Dosage:
DO NOT TAKE CALCIUM SUPPLEMENTS for 21 days WHILE TAKING CLODRONATE
Calcium supplementation of min. of 2000 mg daily is imperative at all times WHEN NOT TAKING Etidronate/Clodronate
Precautions: General: To assure optimal absorption of etidronate, the drug should be taken as a single oral dose 2 hours before meals.
Children: The use of etidronate in children is NOT recommended.
Geriatrics: Special precautions related to the use of etidronate in geriatric patients have not been identified. However, serum creatinine levels should be closely monitored.
Precautions: General: To assure optimal absorption of etidronate, the drug should be taken as a single oral dose 2 hours before meals with fruit juice or water. It should NOT be taken with milk. Meals should be avoided for 2 hours before and after drug administration.
Etidronate therapy should be approached with caution in patients with gastrointestinal disease because etidronate may cause diarrhoea in some patients at doses above 5 mg/kg/day.
Patients with known hypersensitivity to the drug. Clinical trials have demonstrated no absolute contraindications.. The response to therapy may be a slow onset and may continue even for months after treatment when the drug has been discontinued.
Nutrition: Patients should maintain an adequate nutritional status and particularly, an adequate intake of calcium and vitamin D. Patients with restricted vitamin D and calcium intake may be particularly sensitive to drugs that affect calcium homeostasis and should be closely followed while under etidronate treatment.
Bone Pain: Bone pain at the Pagetic site may increase or recur during etidronate therapy even in patients who are experiencing relief of their original symptoms. Continuance of therapy will usually result in resolution of pain. However, on occasion, therapy may have to be discontinued because of adverse effects.
Children: The use of etidronate in children is NOT recommended.
Geriatrics: Special precautions related to the use of etidronate in geriatric patients have not been identified. However, serum creatinine levels should be closely monitored in patients with renal impairment.
Pregnancy: Studies performed in rats and rabbits using orally administered etidronate at does up to 5 times the maximum human dose have revealed no evidence of impaired fertility or harm to the fetus. There are no adequate, well-controlled studies in pregnant women. Because animal reproduction studies are not always predictive of human response, this drug should be used during pregnancy only if clearly needed.
Lactation: Etidronate is not intended for administration during lactation.
Supplied: Each white tablet/capsule contains: etidronate disodium 500 mg. Nonmedicinal: ingredients: magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose and pregelatinized starch. Bisulfite, gluten, lactose, paraben and tartrazine free. Bottles of 100. Store at controlled room temperature (15 to 30o C)
Warning to patients with gastrointestinal disease because etidronate may cause diarrhoea in some patients at doses above 5 mg/kg.
Reviewed, 1998. :\msworks\data\dosagecl.wps