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The majority of women with osteoporosis have  low levels of vitamin D – an essential nutrient in building strong, healthy bones.

Vitamin D is essential for good bone health because it helps the body to absorb calcium.
But getting enough vitamin D isn’t always easy, especially if you avoid the sun.

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
  • Vitamin D is mostly formed by the action of sunlight on your skin.
  • Vitamin D is not readily available from a normal diet.
  • Your body’s ability to manufacture vitamin D diminishes with age.
  • Supplemental vitamin D is advised in people at risk of, or who have, osteoporosis.
 
THE DANGER OF LOW VITAMIN D
Calcium, which is vital to the formation and maintenance of healthy bones, can’t be absorbed effectively without vitamin D. If you’re not getting enough vitamin D, it may result in bone loss and increased risk of fracture.

SOME GOOD NEWS
To help people with osteoporosis get enough vitamin D, New Zealand’s leading osteoporosis treatment – Fosamax® – has now been upgraded to include the minimum recommended dose of vitamin D. New FOSAMAX PLUS® has all the same ingredients as Fosamax, but includes the added benefit of vitamin D.

ASK FOR AN UPGRADE
If you’re one of the thousands of people already taking Fosamax, you’re already eligible for FOSAMAX PLUS, at no extra prescription cost.

NEW FOSAMAX PLUS
  • Contains Fosamax for osteoporosis treatment.
  • Contains vitamin D for improved calcium absorption.
  • Is still a once-weekly tablet.
  • Is available to all current Fosamax patients.
  • Has no extra prescription cost.

OSTEOPOROSIS
“Osteo” means bones, and “porous” means something that has holes in it, like a sponge. So, osteoporosis is a disease which causes bones to become more porous, gradually making them weaker and likely to break.
Osteoporosis is common in postmenopausal women but may also occur in men.
Although there is no cure for osteoporosis, the right medications can stop or slow it’s progress.
New FOSAMAX PLUS tablets will help you keep your bones healthier, stronger, and less likely to break or fracture.

 
Data on file. THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE USING FOSAMAX Plus (alendronate/colecalciferol) 70mg/70mcg (2800 IU Vitamin D3) tablets: FOSAMAX Plus is indicated for the treatment of osteoporosis in select patients where Vitamin D supplementation is recommended. FOSAMAX Plus should not be taken by patients who have a hypersensitivity reaction, food pipe (oesophageal) abnormalities, low calcium (hypocalcaemia) and have an inability to stand/sit upright for 30mins. Precaution should be taken when administering FOSAMAX Plus to patients with active upper gastrointestinal problems, impaired renal function and calcium or vitamin D deficiency. Common side-effects are: abdominal pain, dyspepsia, food pipe (oesophageal) ulcer, difficulty swallowing (dysphagia), abdominal distension, musculoskeletal pain, constipation, diarrhoea, flatulence and headache. FOSAMAX Plus is a prescription only medicine fully subsidised under special authority for those who meet specified criteria. A prescription charge will apply. Consult your doctor to see if FOSAMAX Plus is right for you, a normal doctor’s visit fee will usually apply. Use only as directed and if symptoms continue or you have side-effects, see your doctor, pharmacist or health professional. Marketed by: Merck Sharp & Dohme (NZ) Limited, Newmarket, Auckland. For detailed prescribing information, consult the data sheet or consumer medicine information, phone 0800 500 673, or refer to the Medsafe website www.medsafe.govt.nz [MPI-FSP-2] 02-09 FSP-07-NZ-5064-PE. TAPS NA2406

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