Prescription medicine
Alendronate and cholecalciferol Brand names: Fosamax; first approved as Fosamax Plus D
Alendronate and cholecalciferol (Fosamax) is a prescription medicine with an FDA approval on record since 2005. No generic is listed; pharmacies paid $52.51 per unit (Fosamax plus d 70 mg-5600 unit) in the October 7, 2026 NADAC survey.
- No generic listed
Check it at the source: the alendronate and cholecalciferol FDA label on DailyMed (effective February 3, 2026); the NDA 21762 record on Drugs@FDA; every alendronate and cholecalciferol label on DailyMed.
Highlights of the record
FDA label of February 3, 2026; NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA and Orange Book, October 8, 2026; NADAC October 7, 2026
Used for
From the label: indications and usageFOSAMAX PLUS D is a combination of a bisphosphonate and vitamin D indicated for: Treatment of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women ( 1.1 ) Treatment to increase bone mass in men with osteoporosis ( 1.2 ) Limitations of use: FOSAMAX PLUS D alone should not be used to treat vitamin D deficiency.
Forms and strengths
- 70 mg
Tablet.
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- April 7, 2005 Fosamax Plus D, Organon Llc; Drugs@FDA’s file, where older or withdrawn approvals can be missing
- Generic approvals
- No generic approved
- Labelers listed (NDC)
- 1 of which 0 under generic applications, 1 under brand applications, repackagers included
Supply and safety
- Pharmacy cost (NADAC)
- $52.51 per unit Fosamax plus d 70 mg-5600 unit
- Shortage (FDA)
- No current entry
- Recalls by its makers (FDA)
- No recall recorded
- FAERS reports
- 2,764 through July 30, 2026
What is alendronate and cholecalciferol used for?
From the label: indications and usageFOSAMAX PLUS D is a combination of a bisphosphonate and vitamin D indicated for: Treatment of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women ( 1.1 ) Treatment to increase bone mass in men with osteoporosis ( 1.2 ) Limitations of use: FOSAMAX PLUS D alone should not be used to treat vitamin D deficiency. ( 1.3 ) Optimal duration of use has not been determined. For patients at low-risk for fracture, consider drug discontinuation after 3 to 5 years of use. ( 1.3 ) 1.1 Treatment of Osteoporosis in Postmenopausal Women FOSAMAX ® PLUS D is indicated for the treatment of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. […]
Conditions named in the indications of alendronate and cholecalciferol's FDA labels, with every medicine labeled for each:
FDA pharmacologic class: Bisphosphonate and Vitamin D.
Source: FDA drug label (FOSAMAX PLUS D), Organon LLC, effective February 3, 2026 (SPL set 10307e7e-9a84-4aa1-8c5c-4b209cffe4d1), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed
What does the patient leaflet for alendronate and cholecalciferol say first?
The FDA-approved Medication Guide or Patient Information that comes with the medicine, in its own words.
From the patient leaflet: What is the most important information I should know about FOSAMAX PLUS D?FOSAMAX PLUS D can cause serious side effects including: Esophagus problems Low calcium levels in your blood (hypocalcemia) Bone, joint, or muscle pain Severe jaw bone problems (osteonecrosis) Unusual breaks in thigh and other bones Esophagus problems. Some people who take FOSAMAX PLUS D may develop problems in the esophagus (the tube that connects the mouth and the stomach). These problems include irritation, inflammation, or ulcers of the esophagus which may sometimes bleed. It is important that you take FOSAMAX PLUS D exactly as prescribed to help lower your chance of getting esophagus problems. (See the section "How should I take FOSAMAX PLUS D tablet?") Stop taking FOSAMAX PLUS D and call your doctor right away if you get chest pain, new or worsening heartburn, or have trouble or pain when you swallow. Low calcium levels in your blood (hypocalcemia). FOSAMAX PLUS D may lower the calcium levels in your blood. If you have low blood calcium before you start taking FOSAMAX PLUS D, it may get worse during treatment. Your low blood calcium must be treated before you take FOSAMAX PLUS D. Most people with low blood calcium levels do not have symptoms, but some people may have symptoms. Call your doctor right away if you have symptoms of low blood calcium such as: Spasms, twitches, or cramps in your muscles Numbness or tingling in your fingers, toes, or around your mouth Your doctor may prescribe calcium and vitamin D to help prevent low calcium levels in your blood, while you take FOSAMAX PLUS D. Take calcium and vitamin D as your doctor tells you to. Bone, joint, or muscle pain. Some people who take FOSAMAX PLUS D develop severe bone, joint, or muscle pain. Severe jaw bone problems (osteonecrosis). Severe jaw bone problems may happen when you take FOSAMAX PLUS D. […]
Source: FDA drug label (FOSAMAX PLUS D), Organon LLC, effective February 3, 2026 (SPL set 10307e7e-9a84-4aa1-8c5c-4b209cffe4d1), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed
Is there a generic for alendronate and cholecalciferol (Fosamax)?
No generic alendronate and cholecalciferol is approved (Drugs@FDA, October 8, 2026).
- 2005 earliest approval on file
Source: Drugs@FDA, FDA NDC Directory and the Orange Book (openFDA bulk files, October 8, 2026)
What do pharmacies pay for alendronate and cholecalciferol (Fosamax)?
In CMS's NADAC survey of October 7, 2026, pharmacies paid $52.51 per unit (Fosamax plus d 70 mg-5600 unit), up 5% from $50.04 on October 8, 2025. The chart's scale runs from the lowest to the highest price shown, not from zero. NADAC is what retail pharmacies paid their wholesalers, per unit, in CMS's monthly survey; what a patient pays depends on insurance and the pharmacy.
- Fosamax plus d 70 mg-5600 unit (brand)
| Strength and form | Brand or generic | Pharmacy cost | 30 tablets, or one pen or vial | 12-month change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fosamax plus d 70 mg-2800 unit | Brand | $52.56 per unit | n/a | +5% |
| Fosamax plus d 70 mg-5600 unit | Brand | $52.51 per unit | n/a | +5% |
Source: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC) survey, October 7, 2026: what retail pharmacies paid per unit; not a counter price
What does the alendronate and cholecalciferol label say about other medicines?
The alendronate and cholecalciferol label names 5 other medicines in its interaction, contraindication or warning sections. The sentences are the labels' own; a label lists what its studies and reports found, not every interaction.
| Medicine named | Section | What the label says |
|---|---|---|
| Aspirin | drug interactions | DRUG INTERACTIONS Calcium supplements/antacids or oral medications containing multivalent cations interfere with absorption of alendronate. ( 2.3 , 7.1 ) Use caution when co-prescribing aspirin/nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs that may worsen gastrointestinal irritation. … |
| Cholestyramine | drug interactions | … Impair the Absorption of Cholecalciferol Olestra, mineral oils, orlistat, and bile acid sequestrants (e.g., cholestyramine, colestipol) may impair the absorption of vitamin D. Additional vitamin D supplementation should be considered [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ]. |
| Cimetidine | drug interactions | Drugs that May Increase the Catabolism of Cholecalciferol Anticonvulsants, cimetidine, and thiazides may increase the catabolism of vitamin D. Additional vitamin D supplementation should be considered [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ]. |
| Colestipol | drug interactions | … Absorption of Cholecalciferol Olestra, mineral oils, orlistat, and bile acid sequestrants (e.g., cholestyramine, colestipol) may impair the absorption of vitamin D. Additional vitamin D supplementation should be considered [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ]. |
| Orlistat | drug interactions | However, since NSAID use is associated with gastrointestinal irritation, caution should be used during concomitant use with FOSAMAX PLUS D. 7.4 Drugs that May Impair the Absorption of Cholecalciferol Olestra, mineral oils, orlistat, and bile acid sequestrants (e.g., cholestyramine, colestipol) may impair the … |
Check alendronate and cholecalciferol against other medicines
Source: FDA drug label (FOSAMAX PLUS D), Organon LLC, effective February 3, 2026 (SPL set 10307e7e-9a84-4aa1-8c5c-4b209cffe4d1), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed
What do FAERS reports show for alendronate and cholecalciferol?
The FDA Adverse Event Reporting System holds 2,764 reports that list alendronate and cholecalciferol among the medicines taken, through July 30, 2026, each a report of something that happened, not proof the medicine caused it; 128 are coded as a death and 1,729 as a hospital stay. Counts follow how widely a medicine is used and watched, and they are not a measure of how risky it is.
Reports received each year
The most reported reactions
Source: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) via openFDA, reports through July 30, 2026
What else is labeled for the same conditions as alendronate and cholecalciferol?
4 other medicines are given the same way (oral) and in the same FDA class as alendronate and cholecalciferol or labeled mainly for the same use (osteoporosis), the same class first. Osteoporosis lists all 16 medicines labeled for it, by any route. They are listed as records, not as substitutes: whether one can replace another is a prescriber's decision.
| Medicine | Shared indication | Generic labelers (oral) | Pharmacy cost | Shortage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Risedronate | Osteoporosis | 8 labelers | $12.91 per tablet 150 mg tablet | No current entry |
| Ibandronate | Osteoporosis | 6 labelers | $2.68 per tablet 150 mg tablet | No current entry |
| Raloxifene | Osteoporosis | 17 labelers | $0.223 per tablet 60 mg tablet | No current entry |
| Bazedoxifene and estrogens conjugated | Osteoporosis | none listed | $6.48 per tablet 0.45-20 mg tablet | No current entry |
Every medicine labeled for the same conditions as alendronate and cholecalciferol
Source: FDA drug labels (indications), NDC Directory, NADAC of October 7, 2026, FDA shortages (October 8, 2026)
What next?
- Alternatives to alendronate and cholecalciferol
- 4 medicines for the same use
- Other bisphosphonates
- the pharmacologic class, with prices and generics
- Alendronate and cholecalciferol side effects
- the label's list beside FAERS reports
- Check an interaction
- what two or more labels say about each other