Fosavance 70mg Vitamin Tablets

Product Description

Therapeutic Indication

Treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis in patients at risk of vitamin-D insufficiency.

Fosavance reduces the risk of vertebral and hip fractures.

What is Fosavance?

Fosavance is a medicine that contains two active substances: alendronic acid and colecalciferol (vitamin D3). It is available as white tablets (capsule-shaped: 70 mg alendronic acid and 2,800 international units [IU] colecalciferol; rectangular: 70 mg alendronic acid and 5,600 IU colecalciferol).

What is Fosavance used for?

Fosavance (containing either 2,800 or 5,600 IU colecalciferol) is used to treat osteoporosis (a disease that makes bones fragile) in women who have been through the menopause and are at risk of low vitamin-D levels. Fosavance 70 mg / 5,600 IU is for use in patients who are not taking vitamin-D supplements. Fosavance reduces the risk of fractures (broken bones) in the spine and the hip.

The medicine can only be obtained with a prescription.

How is Fosavance used?

The recommended dose of Fosavance is one tablet once a week. It is intended for long-term use.

The patient must take the tablet with a full glass of water (but not mineral water), at least 30 minutes before any food, drink or other medicines (including antacids, calcium supplements and vitamins). To avoid irritation of the oesophagus (the tube that leads from the mouth to the stomach), the patient should not lie down until after their first food of the day, which should be at least 30 minutes after taking the tablet. The tablet should be swallowed whole and not crushed, chewed or allowed to dissolve in the mouth.

Patients should also take calcium supplements if they are not getting enough calcium from their diet. For more information, see the package leaflet.