What are bisphosphonates and what are they used for?
Bisphosphonates are a class of medications used to treat a variety of bone conditions. These include high blood calcium, Pagets disease of bone, cancer which has spread to bone, and osteoporosis. Since their first approval for use in humans in 1977, these drugs have benefited many millions of women and men. As a class, these medications are extremely safe and well tolerated. The common features of drugs in this class include strong attachment to the surface of bone and the ability to slow the removal of old bone. Etidronate (Didrocal) was the earliest medication in this class to be introduced. There are now several available bisphosphonate medications, which can be dosed orally or intravenously.
