Short answer: The Atelvia label dose is one 35 mg delayed-release tablet by mouth once a week, taken in the morning immediately following breakfast, not on an empty stomach. It is swallowed whole while upright with at least 4 ounces of plain water, and the person does not lie down for 30 minutes. Calcium, antacids, magnesium and iron are taken at a different time of day.
This is what the FDA label says. Follow your prescriber. Your prescriber may use a different dose or pace than the label's standard schedule.
What Atelvia is approved for: Atelvia is a delayed-release form of the bisphosphonate risedronate, the same active ingredient as Actonel. It is approved to treat osteoporosis in postmenopausal women (section 1.1). Its safety and effectiveness rest on one year of clinical data; the best length of use has not been set, and people at low fracture risk may be considered for stopping after 3 to 5 years (section 1.2).
Source
ATELVIA (risedronate sodium) delayed-release tablets, for oral use, prescribing information and Medication Guide. Allergan (AbbVie). DailyMed, version published May 20, 2026. DailyMed setid c8b9ab88-1a26-46c3-80ec-4eaa45202021
Atelvia is taken in the morning immediately following breakfast, not under fasting conditions, because of a higher risk of abdominal pain before breakfast (section 2.2).
The tablet is swallowed whole while upright with at least 4 ounces of plain water and is not chewed, cut or crushed. The person does not lie down for 30 minutes afterward (section 2.2).
Calcium supplements, antacids, magnesium-based supplements or laxatives and iron are taken at a different time of day because they interfere with absorption (section 2.3). The Medication Guide says to wait at least 30 minutes before other medicines and supplements.
The table below is the label's schedule, from the Dosage and Administration section. Numbers are copied exactly; the section is in brackets.
| Item | Label value |
|---|---|
| Use | Treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis |
| Dose | One 35 mg delayed-release tablet orally |
| How often | Once a week, on a chosen day |
| When | In the morning immediately following breakfast |
| With | At least 4 ounces of plain water, upright; no lying down for 30 minutes |
| Tablet | 35 mg, yellow, oval, engraved EC 35 |
Supplemental calcium and vitamin D are taken if dietary intake is not enough.
The best length of use has not been set. The need to continue is re-evaluated periodically, people at low fracture risk may be considered for stopping after 3 to 5 years, and fracture risk is re-checked periodically after stopping.
Atelvia is not recommended when creatinine clearance is under 30 mL/min.
Taking Atelvia with H2 blockers or proton pump inhibitors is not recommended.
A person being treated with Actonel, which has the same active ingredient, does not also receive Atelvia.
If the once-weekly dose is missed, one tablet is taken on the morning after it is remembered, and then one tablet once a week as originally scheduled on the chosen day. Two tablets are not taken on the same day. The Medication Guide adds: "Do not take 2 doses at the same time."
More on this: missed a dose of Atelvia.
In Dose Track you set up Atelvia as a protocol with the dose and schedule your prescriber gave you. A protocol can hold dose steps, each with its own dose and length in days or weeks, so a step-up plan like the one on the label can be entered once and the app moves to the next step on its own. Reminders follow the schedule, and every dose is logged with the date and time, so you can see which step you are on and when your last dose was. The app follows what you enter; it does not choose or change a dose.
This page is what the FDA label says, in plain words. It is not medical advice. Follow your prescriber, and ask them or your pharmacist about anything here.