Disodium Etidronate
Consumer Medicine Information
NOTICE: This Consumer Medicine Information (CMI) is intended for persons living in Australia. This page contains answers to some common questions about . It does not contain all the information that is known about . It does not take the place of talking to your doctor or pharmacist. All medicines have risks and benefits. Your doctor has weighed the risk of you using this medicine against the benefits he/she expects it will have for you. If you have any concerns about using this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist. Bookmark or print this page, you may need to read it again.
What Didronel is used for
Didronel contains an active ingredient called disodium etidronate. It belongs to a group of medicines called bisphosphonates.
Didronel is used to treat conditions with increased bone turnover or pain, eg. Paget's disease.
Your doctor may prescribe Didronel to prevent and treat abnormal deposits of calcium forming in soft tissue or muscle. This condition may happen following spinal cord injury or total hip replacement.
Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why Didronel has been prescribed for you.
Your doctor may have prescribed Didronel for another reason.
Do not give Didronel to children.
The safety and effectiveness of Didronel in children has not been established.
Before you start taking Didronel
When you must not take it
Do not take Didronel if:
you suffer from severe softening or weakening of the bones called osteomalacia (your doctor will treat this condition before you start Didronel)
you have allergies to any of the ingredients of Didronel which are listed under the heading, "Product Description", at the end of this leaflet.
the product has passed its expiry date (EXP) printed on the bottle label
the package is not intact or if the packaging shows any signs of tampering
there is a noticeable change to the appearance of the product
it has not been prescribed for you by your doctor.
Before you start to take it
See your doctor for a check up before you start to use Didronel.
Tell your doctor if:
you are pregnant or trying to become pregnant
you are breastfeeding
you suffer from inflammatory bowel disease
you suffer from any kidney disorders particularly if you are elderly
you suffer from high blood calcium or high urine calcium
you have cancer
you have reached menopause osteoporosis (women who no longer have menstrual periods)
you have dental problems or had previous dental surgery such as a tooth extraction or dental implant.
Taking other medicines
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including any that you buy without a prescription from your pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.
Some medicines and Didronel may interfere with each other. These include:
antacids for indigestion
any other bisphosphonates
calcium supplements
vitamin and mineral supplements
warfarin, a medicine used to prevent blood clots.
These medicines may be affected by Didronel or may affect how well it works. You may need different amounts of your medicines, or you may need to take different medicines.
Your doctor and pharmacist have more information on medicines to be careful with or to avoid while taking Didronel.
How to take Didronel
Follow all directions given to you by your doctor or pharmacist carefully.
They may differ from the information contained in this leaflet.
If you do not understand the instructions on the bottle, ask your doctor or pharmacist for help.
How much to take
Your doctor will decide the dose of Didronel.
When to take it
Swallow the tablets as a single, oral dose at bedtime with a glass of water and preferably on an empty stomach. However, if you feel any stomach pain, please consult your doctor for advice.
Take the tablets at least two hours before or two hours after:
eating foods high in calcium (eg. milk, cheese, yoghurt, tinned fish)
taking vitamins and mineral supplements.
This is to avoid problems with the absorption of the white tablets.
How long to take it
For Paget's disease, you will be treated for up to six months and then have a break for 3 months before starting treatment again.
For spinal cord injury, the total treatment period is 12 weeks.
For total hip replacement, Didronel treatment is usually started one month before the operation and three months after the operation.
Please ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.
If you forget to take Didronel
If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the dose you have missed and take your next dose when you are meant to.
Otherwise, take it as soon as you remember and then go back to taking your medicine as you would normally.
Do not take a double dose to make up for the dose that you missed.
This may increase the chance of you getting an unwanted side effect.
If you have trouble remembering when to take your medicine, ask your pharmacist for some hints.
In case of overdose
Immediately telephone your doctor or the Poisons Information Centre (telephone 13 11 26) for advice, or go to Accident and Emergency at your nearest hospital, if you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much Didronel.
Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.
If you take too many Didronel tablets, you may start vomiting and may need urgent medical attention.
Have the Didronel pack or this leaflet available to give details if needed.
While you are using Didronel
If you are about to have any tests, tell your doctor that you are taking this medicine.
It may interfere with the results of some bone scans.
Tell any other doctors, dentists, and pharmacists who treat you that you are taking Didronel.
Inform your dentist that you are taking Didronel or have taken Didronel in the past. Also let your dentist know of any existing medical conditions.
Having dental surgery while you are taking Didronel can increase the risk of damage to the teeth and jawbone.
Side Effects
Tell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are taking Didronel.
Didronel helps most people with bone problems, but it may have unwanted side effects in some people. All medicines can have side effects. Sometimes they are serious, most of the time they are not.
You may need medical attention if you get some of the side effects.
Do not be alarmed by the following lists of side effects.
You may not experience any of them.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist to answer any questions you may have.
Tell your doctor if you notice any of the following or they worry you:
nausea (feeling sick)
diarrhoea
painful joints
skin rashes, itchiness or itchy rash.
These are the more common and milder side effects of Didronel.
Tell your doctor immediately, or go to accident and emergency at your nearest hospital if you notice any of the following:
aggravation of asthma
memory loss, confusion changes in mood; seeing or hearing things that are not there
numbness or tingling sensations
burning on tongue or swollen, red, sore tongue
loss of hair
signs of frequent infections such as fever, severe chills, sore throat or mouth ulcers - these symptoms may be caused by a reduction in the number of red and white blood cells.
toothache, jaw pain, or swelling and numbness of the jaw area.
These may be serious side effects of Didronel. You may need urgent medical attention. Serious side effects are rare.
Tell your doctor if you notice anything else that is making you feel unwell, even if it is not on this list.
Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some people.
After using Didronel
Storage
Store Didronel in a cool place where the temperature stays below 25 degrees C.
Do not use it past the expiry date (EXP) printed on the bottle label.
Do not store Didronel or any other medicine in the bathroom or near a sink.
Heat and dampness can destroy some medicines.
Do not leave your tablets in the car on hot days or on window sills.
Keep your Didronel tablets out of reach of children.
A locked cupboard at least one-and-a-half metres above the ground is a good place to store medicines.
Disposal
Return any unused tablets to your pharmacist for disposal.
Never give Didronel to someone else.
This medicine is for you only.
Product Description
What Didronel tablets look like
Didronel is a rectangular white tablet engraved with 'P&G' on one side and '402' on the other. It is packed in bottles of 60 tablets.
Ingredients
Each tablet contains 200 mg disodium etidronate. It also contains:
magnesium stearate
microcrystalline cellulose
pregelatinised maize starch.
Supplier
Didronel is supplied in Australia by:
Pfizer Australia Pty Ltd
ABN 50 088 422-348
38-42 Wharf Road
West Ryde NSW 2114
Australia
For medical enquiries in Australia call toll free number 1800 675 229.
Australian Registration Number
AUST R 14438
This leaflet was revised in January 2008.
© Pfizer Australia Pty Ltd
* Registered Trademark
