Bisphosphonate Facts

Question 1

Which bisphosphonate is FDA approved for secondary fracture prevention?

Answer 1

Zoledronic acid

Question 2

Which bisphosphonates have been shown to reduce fractures in the hip, vertebrae, and nonvertebra? Only vertebral?

Answer 2

Alendronate
Risedronate
Zolendronic acid

Only vertebral : ibandronate

Question 3

Which bisphosphonate has an ER formulation? What other aspect of the drug is an advantage?

Answer 3

Risedronate - also can be taken after breakfast and can possibly have better GI tolerance

Question 4

Which bisphosphonate has an annual dosing schedule? What is the catch?

Answer 4

Zolendronic acid - the catch is that it has to be administered at the hospital

Question 5

What are some rare side effects associated with bisphosphonates?

Answer 5

ONJ and atypical femur fracture

Question 6

Which patients benefit from continuing therapy of bisphosphonates?

Answer 6

Patients with:

Baseline femoral neck T score <-2.5 with pre-existing vertebral fractures