U.S. flag An official website of the United States government
  1. Home
  2. Drug Databases
  3. Drug Safety-related Labeling Changes

Drug Safety-related Labeling Changes (SrLC)

Get Email Alerts | Guide

BINOSTO (NDA-202344)

(ALENDRONATE SODIUM)

Safety-related Labeling Changes Approved by FDA Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER)

Download Data

Expand all

02/03/2026 (SUPPL-22)

Approved Drug Label (PDF)

5 Warnings and Precautions

5.5 Atypical Fractures Including Femoral Fractures

Subsection title revised

Additions and/or revisions underlined:

Atypical, low-energy, or low trauma fractures of the femoral shaft have been reported during treatment with bisphosphonates, including alendronate sodium, in patients with osteoporosis. Atypical femur and other fractures most commonly occur with minimal or no trauma to the affected area. These fractures occurred anywhere in the femoral shaft from just below the lesser trochanter to above the supracondylar flare and are transverse or short oblique in orientation without evidence of comminution. Atypical fractures of other bones have also been reported. They may be bilateral. These fractures can also occur in osteoporotic patients who have not been treated with bisphosphonates. Concomitant treatment with glucocorticoids may also induce these fractures.

 

Prodromal pain in the affected area, usually presenting as dull, aching pain, weeks to months before a complete fracture occurs was reported by patients.

 

Any patient with a history of bisphosphonate exposure who presents with thigh or groin pain should be suspected of having an atypical fracture and should be evaluated to rule out an incomplete femur fracture. Bone pain in other locations should also be considered for evaluation of atypical fracture. Patients presenting with an atypical fracture should also be assessed for symptoms and signs of fracture in the contralateral limb. Risk/benefit of continuing bisphosphonate therapy should be re-evaluated in these patients and interruption of bisphosphonate therapy should be considered.

6 Adverse Reactions

Newly added information

The following clinically significant adverse drug reactions are described elsewhere in the labeling:

  • Upper Gastrointestinal Adverse Reactions [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1)]

  • Mineral Metabolism [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2)]

  • Musculoskeletal Pain [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3)]

  • Osteonecrosis of the Jaw [see Warnings and Precautions (5.4)]

  • Atypical Fractures Including Femoral Fractures [see Warnings and Precautions (5.5)]

  • Renal Impairment [see Warnings and Precautions (5.6)]

  • Patients sensitive to High Sodium Intake [see Warnings and Precautions (5.7)]

 

6.2 Postmarketing Experience

Additions and/or revisions underlined:

The following adverse reactions have been identified during post-approval use of alendronate sodium or bisphosphonate products. Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure.

. . .

Musculoskeletal: bone, joint, and/or muscle pain, occasionally severe and incapacitating [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3)]; joint swelling; low-energy femoral shaft and subtrochanteric fractures, and atypical fractures of other bones [see Warnings and Precautions (5.5].

. . .

17 PCI/PI/MG (Patient Counseling Information/Patient Information/Medication Guide)

MEDICATION GUIDE

Additions and/or revisions underlined:

What is the most important information I should know about BINOSTO? BINOSTO can cause serious side effects including:

. . .

5. Unusual breaks in thigh and other bones

. . .

5. Unusual breaks in thigh and other bones.

Some people have had unusual bone breaks, including thigh bone when taking BINOSTO. A break in the thigh bone can feel like a new pain in your hip, groin, or thigh. People taking BINOSTO can also have breaks in other bones.

. . .

10/13/2020 (SUPPL-15)

Approved Drug Label (PDF)

5 Warnings and Precautions

5.7 Patients Sensitive to High Sodium Intake

Additions and/or revisions underlined:

Each BINOSTO effervescent tablet contains 603 mg of sodium, equivalent to approximately 1532 mg of salt (NaCl) …

06/08/2020 (SUPPL-13)

Approved Drug Label (PDF)

8 Use in Specific Populations

8.1 Pregnancy

(Pregnancy and Lactation Labeling Rule (PLLR) conversion; please refer to label)

8.2 Lactation

(Pregnancy and Lactation Labeling Rule (PLLR) conversion; additions are/or revisions underlined)

Risk Summary

It is not known whether alendronate is present in human breast milk, affects human milk production, or has effects on the breastfed infant. The developmental and health benefits of breastfeeding should be considered along with the mother’s clinical need for BINOSTO and any potential adverse effects on the breastfed child from BINOSTO or from the underlying maternal condition.

17 PCI/PI/MG (Patient Counseling Information/Patient Information/Medication Guide)

Medication Guide

(Newly added section; please refer to label)

12/30/2016 (SUPPL-11)

Approved Drug Label (PDF)

6 Adverse Reactions

6.2 Post-Marketing Experience

(Additions and/or revisions are underlined)

The following adverse reactions have been identified during post-approval use of alendronate sodium. Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure…

Pulmonary: acute asthma exacerbations

Special Senses: uveitis, scleritis or episcleritis. Cholesteatoma of the external auditory canal (focal osteonecrosis).