Dr. Ott on bisphosphonates used in women younger than 65

[Guest guest]

" Bisphosphonates have been approved by the FDA for prevention of

osteoporosis, and they are widely used in women younger than 65.

However, I am reluctant to use them in young or low-risk women, and

reserve these drugs for those with established osteoporosis or those

with osteoporosis taking prednisone. I have a more conservative view

about long-term safety issues than many other physicians, perhaps

because I have a physiological perspective. Bone biopsies from patients

taking bisphosphonates show 95% reduction in the bone formation rate.

The bisphosphonates get deposited in the bone and will accumulate for

years. We don't have any human data longer than 10 years for

bisphosphonates. It is possible that many years of accumulated medicine

would make bone more brittle or impair the ability to repair damage. "

http://courses.washington.edu/bonephys/optreatment.html

I'll tell you where to go!

Mayo Clinic in Rochester

http://www.mayoclinic.org/rochester

s Hopkins Medicine

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org