Didronel from Canada (Etidronate) is indicated for the treatment of symptomatic Paget's disease of bone and in the prevention and treatment of heterotopic ossification following total hip replacement or due to spinal cord injury. Didronel from Canada (Etidronate) is not approved for the treatment of osteoporosis.Didronel from Canada (Etidronate) is not contraindicated in patients with upper gastrointestinal abnormalities. However, Didronel from Canada (Etidronate) is contraindicated in patients with known hypersensitivity to etidronate disodium or in patients with clinically overt osetomalacia. In Paget's disease the response to therapy may be of slow onset and continue for months after Didronel from Canada (Etidronate) is discontinued. Didronel from Canada (Etidronate)should not be increased prematurely; a 90 day drug-free interval should be provided between courses of therapy. Patients taking Didronel from Canada (Etidronate) should maintain an adequate intake of vitamin D and calcium. Didronel from Canada (Etidronate) may retard mineralization of osteoid laid down during the bone accretion process. These effects are dose and time dependent. Osteoid, which may accumulate at doses of 10-20 mg/kg/day, mineralizes normally post-therapy. In pagetic patients treatment regimens exceeding the recommended daily maximum dose of 20 mg/kg/day or continuous administration of medication for periods greater than 6 months may be associated with osteomalacia and an increased risk of fractures. The most commonly reported adverse events were diarrhea, nausea and flatulence. Didronel from Canada (Etidronate) is a bone and calcium regulator used to treat Paget's disease. Didronel from Canada (Etidronate) is also used in women to treat osteoporosis that occurs after menopause.Didronel from Canada (Etidronate) may also be used to treat other conditions as determined by your doctor. Didronel from Canada (Etidronate) acts primarily on bone.Didronel from Canada (Etidronate) can inhibit the formation, growth, and dissolution of hydroxyapatite crystals and their amorphous precursors by chemisorption to calcium phosphate surfaces. Inhibition of crystal resorption occurs at lower doses than are required to inhibit crystal growth. Both effects increase as the dose increases. Didronel from Canada (Etidronate) is not metabolized. The amount of drug absorbed after an oral dose of Didronel from Canada (Etidronate) is approximately 3%. In normal subjects, plasma half-life of etidronate, based on non-compartmental pharmacokinetics is 1 to 6 hours. Within 24 hours, approximately half the absorbed dose of Didronel from Canada (Etidronate) is excreted in urine; the remainder is distributed to bone compartments from which it is slowly eliminated. Animal studies have yielded bone clearance estimates up to 165 days. In humans, the residence time on bone may vary due to such factors as specific metabolic condition and bone type. Unabsorbed Didronel from Canada (Etidronate) is excreted intact in the feces. Preclinical studies indicate etidronate disodium does not cross the blood-brain barrier. Didronel from Canada (Etidronate) therapy does not adversely affect serum levels of parathyroid hormone or calcium. In Paget’s disease of bone (osteitis deformans) is an idiopatic, progressive disease characterized by abnormal and accelerated bone metabolism in one or more bones. Signs and symptoms may include bone pain and/or deformity, neurologic disorders, elevated cardiac output and other vascular disorders, and increased serum alkaline phosphatase and/or urinary hydroxyproline levels. Bone fractures are common in patients with Paget’s disease. Didronel slows accelerated bone turnover (resorption and accretion) in pagetic lesions and to a lesser extent, in normal bone. This has been demonstrated histoloically, scintigraphically, biochemically, and through calcium kinetic and balance studies. Reduced bone turnover is often accompanied by symptomatic improvement, including reduced bone pain. Also, the incidence of pagetic fractures may be reduced, and elevated cardiac output and other vascular disorders may be improved by Didronel therapy. Heterotopic ossification, also referred to as myositis ossificans (circumscripta, progressiva or traumatica), ectopic calcification, periarticular ossification, or paraosteoarthropathy, is characterized by metaplastic osteogenesis. It usually presents with signs of localized inflammation or pain, elevated skin temperature, and redness. When tissues near joints are involved, functional loss may also be present. Heterotopic ossification may occur for no known reason as in myositis ossificans progressiva or may follow a wide variety of surgical, occupational, and sports trauma (e.g. hip arthroplasty, spinal cord injury, head injury, burns, and severe thigh bruises). Heterotopic ossification has also been observed in non-traumatic conditions (e.g. infections of the central nervous system, peripheral neuropathy, tetanus biliary cirrhosis, Peyronie’s disease, as well as in association with a variety of benign and malignant neoplasms). Clinical trials have demonstrated the efficacy of Didronel from Canada (Etidronate) in heterotopic ossification following total hip replacement, or due to spinal cord injury. Heterotopic ossification complicating total hip replacement typically develops radiographically 3 to 4; weeks postoperatively in the pericapsular area of the affected hip joint. The overall incidence is about 50%; about one-third of these cases are clinically significant. Heterotopic ossification due to spinal cord injury typically develops radiographically l to 4 months after injury. It occurs below the level of injury, usually at major joints. The overall incidence is about 40%; about one-half of these cases are clinically significant.Didronel from Canada (Etidronate)chemisorbs to calcium hydroxyapatite crystals and their amorphous precursors, blocking the aggregation, growth, and mineralization of these crystals. This is thought to be the mechanism by which Didronel from Canada (Etidronate) prevents or retards heterotopic ossification. There is no evidence Didronel from Canada (Etidronate) affects mature heterotopic bone.

Didronel Side Effects:

Didronel side effects, that may go away during Didronel (Etidronate) treatment, include nausea or diarrhea. If Didronel side effects continue or are bothersome, check with your doctor. CHECK WITH YOUR DOCTOR AS SOON AS POSSIBLE if you experience Didronel side effects like continuing bone pain. If you notice other Didronel side effects not listed above, contact your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist.