Tiludronate (Systemic)

Brand Names : Skelid

Before Using This Medicine

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For tiludronate, the following should be considered:

Allergies - Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to tiludronate. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Pregnancy - Studies have not been done in pregnant women. However, studies in rabbits given large doses of tiludronate have shown that this medicine causes deformed bones in the fetus. In rats, tiludronate caused prolonged labor and, in some cases, death of the fetus or mother.

Breast-feeding - It is not known whether tiludronate passes into breast milk.

Children - Studies on this medicine have been done only in adult patients, and there is no specific information comparing use of tiludronate in children with use in other age groups.

Older adults - Tiludronate has been tested in elderly patients and has not been found to cause different side effects or problems in older people than it does in younger adults.

Other medicines - Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking tiludronate, it is especially important that your health care professional know if you are taking any of the following:

• Antacids containing magnesium or aluminum or
• Aspirin or other salicylates or salicylate-containing medicines or
• Mineral supplements containing calcium, iron, magnesium, or aluminum - These medicines may decrease the effects of tiludronate and should be taken at least 2 hours before or after taking tiludronate

Other medical problems - The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of tiludronate. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Hypocalcemia (low calcium levels in the blood)
• Overactive parathyroid gland or
• Vitamin D deficiency - Tiludronate may make these conditions worse

• Kidney disease - Effects may be increased because of slower removal of tiludronate from the body

• Stomach or intestine problems, including trouble swallowing, inflammation of the esophagus, or ulcer - Tiludronate may make these conditions worse