication is prescribed for patients suffering from diseases of the upper digestive system. This is due to the irritating effect of alendronic acid on the mucous membrane of the stomach and esophagus. Therefore, it is important that the patient remains upright for 30 minutes after taking the Ostalon tablet, which reduces the likelihood of an irritating effect.
You should not take the medicine during radiation and chemotherapy for cancer.
The use of glucocorticosteroids during therapy with this drug is contraindicated, as this increases the risk of developing osteonecrosis. For the same reason, surgery should be avoided in the treatment of dental diseases.
An individual is prescribed a drug for the treatment of osteoporosis, if the cause of its development is not associated with postmenopause and age-related changes. Without the recommendation of your doctor, taking Ostalon is strictly prohibited!
Instructions for use "Ostalon"
The medicine is taken 1 tablet per week. Reception is recommended in the morning on an empty stomach for better absorption of the active component in the blood. The tablet should be swallowed whole without violating the integrity of the shell. Drink the medicine with plenty of water.
Breakfast after taking Ostalon is recommended no earlier than 1 hour later. It is important to maintain an upright position for half an hour after the medicine has been drunk.
Tablets of colecalciferon and calcium carbonate, which are present in the preparation "Ostalon Calcium-D", should be taken 1 time per day. Moreover, their administration should be carried out no earlier than 3 hours after alendronic acid.
For the elderly, a dosage adjustment of Ostalon is not required, as age-related changes in the body are not able to provoke the accumulation of the active component in the body.
According to the instructions for use of Ostalon, when you skip a dose, you should drink the medicine the next morning. It is unacceptable to drink two tablets on the same day! In the future, you should return to the previous treatment regimen - once a week, choosing a specific day.
The duration of admission in each individual case is set individually, depending on the characteristics of the patient and the nature of the degradation changes in bone tissue.
Overdose and side effects
Failure to comply with the frequency and norm of taking the drug leads to an overdose, which is expressed by hypophosphatemia and hypocalcemia. Also, Ostalon therapy over a long period of time can lead to calcification of tissues and blood vessels.
An overdose is manifested by a violation of the function of the digestive system: heartburn, nausea, gastritis, diarrhea. At the same time, it is forbidden to artificially induce a gag reflex, since this can provoke irritation of the mucous membrane of the esophagus.
There is no specific treatment for overdose. If alarming symptoms of intoxication appear, consult a doctor. And as a first aid, it is recommended to drink milk and take antacids.
Side effects that occur when taking Ostalon are as follows:
- very frequent - muscle and joint pain;
- frequent - headache, constipation, periodic pain in the abdomen, dyspepsia, flatulence, sour belching, myalgia, dysphalgia, ostalgia, swelling of the extremities, itching, alopecia;
- rare - nausea, dizziness, vomiting, diarrhea, skin hyperemia, narrowing of the lumen of the esophagus, osteonecrosis of the jaw,
- an exceptional case - general weakness, fever, gastric bleeding, scleritis, angiodema, urticaria, uveitis, osteonecrosis of the external auditory canal.
If there are characteristic signs of the drug’s immunity, the body should inform the attending physician to replace Ostalon with an analogue of the drug.
Interaction with other drugs
Clinical studies on the interaction of Ostalon with other drugs have not been conducted. But the condition of patients who combined the use of this drug with other drugs was pronounced. As a result, the following patterns were established:
- Ranitidine in combination with Ostalon enhances the availability of alendronic acid.
- Diuretics reduce the excretion of calcium, increase the likelihood of hypercalcemia. With complex therapy with this group of drugs, it is necessary to establish control over the level of calcium in the body.
- Systemic corticosteroids, antacids, calcium-containing drugs reduce the absorbing properties of calcium. Against this background, an increase in the dosage of calcium and vitamin D.
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs exacerbate digestive system dysfunction.
- "Tetracycline" decreases its effectiveness. Therefore, it is recommended to take this medicine two hours before taking Ostalon or 4 hours after it.
When taking Ostalon, its effect on the reaction rate was not revealed, therefore, during the entire course of therapy, a person can drive a car and engage in work requiring increased attention. However, rare cases of a slight decrease in visual acuity were recorded. Therefore, until the unpleasant symptoms disappear, you should refrain from activities that require concentration.
Analogs of "Ostalon"
The main disadvantage of the drug is its increased cost. The price of Ostalon is about 500 rubles per plate with four tablets. And since the therapeutic effect can be achieved only as a result of prolonged use, in some cases it is replaced with drugs with a similar effect:
- Alendronat (Russia). The active ingredient is sodium alendronate trihydrate. The drug is available in different packaging, which allows the patient to purchase the medicine in the amount indicated by the attending physician. In addition to osteoporosis, the medicine is used to reduce bone density and Paget's disease in men.
- "Forosa" (Slovenia). The active substance is alendronate trihydrate. It is used for the treatment and prevention of osteoporosis, as well as deforming osteitis. An absolute contraindication to taking is a violation of mineral metabolism in the body, as well as the age of 18 years, the period of pregnancy and lactation.
- Osterepar (Poland). The active ingredient is sodium alendronate. Effective for the treatment of osteoporosis, the development of which provoked a prolonged use of glucocorticosteroids. It also helps to prevent degradation changes in bone tissue due to hormonal failure during menopause.
It is forbidden to replace Ostalon with analogues on its own, as this can cause a general deterioration in well-being. Only a doctor will be able to compare the acceptable drugs and choose the appropriate replacement.
Reviews of specialists
Ostalon has been used for therapeutic purposes for 10 years. Many years of practice have shown the high effectiveness of this tool. According to reviews, Ostalon not only treats degradation changes in bone tissue, but also prevents their development.
Doctors insist that in order to achieve a stable result of therapy, the medicine should be taken for 1 year, adhering to the correct regimen.
Clinical studies have shown the effectiveness of the drug to eliminate unpleasant symptoms and treat osteoporosis in women and men in more than 10 thousand patients.
In addition, according to statistics, regular intake of alendronic acid reduces the likelihood of a spinal fracture by 55%, hips by 51%, and forearms by 48%.
Ostalon and analogues are effective drugs, the intake of which should be agreed with the doctor, because, despite their therapeutic properties, there is a high probability of developing side effects that adversely affect the patient’s health. Therefore, only a specialist will be able to assess the degree of risk to a person based on his individual characteristics.