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Treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis with calcitriol or calcium

Article Abstract:

Treatment with calcitriol may reduce the incidence of fractures of the vertebrae in women with mild to moderate osteoporosis. Of 622 women with osteoporosis, 314 took 0.25 micrograms of calcitriol twice a day and 308 took one gram of calcium once a day. They were followed for three years. Only 70% completed the entire study, but the dropout rates were similar in both groups. At the end of three years, 20% of the 219 women remaining in the calcium group had experienced a new fracture but only 5.6% of the 213 women remaining in the calcitriol group had had a new fracture. However, when the women taking calcitriol were divided into those who had moderate osteoporosis and those who had severe osteoporosis, 3.6% of those with moderate osteoporosis had experienced a new fracture at three years, whereas 13% of those with severe osteoporosis had experienced a new fracture.

Calcium, Calcium (Chemical element), Calcitriol

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The treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis

Article Abstract:

Alendronate may be particularly effective in treating postmenopausal osteoporosis, but it must be compared with other drugs to establish its superiority. A 1995 study of alendronate showed that it increased bone density and reduced the risk of vertebral fractures in women with postmenopausal osteoporosis. The optimal dosage appeared to be 10 milligram a day (mg/day), based on a comparison with 5 mg/day and 20 mg/day. The drug also did not appear to cause a high incidence of short-term side effects. The study raises important questions about whether this drug can prevent fracture of bones other than vertebrae, and whether it has long term side effects. Most other drugs used in treating osteoporosis either prevent bone degeneration or increase bone formation, while alendronate is capable of both.

Editorial, Evaluation, Diphosphonates

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Treatments for osteoporosis - looking beyond the horizon

Article Abstract:

The annual infusion of zoledronic acid increases bone density and reduces the risk of osteoporotis fractures in postmenopausal women.

United States, Dosage and administration, Postmenopausal women, Zoledronic acid

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