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Skelid Warnings and Precautions

Before starting Skelid, warnings and precautions for the drug should be discussed with your healthcare provider or pharmacist. Make sure to let your healthcare provider know if you have kidney disease or any allergies prior to beginning treatment. Side effects to look out for while taking Skelid include extreme muscle or bone pain, esophageal or stomach ulcers, and osteonecrosis of the jaw.

 

Skelid: What Should I Tell My Healthcare Provider?

You should talk with your healthcare provider prior to taking Skelid® (tiludronate disodium) if you have:
 
  • Kidney disease, including kidney failure (renal failure)
  • Any allergies, including allergies to food, dyes, or preservatives.
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Also, let your healthcare provider know if you are:
 
  • Pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant
  • Breastfeeding
  • Planning to have a dental procedure.
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Make sure to tell your healthcare provider about all other medicines you may be taking, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
 

Specific Precautions and Warnings for Skelid

Warnings and precautions to be aware of prior to taking Skelid include the following:
 
  • In rare cases, bisphosphonates (including Skelid) have caused a condition called osteonecrosis of the jaw. This is a serious, possibly disfiguring problem in which the bone of the jaw dies. Often, there are symptoms (such as pain, infection, or loosening of the teeth), but sometimes there are no symptoms until a person notices exposed bone. This problem is most common when bisphosphonates are given by IV (but is still possible when these medications are taken orally). It seems that people who have dental procedures (such as a tooth extraction) are also at higher risk. Be sure to take good care of your mouth and teeth by seeing your dentist frequently. Let your healthcare provider know right away if you think you may have osteonecrosis of the jaw.
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  • It is important to get enough calcium and vitamin D (either through your diet or by supplementation). Calcium and vitamin D are necessary for rebuilding bone and preventing further bone loss. Skelid cannot work if you do not get enough calcium and vitamin D.
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  • Skelid may not be recommended for people with severe kidney disease.
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  • Bisphosphonates (including Skelid) can cause extreme muscle or bone pain. This usually goes away once the medication is stopped.
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  • Skelid (like all bisphosphonates) can irritate the esophagus and stomach, possibly causing esophageal or stomach ulcers. Let your healthcare provider know if you develop throat pain, chest pain, or difficulty swallowing (which may be signs of ulcers of the esophagus) or severe heartburn or heartburn that does not go away (which may be signs of a stomach ulcer).
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  • Skelid can potentially interact with a number of medications (see Skelid Drug Interactions).
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  • Skelid is considered a pregnancy Category C medication. This means that it may not be safe for use during pregnancy (see Skelid and Pregnancy).
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  • It is not known whether Skelid passes through breast milk. Therefore, if you are breastfeeding or plan to start, discuss this with your healthcare provider prior to taking the drug (see Skelid and Breastfeeding).
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(Skelid Warnings and Precautions Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;