NeonHippy

My wife is concerned about osteoporosis which runs in her family. Her GP has prescribed Alendronic Acid 70mg, otherwise known as Fosamax weekly. Is this available in MY either over the counter at a pharmacy or by prescription?

Gunnar45

I don't knowabout this one specifically, but in general there are a lot of medicines available w/o prescription in the MY pharmacies.
Like for diabetes 2, blood pressure or colesterol lowering, etc.
For Fosamax there should also be less costly generic Alendronate available.
Best would be to ask in a pharmacy, I will try to remember to do that...

teejaydee

You may wish to consult the website of the Drug Control Authority (DCA):

BPFK -

This body (amongst other things) handles the registration of pharmaceutical products in Malaysia. You can do a search (see the Product Search tab) to see if the medicine you mentioned are listed. I have done this and it shows that Fosamax is registered (i.e. available) in Malaysia.

Product Name: FOSAMAX PLUS 70MG/5600I.U. COMBINATION TABLET
Holder Name: MERCK SHARP & DOHME (MALAYSIA) SDN BHD

Ingredients Information:
1 ALENDRONATE SODIUM
2 VITAMIN D3 100,000 I.U./G, PH. EUR.

I have no idea if you can buy it OTC, but at least you will be able to get it one way or the other.

Gunnar45

I just checked with my pharmacy.
They have it available @ RM 118 for one month need.
They will check if any generic is available as well.

NeonHippy

That is great news thank you gunnar45

Gunnar45

Hi again,
Also generic is available @ RM50 per month.
This one does however not contain Vitamin D, so that would if required have to be taken aditionally.

bakedbean

Ah but sunshine is a good source of Vit D and we have plenty of that for free.

Gunnar45

Hi Bakedbean,
Exactly!
Actually D-vitamin deficiency is a major problem for the immigrants coming to northern Europe from the Middle East and other sunny countries. Especially the muslim women.
Not only are the covered with fabric and thus not benefitting from the little sun there is!
There is also that between September and end of April the sun is anyway not strong enough to get the body to produce D-vitamins.

ex reg

In the three or four ME countries I've worked the women are always covered from head to foot including most of the face.