Hi everybody . I have been taking Alendronic Acid for a few months now with no ill effects. I always do as it says on the information supplied and take with a full glass of tap water.
A simple question, can I use bottled water while on holiday or would it be better to not take the tablet that week?
Hi Pauline, I don't think it is specified what type of water is required - so any water would do, bottled or otherwise. If you're taking medication of this kind you really shouldn't stop it unless your doctor/pharmacist advises . . Have a great holiday. J
Thank you so much for replying. I have been told to use only tap water and not to take Alandronic Acid with mineral or spring water. It also indicates this in the leaflet they comes with the tablets. Not sure why but I always do as I am told ..haha
I was just wondering if other people found this a problem while away from home . I expect as you say it is best to continue with the tablet.
I would first ask which country you are visiting. Spain's water is notorious for upsetting people and no one that I know of drinks tap water there so drink bottled water only in Spain.
There are too many places in the world to answer this question properly so just drink bottled water.
Hi Pauline, that's very interesting. I have just checked the leaflet for the med. that I take that's very similiar to your own (Actonel) and it says ""swallow it with at least 120ml. of plain water". I took that to mean any water except fizzy stuff . . . . . Finally, if I were you, I'd ask my pharmacist about it. He/she would be more than able to clarify this. Keep in touch. Kind regards, J
Hi J I have just looked up your Actonel leaflet on the net . It does say , take with plain water , but adds ( not mineral) When I first was perscribe with Alendronic Acid they told me not to use mineral or spring water. ?? I now think it is because some of the minerals in bottled water might interfere with the absorbtion. Although I have just compared tap water to mineral water online and the contents are very very simler ? So the plot thickens . I will use bottled water on my holiday . Are you in UK? I am. Sometimes advise differs in other countries. All very interesting :-) in any case its a horrible tablet to take I miss having a mug of coffee first thing ! lol
Best Wishes , Pauline
Hi again Pauline, still can't find on my leaflet where it says 'not mineral water' but I've been thinking about it. It's possible that mineral waters contain various minerals (!!) that may affect the absorbtion of the medication. I know that these meds. must be taken on an empty stomach because only a very small percentage of the med. itself is absorbed by the stomach so anything else there (food, other compounds etc.) may compete and render it less effective. . . Only guessing here. I live in Dublin, Ireland by the way. I don't find it's too bad a medication to take. HOWEVER, I thoroughly agree with you about having to take it and then wait for the 30mins. before having the wonderful first coffee brew of the day. After taking the pill, I put on the timer in the kitchen and while it's ticking away I set up my coffee stuff - kettle filled, mug warmed up, ground coffee at the ready - and when the timer 'dings' I'm off !!! Pathetic really! But really good coffee is one of life's greatest pleasures - at least for me. Kind regards, J
We all have our routines ..I take a shower in that half hour , seems to make the 30 minutes pass faster while I wait for the cafeine fix ! I drink far to much coffee but there are worse things
I love Dublin . I was born in Clones Monaghan. Have a lot of family in different parts of Ireland. Including Dublin.
I think you have hit the nail on the head with your reasons for `not mineral ` water, Glad we sorted that out ! hehe
Take care , Pauline
I too am on this medication and understood it could not be taken at the same time as calcium. I have a house in Portugal and have a real difficuilt time tracking down water without calcium. As a general rule, if it says mineral water, it has a higher level of calcium. Managed to find a bottle of water with 1.2 mg per ltr and this was the best I could find. I too do as Im told. Had no ill effects but wish I could find out what is the best thing to do.
I wouldn't worry. A bottle of water with 1.2 mg calcium per litre seems a really low reading. Remember you're advised to take "at least" 120ml. with the tablet. So let's say you take 200ml. water, with 1.2mg calcium in it, the amount of calcium you're taking is 1.2 divided by 5 (can't find the 'divide' key!). Very small - 0.24. Hope that's correct. . . .
Thanks for that. I drink a lot of water. Just calculated, about 500 with the medication. I dont find this amount a problem and I am hoping this amount will lessen the side effects. So far so good. Thanks again
Hi Pauline I know this post is old but I am hoping you will read, as I found your info very helpful for me and indeed readng all the comments. I have just started taking alendronic acid for my osteoporosis (I am 62).. I have only been on it for 4 weeks but I am glad I found out about plain water meaning tap water.I was drinkng Evian bottled water with it. I too take more water than they say and I usually wait an hour before I eat breakfast. Good point about having a shower. I use to just sit there and watch the clock. I love my cup of tea furst thing.
Thank you to all who posted here. It is nice to find some people who are taking this as well and how you are all getting on since I would love to know if any side effects to expect.
ps to my last comment. I too am from Ireland
Hi Zukisox. Glad this forum has helped you. I have changed Alandronic acid for ibondronic acid which I just take monthly instead of weekly, same procedure, plain water, wait an hour. I found Alandronic caused me to have a lot more bone ache and a general feeling of tiredness and down in my mood. My doc said try ibandronic , after having tried two others I must add , and they seem to be fine yaaa! Still get aches and pains a lot , at 65 I guess that is inevitable.
I hope you get on ok but if not don't give up just have a word with doc/ nurse .
Best wishes Pauline
I take risedronate with my filtered tap water in the UK but when I am in Portugal, I buy bottled water and it is amazing how high some calcium levels are in different brands. Found one there that is lower than the rest and its cheap and easy to come by. I do my ironing. Save it up all week and put on the golden oldies chanel on TV. this helps pass the time and keeps me upright. Had no problems with the meds and t-score greatly improved since I contributed to this post 2years ago
I thought by plain water they mean don't add anything to it - like squash..
Hi Pauline and everyone else! I too have to take these and have just checked my tablet leaflets. At the moment I happen to have two boxes both are different Pharmaceutical company's and it states on both leaflets ' Do not take with mineral water (still or sparkling) but 200 mls or 7 fl.oz of 'plain water' only. Not to be taken with tea or coffee, juice or milk. To be taken on empty stomach 30 mins before eating or drinking to help reduce the chance of 'irritating' your gullet/oesophagus. You must remain upright, never take before going to bed. If you experience any soreness, pain and difficulty swallowing, pain in the centre of the chest, worsening 'heartburn' than usual or start getting ulcers in your mouth and throat then 'Stop' taking it and report to your Doctor asap. I hope this helps but I have yet to find a reason as to why 'spring and mineral water' is a no no!
Good Health and Take Care and remember a full glass of 'tap water'.
I understood it was because these meds should not be taken at the same time as calcium and most mineral bottled water contains higher levels if calcium. I always wait an hour before eating, after taking my weekly tablet, because I then have cereal with soya milk. Most bottled water has the percentage of calcium on the label, and there are some very high and some much lower. Hope that helps timothy
Hi Alison, sorry I did not look at the dates of the above posts and thought I was adding some info about that taking that medicine but after the years of the posts everybody must know the answer's but it wasn't a waste as I thank you very much for getting back to me giving me the answer I was seeking and had not realised, thinking this was better than tap water, that there's a list 'Mineral Analysis' list including Calcium at 38mg/litre plus other ingredients. I will pay more attention in future and once again for answering. I started taking it wrong but did finally adhere to taking the tablet with tap water which I do not like unless tea or coffee has been added. 
Take care Alison and thanks.
Hi there. I am taking risedronate but I am unsure how much calcium will be in bottled water.
I checked the bottle an it says 15.6 mg per litre but that was a 500 mg bottle I checked. Please can you advise me.
Many thanks