Alendronate: a bisphosphonate for treatment of osteoporosis.

The bisphosphonates have been investigated over the past two decades for the treatment of various diseases of bone and calcium metabolism that are characterized by increased bone resorption, including osteoporosis, Paget's disease, primary hyperparathyroidism, hypercalcemia of malignancy and metastatic bone disease. The bisphosphonate alendronate was recently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as a therapy for postmenopausal osteoporosis. This agent is currently the bisphosphonate of choice for clinical use. In postmenopausal osteoporosis, alendronate has been shown to increase bone mineral density and to decrease the rate of new fractures. Adverse effects are not usually a problem when 10 mg per day of alendronate is given with at least 6 oz of water 30 minutes before ingestion of the first food or beverage of the day.