Alendronic acid (Alendronate)

Question 1

What is Alendronate

Answer 1

A nitrogen-containing, second generation bisphosphonate

Question 2

what does Alendronate do?

Answer 2

strengthens bone

Question 3

what is Alendronate used to treat and prevent?

Answer 3

Treat corticosteroid-induced osteoporosis
Treat Paget’s disease
Prevent osteoporosis in postmenopausal women

Question 4

how do nitrogen-containing bisphosphonates inhibit farnesyl pyrophosphate (FPP) synthase

Answer 4

by acting as analogues of isoprenoid diphosphate lipids

Question 5

what does FPP synthase inhibit in osteoclasts?

Answer 5

prevents the post-translational farnesylation and geranylgeranylation of small GTPase signalling proteins, such as Rac and Rho. This causes a reduction in osteoclast activity reducing bone resorption and turnover. Furthermore osteoclast survival is also affected, further increasing the ability of the bone to be rebuilt

Question 6

what is the inhibition of FPP do for postmenopausal women?

Answer 6

reduces the elevated rate of bone turnover, causing a net gain in bone mass.