ALENDRONATE SODIUM

85/100 · Critical

Manufactured by Organon LLC

High Seriousness in Adverse Reactions for ALENDRONATE SODIUM

542,544 FDA adverse event reports analyzed

Last updated: 2026-05-12

About ALENDRONATE SODIUM

ALENDRONATE SODIUM is a medication tracked in the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS), manufactured by Organon LLC. Based on analysis of 542,544 FDA adverse event reports, ALENDRONATE SODIUM has a safety score of 85 out of 100. This score indicates a relatively favorable safety profile, with fewer or less severe adverse events compared to many other tracked medications. The most commonly reported adverse reactions for ALENDRONATE SODIUM include PAIN, FATIGUE, DRUG INEFFECTIVE, FEMUR FRACTURE, ARTHRALGIA. This page provides a comprehensive breakdown of reported side effects, safety signals, patient demographics, and AI-powered safety analysis for ALENDRONATE SODIUM.

AI Safety Analysis

Alendronate Sodium has a safety concern score of 85 out of 100, placing it in the high concern category based on analysis of FDA adverse event data. The FDA has received approximately 542,544 adverse event reports for this medication, which is primarily manufactured by Organon Llc.

The most commonly reported adverse events include Pain, Fatigue, Drug Ineffective. Of classified reports, 78.6% were designated as serious by the FDA, meaning they involved hospitalization, disability, or other significant medical outcomes. Femur fractures and falls are significant safety concerns, especially in older adults.

Rheumatoid arthritis and arthropathy are common musculoskeletal issues. Drug intolerance and ineffectiveness are frequent, indicating potential treatment challenges.

Patients taking Alendronate Sodium should monitor for the commonly reported side effects and contact their healthcare provider if they experience any unusual symptoms. Avoid concurrent use with bisphosphonates and corticosteroids, as these can increase the risk of osteonecrosis and other bone-related issues. This analysis is based on voluntary FDA adverse event reports and should not replace professional medical advice.

Safety Score: 85/100

Alendronate Sodium received a safety concern score of 85/100 (high concern). This is based on a 78.6% serious event ratio across 98,013 classified reports. The score accounts for 542,544 total adverse event reports and 100 distinct reaction types. This high score reflects a significant proportion of serious adverse events in the reporting data.

Top Adverse Reactions

PAIN13,520 reports
FATIGUE12,771 reports
DRUG INEFFECTIVE12,333 reports
FEMUR FRACTURE11,335 reports
ARTHRALGIA11,003 reports
RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS9,941 reports
ALOPECIA9,882 reports
ABDOMINAL DISCOMFORT9,811 reports
SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS8,987 reports
RASH8,726 reports
PEMPHIGUS8,685 reports
FALL8,161 reports
GLOSSODYNIA8,075 reports
ARTHROPATHY8,063 reports
SWELLING7,600 reports
NAUSEA7,565 reports
HYPERTENSION7,507 reports
DYSPNOEA7,445 reports
OFF LABEL USE7,425 reports
JOINT SWELLING6,944 reports
HEADACHE6,938 reports
HAND DEFORMITY6,932 reports
INFUSION RELATED REACTION6,854 reports
DIARRHOEA6,726 reports
WOUND6,661 reports
HYPERSENSITIVITY6,533 reports
PAIN IN EXTREMITY6,458 reports
DRUG INTOLERANCE6,421 reports
CONTRAINDICATED PRODUCT ADMINISTERED6,186 reports
SYNOVITIS6,162 reports
CONDITION AGGRAVATED5,898 reports
HEPATIC ENZYME INCREASED5,860 reports
DIZZINESS5,775 reports
PERICARDITIS5,677 reports
OSTEOARTHRITIS5,611 reports
DISCOMFORT5,488 reports
IMPAIRED HEALING5,388 reports
MATERNAL EXPOSURE DURING PREGNANCY5,356 reports
VOMITING5,213 reports
ANTI CYCLIC CITRULLINATED PEPTIDE ANTIBODY POSITIVE5,148 reports
PNEUMONIA5,125 reports
PRODUCT USE ISSUE5,039 reports
PYREXIA4,983 reports
ANXIETY4,911 reports
WEIGHT INCREASED4,895 reports
PERIPHERAL SWELLING4,884 reports
MALAISE4,848 reports
ASTHENIA4,827 reports
PRURITUS4,823 reports
DRUG HYPERSENSITIVITY4,814 reports
DEPRESSION4,782 reports
HELICOBACTER INFECTION4,650 reports
NASOPHARYNGITIS4,639 reports
CONFUSIONAL STATE4,638 reports
DUODENAL ULCER PERFORATION4,637 reports
INFECTION4,585 reports
BLOOD CHOLESTEROL INCREASED4,540 reports
GENERAL PHYSICAL HEALTH DETERIORATION4,447 reports
INSOMNIA4,372 reports
BLISTER4,287 reports
MUSCULOSKELETAL STIFFNESS4,163 reports
THERAPEUTIC PRODUCT EFFECT DECREASED4,142 reports
SINUSITIS4,122 reports
CONTUSION4,049 reports
GASTROOESOPHAGEAL REFLUX DISEASE4,037 reports
STOMATITIS4,007 reports
OSTEOPOROSIS3,976 reports
TREATMENT FAILURE3,953 reports
IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME3,921 reports
HYPOAESTHESIA3,915 reports
BACK PAIN3,860 reports
TYPE 2 DIABETES MELLITUS3,789 reports
LOW TURNOVER OSTEOPATHY3,764 reports
PSORIATIC ARTHROPATHY3,757 reports
FOLLICULITIS3,740 reports
GASTROINTESTINAL DISORDER3,726 reports
CHEST PAIN3,721 reports
ABDOMINAL PAIN UPPER3,641 reports
MOBILITY DECREASED3,561 reports
LOWER RESPIRATORY TRACT INFECTION3,539 reports
OSTEONECROSIS3,512 reports
DECREASED APPETITE3,499 reports
FIBROMYALGIA3,413 reports
GAIT DISTURBANCE3,403 reports
RHEUMATOID FACTOR POSITIVE3,394 reports
INJURY3,383 reports
MUSCLE INJURY3,278 reports
WEIGHT DECREASED3,252 reports
URTICARIA3,189 reports
INTENTIONAL PRODUCT USE ISSUE3,111 reports
ABDOMINAL PAIN3,078 reports
MUSCLE SPASMS3,069 reports
WHEEZING3,035 reports
ILL DEFINED DISORDER3,023 reports
ASTHMA2,993 reports
RHEUMATIC FEVER2,982 reports
COUGH2,964 reports
DEATH2,949 reports
ARTHRITIS2,941 reports
BURSITIS2,903 reports

Key Safety Signals

  • Femur fractures and falls
  • Rheumatoid arthritis and arthropathy
  • Drug intolerance and ineffectiveness

Patient Demographics

Adverse event reports by sex: Female: 76,863, Male: 12,152, Unknown: 411. The most frequently reported age groups are age 44 (2,296 reports), age 43 (2,272 reports), age 65 (1,749 reports). These demographics reflect reporting patterns and may not represent the full patient population.

Report Outcomes

Out of 98,013 classified reports for ALENDRONATE SODIUM:

  • Serious: 77,019 reports (78.6%) — includes hospitalization, disability, life-threatening events, or death
  • Non-Serious: 20,994 reports (21.4%)
Serious 78.6%Non-Serious 21.4%

The FDA classifies an adverse event as “serious” if it results in death, hospitalization, disability, congenital anomaly, or requires intervention to prevent permanent damage.

Demographics Breakdown

Reports by Sex

Female76,863 (86.0%)
Male12,152 (13.6%)
Unknown411 (0.5%)

Reports by Age

Age 442,296 reports
Age 432,272 reports
Age 651,749 reports
Age 591,704 reports
Age 681,700 reports
Age 671,691 reports
Age 721,659 reports
Age 701,655 reports
Age 751,599 reports
Age 641,596 reports
Age 631,532 reports
Age 661,531 reports
Age 731,510 reports
Age 691,506 reports
Age 711,480 reports
Age 741,480 reports
Age 601,461 reports
Age 621,399 reports
Age 781,371 reports
Age 771,360 reports

Demographics reflect voluntary FDA adverse event reporting patterns and may not represent the full patient population.

Drug Interactions & Warnings

Avoid concurrent use with bisphosphonates and corticosteroids, as these can increase the risk of osteonecrosis and other bone-related issues.

What You Should Know

If you are taking Alendronate Sodium, here are important things to know. The most commonly reported side effects include pain, fatigue, drug ineffective, femur fracture, arthralgia. While many of these may be mild and temporary, you should contact your healthcare provider if any symptoms are severe or persistent. Follow prescribed dosing instructions carefully to minimize the risk of adverse reactions. Report any unusual symptoms to your healthcare provider promptly. If you experience a serious adverse reaction, seek emergency medical attention immediately or call 911. You can report side effects to the FDA's MedWatch program at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Regulatory Context

The FDA continues to monitor ALENDRONATE SODIUM for safety, and updates will be issued as necessary.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many adverse event reports has the FDA received for Alendronate Sodium?

The FDA has received approximately 542,544 adverse event reports associated with Alendronate Sodium. These reports come from healthcare professionals, consumers, and manufacturers through the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Note that the number of reports does not directly indicate the frequency of side effects, as adverse events are voluntarily reported and may be underrepresented.

What are the most commonly reported side effects of Alendronate Sodium?

The most frequently reported adverse events for Alendronate Sodium include Pain, Fatigue, Drug Ineffective, Femur Fracture, Arthralgia. By volume, the top reported reactions are: Pain (13,520 reports), Fatigue (12,771 reports), Drug Ineffective (12,333 reports). These figures reflect FDA adverse event reports and may not represent the true incidence rate of these side effects in all patients taking Alendronate Sodium.

What percentage of Alendronate Sodium adverse event reports are serious?

Out of 98,013 classified reports, 77,019 (78.6%) were classified as serious and 20,994 as non-serious. The FDA classifies an event as "serious" if it results in death, hospitalization, disability, or other medically significant outcomes. A higher serious-event ratio warrants closer attention but does not necessarily mean the drug is unsafe.

Who reports adverse events for Alendronate Sodium (by sex)?

Adverse event reports for Alendronate Sodium break down by patient sex as follows: Female: 76,863, Male: 12,152, Unknown: 411. This distribution reflects reporting patterns rather than actual risk differences between groups. Reporting rates can be influenced by prescribing patterns, disease demographics, and reporting behavior.

What age groups report the most side effects for Alendronate Sodium?

The most frequently reported age groups for Alendronate Sodium adverse events are: age 44: 2,296 reports, age 43: 2,272 reports, age 65: 1,749 reports, age 59: 1,704 reports, age 68: 1,700 reports. Age-related reporting patterns can reflect both the demographics of the patient population and potential age-related susceptibility to certain side effects.

Who manufactures Alendronate Sodium?

The primary manufacturer associated with Alendronate Sodium adverse event reports is Organon Llc. Multiple manufacturers may produce generic versions of this drug. The manufacturer listed reflects the most frequently reported brand in FDA adverse event data.

What other side effects have been reported for Alendronate Sodium?

Beyond the most common reactions, other reported adverse events for Alendronate Sodium include: Rheumatoid Arthritis, Alopecia, Abdominal Discomfort, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, Rash. Less common side effects can still be clinically significant. Patients should report any unusual symptoms to their healthcare provider.

How do I report a side effect from Alendronate Sodium?

You can report adverse events from Alendronate Sodium to the FDA through their MedWatch program at www.fda.gov/medwatch, by calling 1-800-FDA-1088, or by completing Form FDA 3500. Healthcare professionals, consumers, and manufacturers can all submit reports. Reporting helps the FDA monitor drug safety after approval.

What is Alendronate Sodium's safety score and what does it mean?

Alendronate Sodium has a safety concern score of 85 out of 100 (high concern). This score is calculated from the ratio of serious to non-serious adverse events, the diversity of reported reactions, and the overall volume of reports relative to usage. Femur fractures and falls are significant safety concerns, especially in older adults.

What are the key safety signals for Alendronate Sodium?

Key safety signals identified in Alendronate Sodium's adverse event data include: Femur fractures and falls. Rheumatoid arthritis and arthropathy. Drug intolerance and ineffectiveness. These signals are derived from patterns in FDA reports and should be discussed with a healthcare provider for personalized assessment.

Does Alendronate Sodium interact with other drugs?

Avoid concurrent use with bisphosphonates and corticosteroids, as these can increase the risk of osteonecrosis and other bone-related issues. Always inform your healthcare provider about all medications, supplements, and over-the-counter drugs you are taking before starting Alendronate Sodium.

What should patients know before taking Alendronate Sodium?

Follow prescribed dosing instructions carefully to minimize the risk of adverse reactions. Report any unusual symptoms to your healthcare provider promptly.

Are Alendronate Sodium side effects well-documented?

Alendronate Sodium has 542,544 adverse event reports on file with the FDA. Rheumatoid arthritis and arthropathy are common musculoskeletal issues. The volume of reports for Alendronate Sodium reflects both the drug's usage level and the vigilance of the reporting community.

What is the FDA's position on Alendronate Sodium?

The FDA continues to monitor ALENDRONATE SODIUM for safety, and updates will be issued as necessary. For the most current regulatory information, check the FDA's drug labeling database or consult your pharmacist.

Related Drugs

Drugs related to ALENDRONATE SODIUM based on therapeutic use, drug class, or shared indications:

BISPHOSPHONATESCORTICOSTEROIDSANTIBIOTICS
Important Disclaimer: This content is generated by AI analysis of FDA adverse event reports and is provided for informational purposes only. It is not medical advice. Adverse event reports submitted to the FDA do not prove that a medication caused the reported side effect. Always consult your healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication. If you experience a serious side effect, contact your doctor or call 911 immediately.