Understanding Bisphosphonates and Bone Health

Bisphosphonates are a class of drugs used to treat bone conditions such as osteoporosis, Paget's disease, and bone metastasis. They work by inhibiting bone resorption and improving bone density.

bisphosphonates FAQ

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How do bisphosphonates affect bone health?

Bone tissue undergoes constant remodeling and is kept in balance ( homeostasis) by osteoblasts creating bone and osteoclasts destroying bone. Bisphosphonates inhibit the digestion of bone by encouraging osteoclasts to undergo apoptosis, or cell death, thereby slowing bone loss.

What are the different types of bisphosphonates?

The bisphosphonates that are usually prescribed for this are tablets. Those available in the UK are alendronate (the most used one), risedronate and ibandronic acid and they have various different brand names. In some circumstances, bisphosphonates can also be given by injection (intravenous bisphosphonates).

What are bisphosphonates used for?

Bisphosphonates are a group of medicines used to treat conditions that affect your bones. Different bisphosphonates are available for different conditions. What are bisphosphonates? Examples of conditions which bisphosphonates can help treat are: Osteoporosis - a condition where bones become thin and more prone to fracture. Paget's disease of bone.

Are bisphosphonates good for osteoporosis?

Bisphosphonates are a group of drugs that work by slowing bone loss. They reduce the risk of hip and spine fractures. Bone renewal is a slow process, but in many people an increase in bone density can be measured over five years of treatment. Bisphosphonates can be used to reduce the risk of hip and spine fractures in osteoporosis.

What are oral bisphosphonates?

What are they? Oral bisphosphonates are the most common type of osteoporosis medication prescribed to help strengthen your bones and reduce your risk of having a fragility fracture. Bisphosphonates work by slowing down the cells that break down bone.

How do bisphosphonates work?

Bisphosphonates work by slowing down the cells which break down bone (osteoclasts). Therefore they slow down bone loss, allowing the bone cells (osteoblasts) that help to build the bone to work more effectively. They can help to strengthen bone and help to prevent it getting any weaker.

How does a bisphosphonate affect bone health?

Therefore they slow down bone loss, allowing the bone cells (osteoblasts) that help to build the bone to work more effectively. They can help to strengthen bone and help to prevent it getting any weaker. People who take a bisphosphonate are less likely to break (fracture) a bone.