I Forgot to Take my Osteoporosis Medicine | Browns Pharmacy Guide

This article has been written and medically approved by Pharmacist Conor McSorley GPhC Reg No. 2223070

Medicine can be very specific and therefore it is critical that any information taken from a generalised blog should be combined with specific drug information that you can attain from the Patient Information Leaflet or a healthcare professional.

For all of these specific blogs, the general advice still applies from our earlier blog about how to find the information for the medication you are taking which can be found here.

Medication for the treatment and prevention of osteoporosis (alendronic acid, risedronate and ibandronic acid) all have very specific instructions on how and when to take them. They must all be taken on an empty stomach, with a full glass of plain water, sitting or standing upright for 30 minutes after. This ensures that not only do they provide the effect they are supposed to for the body but also prevents any possible irritation of the oesophagus.

Bisphosphonate medicine doses vary, with alendronic acid and risedronate able to be taken once daily or once weekly. Ibandronic acid is usually taken once monthly.

Different doses therefore have different advice when missing a dose. It is important that you follow the correct advice in the PIL specific to the bisphosphonate you are taking and match it to the dose you are taking. The Royal Osteoporosis Society provide advice which indicates that there is unlikely to be an effect on the overall bone health when missing the odd dose. 

Once DAILY alendronic acid or risedronate

If you miss your dose at the usual time you take it, then skip that dose and take the next dose as usual on the next day. Do not take two doses together or on the same day.

Once WEEKLY alendronic acid or risedronate

If you miss your dose at the usual time you take it, then take it the morning after you remember. Do not take the missed dose later that day. Once you have taken it go back to taking your dose once weekly as usual on your chosen day and do not take two doses on the same day.

Monthly ibandronic acid 

If you miss your dose at the usual time you take it, then check when your next scheduled dose is due. 

• If it is more than 7 days away

Take the missed dose the morning after you remember, do not take a missed dose later in the day

• If it is 7 days or less away

Skip the missed dose and take the next dose as scheduled. Do not take the two doses within the same week. Then continue taking your one tablet once a month on the scheduled day as planned.

All information was correct at the time of writing.