Fosamax vs Actonel
Our body is simply so complicated and, at the same time, so fascinating that you would wonder how a simple being like an individual can have something so complex internally. One part of our body that is quite essential is our bones. Do you know how many bones we have in our body? We have 206 bones. When a baby is born, though, they have 231 bones. You might wonder why babies have more. This is because some bones have not fused together yet. When we all die, what is left is our skeleton. We are left with a bag of bones, so to speak, and this is why now is the best time to learn about our bones and how proper care can make our body last as long as it should.
As we grow older, our bones degenerate and our bone tissues thin out. This is what osteoporosis is all about. You might have heard about this term, and many of the advertisements on television and online show you that increasing your calcium intake, specifically milk, will help lessen osteoporosis. Unfortunately, as you grow older, this is the one thing that cannot be stopped and one way your doctor can help you alleviate this problem is by giving you medication. Two of these medications are Fosamax and Actonel.
What is the difference between Fosamax and Actonel?
For starters, Fosamax and Actonel are both bisphosphonates. This means they are drugs that work at preventing bone resorption. Bone resorption means bone loss. This also means that both drugs help in increasing bone mineral density. If an individual is diagnosed to have osteoporosis, most likely the doctor would recommend that you take either Fosamax or Actonel.
Fosamax and Actonel are similar. There is really no big difference, because the concentration and focus on both drugs target the bones … target treating osteoporosis. One of the main functions of both these drugs is to inhibit osteoclasts. Osteoclast is a bone cell that is responsible in breaking down old bone tissue. Your body does this so there is a faster growth of new bone and there is a longer retention of older bone tissue.
What the difference would probably be would be more on how the individual would respond to each drug. The most common side effects of Fosamax are as follows:
Joint pain
Swelling in the hands
Numbing of the jaw
The most common side effects of Actonel include:
Heartburn
Acid reflux
Dizziness
Gas
Abdominal pains
This does not mean, though, that these side effects are limited to the specific drug noted above. It just simply means that each individual is unique. So while one who has been diagnosed to have osteoporosis would take Fosamax, and would find that the side effects are too much to bear would transfer to taking Actonel, and find it to be better, and vice versa. The bottom line to this article is that an individual’s reaction and response to a certain drug would always vary. There are studies comparing both drugs, Fosamax and Actonel, and some studies come out showing Fosamax to be more preferred compared to Actonel. This does not also mean that there are no group of individuals who have taken Actonel who are not happy with the results.
SUMMARY:
Fosamax and Actonel take care of bone problems, specifically osteoporosis.
Both drugs have been prescribed to women, and men alike, but more so for women after they go through menopause.
Some studies show that Fosamax has a higher improved rate compared to Actonel.