Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Alendronate overdose
Introduction
Overdose information
Lethal dose
Significant lethality after single oral doses was seen in female rats and mice at
552 mg/kg (3256 mg/m2) and 966 mg/kg (2898 mg/m2), respectively. In males, these
values were slightly higher, 626 and 1280 mg/kg, respectively. There was no lethality
in dogs at oral doses up to 200 mg/kg (4000 mg/m2). Return to top
Treatment
No specific information is available on the treatment of overdosage with
FOSAMAX. Hypocalcemia, hypophosphatemia, and upper gastrointestinal adverse
events, such as upset stomach, heartburn, esophagitis, gastritis, or ulcer, may result
from oral overdosage. Milk or antacids should be given to bind alendronate. Due to
the risk of esophageal irritation, vomiting should not be induced and the patient
should remain fully upright.
Dialysis would not be beneficial. Return to top
Adapted from the FDA Package Insert.
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]