Ibandronate (Cont.)

When and How Do I Take It?

General considerations for when and how to take ibandronate include the following:
 
  • The medication 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 once every three months.
     
  • Ibandronate must be taken in the morning at least one hour before you eat or drink anything (other than water). You must wait at least an hour after taking the drug to eat or drink anything (other than water) or take any medications. Food, beverages, and medications can interact with ibandronate and prevent it from being absorbed into the body.
     
  • Take it 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. It will not work if you stop taking it.
     

Dosage Information

The dose of ibandronate that your healthcare provider recommends will vary, depending on a number of factors, including:
 
  • Whether you prefer to take ibandronate daily or monthly
  • Whether you have difficulty taking oral medications
  • Other medications you may be taking
  • Other medical conditions you may have.
     
As is always the case, do not adjust your dose unless your healthcare provider specifically instructs you to do so.
 
(Click Ibandronate Dosing for more information.)
  
(Ibandronate Continued: Page 4)
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;