[Efficacy and tolerability of risedronate for the treatment of osteoporosis]

Abstract

Bisphosphonates are now the most widely used drugs for osteoporosis. Three bisphosphonates are available in Japan, i.e. etidronate, alendronate and risedronate. In these bisphosphonates, risedronate as the third-generation bisphosphonate was shown in many RCTs to decrease bone resorption biomarkers and to increase BMD. The relative risk of new vertebral fractures and non-vertebral fractures was reduced by about 50% or more. Risedronate is one of the most effective agents for prevention of osteoporotic fractures. Once-weekly treatment with 17.5 mg risedronate showed equivalent efficacy to once-daily treatment with 2.5 mg risedronate, and was well tolerated with favorable safety profiles compared with once-daily dosage regimen.