An Introduction to Ibandronate Dosing
The dose of
ibandronate sodium (
Boniva®) that your healthcare provider recommends will vary, depending on a number of factors, including:
- Whether you prefer to take the drug daily or monthly
- Whether you have difficulty swallowing tablets
- Other medications you may be taking
- Other medical conditions you may have.
As is always the case, do not adjust your ibandronate dose unless your healthcare provider specifically instructs you to do so.
Ibandronate Dosing for Osteoporosis
Ibandronate can be taken either daily or monthly for the treatment or prevention of
osteoporosis. For daily use, the recommended dose of ibandronate is 2.5 mg, taken once daily in the morning. For monthly use, the recommended dose is 150 mg, taken once a month in the morning. For women with difficulty swallowing tablets, there is an injectable form of ibandronate that is given by IV once every three months.
General Information on Dosing With Ibandronate
Considerations for people taking ibandronate include the following:
- Ibandronate comes in tablet form. Depending on the dose, it can be taken either daily or monthly. It also comes in an injectable form that is given by IV.
- The medication must be taken in the morning at least one hour before you eat or drink anything (besides water). You must wait at least an hour after taking ibandronate to eat or drink anything other than water or to take any other medications. Food, beverages, and medications can interact with ibandronate and prevent it from being absorbed into the body.
- Take ibandronate with plain water only (not coffee, juice, soda, or even mineral water).
- Swallow the tablets whole with a full glass of water while sitting or standing upright. Do not lie down within an hour after taking a dose of ibandronate. The tablets should not be chewed, broken, or sucked on. These precautions are necessary to prevent the drug from irritating your esophagus.
- For the medication to work properly, it must be taken as prescribed. Ibandronate will not work if you stop taking it.
- If you are unsure about anything related to your dosage or ibandronate dosing in general, talk with your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist. Do not stop taking the drug without first discussing it with your healthcare provider.
