Articles related to OSTEOPOROSIS

A new study has found that people with osteoporosis may experience less protection and be subject to more bone fractures when treated with the drug risedronate. Patients who were treated with risedronate during a drug holiday experienced more hip and other fractures than patients given other medications. Drug holidays are recommended after three to five years on therapy for most people taking bisphosphonates for osteoporosis. Risedronate, with its shorter half-life compared with alendronate, is associated with a somewhat higher risk of hip fracture during a drug holiday.

When preparing to treat a patient for osteoporosis, it might be wise to compare leading guidelines because guidelines from two key organizations often don’t agree. The ACP and the National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF) have come up with guidelines that differ in terms of what therapies, how long to treat, how long between scans, and more. Osteoporosis expert E. Michael Lewiecki, MD, reviews the differences.