Claris Law Legal Blogging Community

Editor: Tim O'Brien
Profession: Attorney at Law

Category: Drug information

Bisphosphonates are a category of drugs prescribed and taken to prevent and treat osteoporosis, or a thinning of the bones, and bone fractures. They may also be used to treat Paget's disease, a chronic skeletal disorder.

According to worstpills.org, these drugs are usually taken by post-menopausal women and cancer patients to manage advanced cancers that have metastasized to the bone, including lung, breast, multiple myeloma, prostate and others.

Bisphosphonates work by binding to the bone and partially preventing its breakdown.

The following drugs are bisphosphonates: Fosamax (alendronate) manufactured by Merck; Actonel (risedroenate), manufactured by Proctor & Gamble Pharmaceuticals; Skelid (Tiludronate); Didronel (etidronate); Boniva (ibandronate); and Zometa (zoledronic acid) and Aredia (pamidronate), both manufactured by Novartis Pharmaceuticals.