Drate 70mg Tablet 4 ‘S

Description

About

Osteoporosis is a disease of the bone causing a decrease in its mineral content and mass changing its overall density and structure resulting in fragile bones making them fracture prone. It mostly affects women more than men and is most often related to aging, menopause, long-term treatment with steroids, and hypogonadism. Bisphosphonates are commonly prescribed to people suffering from this disease. Drate 70mg Tablet 4 ‘S belongs to a class of drugs called Bisphosphonates and is used to treat osteoporosis in postmenopausal women who are at risk of developing osteoporosis, Paget’s disease of bone.

Drate 70mg Tablet 4 ‘S is chemically composed of Alendronate which works to stop the resorption of bone by directly binding to a key mineral of the bone called Hydroxyapatite and stops the breakdown of these minerals, imposing an anti-resorptive effect. Among many diagnostic methods currently being used, the DXA scan is the most important evaluation and diagnostic method for osteoporosis which must be done before prescribing any Bisphosphonates. This scan may be repeated every year to assess your condition. And Drate 70mg Tablet 4 ‘S is generally given for longer durations lasting up to 3 to 5 years or as prescribed by a doctor. 

Drate 70mg Tablet 4 ‘S is available in the form of oral tablets in different potencies which should be taken orally 30 minutes before a meal, either once a day or once a week depending on the potency you have been prescribed. Despite its many benefits, Drate 70mg Tablet 4 ‘S is not prescribed to patients under the age of 18 nor is it prescribed to women who are pregnant, lactating, or trying to conceive. Please note that before using any Bisphosphonate get your dental work done since Drate 70mg Tablet 4 ‘S may affect the formation of new bone in your jaw which may be particularly a problem in case of tooth extractions causing bone damage and necrosis. The Drate 70mg Tablet 4 ‘S is to be stored away from direct sunlight at room temperature and kept away from moisture. Most common side effects observed with Drate 70mg Tablet 4 ‘S include diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, joint pain/swelling, or hair loss, among others. 

Indications

Drate 70mg Tablet 4 ‘S can be used to treat:

• Osteoporosis related to menopause, aging, steroid use, etc
• Paget’s disease of bone 
• Patients susceptible to osteoporosis (as preventive measures)
• To increase bone mass in men with osteoporosis 

How Does Drate 70mg Tablet 4 ‘S Work

Drate 70mg Tablet 4 ‘S works by targeting the Osteoclast cells also known as Bone eating cells, present in the bone. Osteoclasts are responsible for the resorption of bone in the body. By inhibiting or slowing down their actions, Drate 70mg Tablet 4 ‘S can regulate and maintain a good bone structure and quality.

How To Use Drate 70mg Tablet 4 ‘S

Drate 70mg Tablet 4 ‘S is to be ingested whole with a glass of regular/plain water, without crushing it or splitting the tablets in half. It is imperative that Drate 70mg Tablet 4 ‘S be taken without food, preferably an hour or so before the patient has their breakfast or first meal or medicine of the day. Medicine is usually taken once a day or once a week depending on the potency you have been prescribed. Patients are asked to not lie down or recline too low after swallowing Drate 70mg Tablet 4 ‘S but rather maintain an upright position to aid the tablet’s passage into the stomach and intestines.

It is advised to not stop treatment abruptly without consulting a doctor as the risk of bone resorption is significantly increased without the drug. It is normal to experience the changes in the drug in your body after a minimum of 2 weeks. In severe circumstances, the changes in the body brought about by Drate 70mg Tablet 4 ‘S may take many weeks or maybe months to experience. During the treatment, the doctor may alter the dosage (either increase or decrease) after a period of a few weeks depending on the patient’s response to treatment and any adverse effects felt by the patient.

It is advised that the drug is taken at the same time each day, an alarm or mobile phone application can be placed to remind patients to take Drate 70mg Tablet 4 ‘S at the proper time each day. If the patient has to take it every day and misses a dose of Drate 70mg Tablet 4 ‘S, they should take it immediately but if the time for the next dose of the drug is near then it’s beneficial for patients to skip the missed dose and take the tablets as per schedule, doubling of doses has proven to cause severe side effects.

Dosage

Available Potency and forms of Drate 70mg Tablet 4 ‘S 

Tablet – 10 mg

Tablet – 70 mg 

Adult Dosage

10 mg: A tablet, early in the morning on empty stomach, is commonly prescribed to be ingested once daily depending on the patient’s needs

70 mg: A tablet, early in the morning, is commonly prescribed to be ingested once a week 

Child Dosage

Drate 70mg Tablet 4 ‘S is not prescribed to patients aged 18 years and below

Elderly Dosage

For patients over the age of 65 years, the dosage of the drug may be lower than normal due to decreased kidney and liver function, Drate 70mg Tablet 4 ‘S may not be effectively removed from the body and so, in such cases, the doctor may prescribe an altered dose of the Drate 70mg Tablet 4 ‘S.

Pregnancy Use And Lactation

Drate 70mg Tablet 4 ‘S is categorized as Pregnancy Category C and is not considered safe to be prescribed to pregnant and breastfeeding women. If you are undergoing treatment with Drate 70mg Tablet 4 ‘S and become pregnant, inform your doctor immediately, the doctor will ask you to stop using Drate 70mg Tablet 4 ‘S or prescribe a suitable alternative.

Contraindications

Please tell your doctor if you have a history of any of the following before using Drate 70mg Tablet 4 ‘S:

• Allergic reaction to Drate 70mg Tablet 4 ‘S or any other drug or ingredient
• Moderate to severe food pipe (esophageal) diseases/impairment such as achalasia 
• Digestive disorders
• Pregnancy 
• Lactating mothers
• Moderate to severe heart diseases/impairment 
• Moderate to severe kidney diseases/impairment 
• Moderate to the severe stomach to intestinal diseases/impairment 
• Hypocalcemia 
• Moderate to severe dental pain or infection 
• Inability to sit upright for at least 30 minutes
• Chronic smoker 

Precautions

Please tell your doctor about any of the following conditions before using Drate 70mg Tablet 4 ‘S:

• Please read the label carefully, since Drate 70mg Tablet 4 ‘S may contain contents that may cause you allergies
• Ensure you have normal calcium levels since Drate 70mg Tablet 4 ‘S can decrease calcium levels
• Smoking is not recommended, breathing difficulties, oral hygiene/diseases can our with Drate 70mg Tablet 4 ‘S
• When taking Drate 70mg Tablet 4 ‘S at your chosen time of the week please consume it with a glass of plain water. Avoid using mineral water or other kinds of drinks for these may interfere with the absorption of this medicine
• Mild to moderate heart diseases/impairment 
• Mild to moderate kidney diseases/impairment 
• Mild to moderate difficulty in swallowing food 
• Acid reflux or regurgitation 
• Dental health maintenance must be ensured. Do regular dental follow-ups to avoid future problems
• If you are advised tooth extraction, always tell your dentist about Drate 70mg Tablet 4 ‘S since it can cause impairment of healing, particularly high risk if you are also undergoing chemotherapy 
• All of your major dental workups must be done before starting Drate 70mg Tablet 4 ‘S
• You may require to have minerals/electrolyte levels in your blood checked periodically during the treatment
• If you notice any unusual pain in bones particularly long bones of the legs or groin area, immediately report to your doctor 
• In case you are taking other vitamins or mineral supplements such as calcium, multivitamins, etc ensure a gap of 3 – 4 hours to allow adequate absorption of Drate 70mg Tablet 4 ‘S. All other drugs known to interact must also be taken after a gap of a few hours

Interactions With Other Medications

Please tell your doctor about the use of the following before using Drate 70mg Tablet 4 ‘S:

• Antacids 
• Calcium supplements 
• Certain NSAIDs like ibuprofen
• Laxatives 
• Aminoglycoside antibiotics like gentamicin, tobramycin, etc.
• Corticosteroids like prednisolone, dexamethasone
• Iron chelators like deferasirox
• Vitamin supplements 

Adverse Effects

Common Adverse Effects

Like most medicinesDrate 70mg Tablet 4 ‘S has certain side effects which include:

• Stomach problems (such as cramps, nausea, and or diarrhea)
• Headache 
• Flu-like symptoms 
• Hair loss
• Heartburn/ indigestion 
• Fatigue 
• Skin rash 

These effects tend to be mild and resolve in a few days of taking Drate 70mg Tablet 4 ‘S.

Rare Adverse Effects

If any of the following adverse effects are seen or felt, the patient is advised to immediately contact their doctor.

• Dental aches and pains 
• Muscular aches 
• Joint pain 
• Pain in the ear
• Pruritus 
• Joint pain
• Muscle cramps 
• Paresthesia 
• Impaired wound healing especially in the jaw
• Oral ulcers 
• Compromised/ mobile teeth

How To Cope With Some Of The Adverse Effects

• Headaches – In which case make sure you rest and drink plenty of fluids. Avoid the use of alcohol. Take a prescribed painkiller. Consult your doctor if the headaches last longer than a week or are severe
• Feeling or being sick (nausea or vomiting) or diarrhea – Avoid eating rich or spicy food. It might help to take medication after food. If you’re sick, try drinking small, frequent sips of water.
• Heartburn – This can be dealt with by chewing on mint-flavored gum that’ll help neutralize the acid in the body. Standing up straighter, adding ginger to the daily diet, elevating the patient’s upper body, and having licorice supplements has shown to provide relief.
• Skin Rash – This can be eased by applying soothing and healing lotions or creams such as calamine lotion/cream. Apply a cold compress to the rash helps reduce itchiness and redness caused by the rash. An antihistamine (prescribed by a doctor) is also recommended as an effective way to combat any skin rash.
• Fatigue – Patients experiencing this adverse effect are advised to take deep breaths, intake tea or coffee, get a good night’s rest, and not overburden themselves for a few days.

FAQ’S

#1.How To Store Drate 70mg Tablet 4 ‘S?

Drate 70mg Tablet 4 ‘S is to be kept away from the reach of children, in a cool dry place away from direct sunlight and humidity as that tends to ruin certain drugs.

#2. What If I Take Too Much Of Drate 70mg Tablet 4 ‘S?

Patients are asked to immediately drink a full glass of milk and to kindly contact their doctor or a nearby hospital right away. The amount of medication that can result in severe side effects varies from person to person. An overdose results in slowing down of heart rate and difficulty breathing accompanied by dizziness and fainting spells.

#3. What If I Miss A Dose Of Drate 70mg Tablet 4 ‘S?

If you miss a dose of the medication, make sure you take it as soon as possible on that same day. If you don’t remember you missed the dose until the next dosage time or the next day, do not double the dose and take your medication as per schedule.

#4. How Is Drate 70mg Tablet 4 ‘S Supposed To Be Taken?

Drate 70mg Tablet 4 ‘S is to be ingested whole, without crushing it or splitting the tablets in half. It is imperative that Drate 70mg Tablet 4 ‘S be ingested without food, preferably an hour or so before the patient has their breakfast. Patients are asked to not lie down after swallowing Drate 70mg Tablet 4 ‘S but rather to remain sitting or standing up straight.

#5. Can I Take Drate 70mg Tablet 4 ‘S During My Pregnancy?

No, Drate 70mg Tablet 4 ‘S is deemed unsafe to be ingested during pregnancy.

#6. Is It Safe To Have Painkillers While Taking Drate 70mg Tablet 4 ‘S?

Not all pain killers are safe to be ingested while undergoing treatment with Drate 70mg Tablet 4 ‘S. NSAIDs (such as Ibuprofen) painkillers have been shown to interact with Drate 70mg Tablet 4 ‘S. You may take paracetamol as a painkiller if needed.

#7. What Lab Tests Will Be Prescribed While Undergoing Treatment With Drate 70mg Tablet 4 ‘S And How Often?

Patients are advised to have their kidney and liver function tests done periodically along with blood tests to keep a check on serum potassium, calcium levels. DEXA scans are also advised to be done annually to monitor bone density levels.

#8. Is It Safe To Have Antacids For Indigestion Along With Drate 70mg Tablet 4 ‘S?

No, As certain antacids containing magnesium and/or aluminum may interact with the absorption of Drate 70mg Tablet 4 ‘S by the body and are therefore advised to ask your doctor first for a suitable medicine or take a minimum of 2 hours before the intake of Drate 70mg Tablet 4 ‘S.

#9. Is Drate 70mg Tablet 4 ‘S Safe To Give To Elderly Patients?

Yes. This drug can be easily and safely prescribed to patients above 18 years of age. For elderly patients the dosage of the drug may be lower than normal due to decreased kidney function, Drate 70mg Tablet 4 ‘S may not be effectively removed from the body and so, in such cases, the doctor may prescribe an altered dose of the Drate 70mg Tablet 4 ‘S.

#10. What If I Forget To Take The Drate 70mg Tablet 4 ‘S?

It is advised that the drug is taken at the same time each day to have sustained levels in the blood, an alarm can be placed to remind patients to take Drate 70mg Tablet 4 ‘S at the proper time and at least an hour before having any meal. If a patient misses a dose of Drate 70mg Tablet 4 ‘S, they should take it immediately but if the time for the next dose of the drug is near then it’s beneficial for patients to skip the missed dose and take the tablets as per schedule, doubling of doses has proven to cause severe side effects.

#11. Are there any lifestyle changes that I need to make for my condition?

If you are suffering from osteoporosis or a condition that affects your bone strength, try to avoid activities that are likely to cause trauma to your bones both inside and outside your home. Try to incorporate a healthy balanced diet comprised of calcium and vitamin D in particular. Taking a sunbath or sun exposure a few times a week also helps the body make Vitamin D naturally.

#12. For How Long Will I Have To Take Drate 70mg Tablet 4 ‘S?

Drate 70mg Tablet 4 ‘S is generally taken for longer durations which may last up to 3 to 5 years