Clodronate Osteoporosis

Clodronate is a drug mainly used against cancer-induced bone disease. But it appears to have a number of positive advantages for use in the treatment of general bone loss.

  • First it appears to be both effective and has low toxicity.

  • Second aspect it can be administered in various ways while other approved bisphosphonates such as Aclasta, Actonel, Boniva, Fosamax, Minodronate, Reclast, Zometa have only one way for each to be administered. A third positive characteristic drug is that it does not need to be administered in a single continuous schedule, as with other bisphosphonates. Instead this drug can be used in several different schedules for administration.

  • Third, it appears that the efficacy of the drug does not seem to depend on HOW it is administered but rather upon the schedule of administration.

Some Relevant Research articles:

Here are some articles that have been published in researchjournals:

  • Clin Cases Miner Bone Metab. 2007 May-Aug; 4(2): 146–155. Had an article about the way the drug Clodronate acts on human osteoclasitc cell proliferation differentiation and function in a bioreversible manner

  • Obstet Gynecol. 1996 Sep;88(3):431-6. "Continuous and cyclical ... therapies and bone density in postmenopausal bone loss." by Giannini S, D'Angelo A, Sartori L, Passeri G, Dalle Carbonare L, Crepaldi G. Institute of Internal Medicine, University of Padova, Italy.

    ABSTRACT

    OBJECTIVE:

    To evaluate the effectiveness of different ... regimens in postmenopausal osteoporosis.

    METHODS:

    In groups of 20, 60 women were randomly assigned to one of three treatments: oral calcium, 1000 mg/day; oral calcium plus oral clodronate, 400 mg/day; oral calcium plus oral clodronate, 400 mg/day for 30 days, followed by a 60-day period of calcium supplement alone. This last regimen was repeated four times in the 12-month study period.

    RESULTS:

    Patients who received calcium alone showed a decline in spinal bone mass, both after 6 and 12 months (P < .03 and P < .005, respectively); femoral density in this group also decreased after 6 and 12 months (P < .002 and P < .05, respectively). On the other hand, both clodronate-treated groups had increased levels of lumbar bone mass compared with controls, both after 6 and 12 months of therapy. However, at the end of the study, patients treated with cyclical clodronate had higher spinal bone mass compared with those treated continuously (3.32 +/- 0.71 versus 0.43 +/- 0.89%, P < .02). After 6 months, femoral bone density was significantly higher both in subjects treated with clodronate, both cyclically and continuously (P < .01), compared with controls. Continuous clodronate treatment resulted in a clear fall in biochemical indices of bone resorption, together with a consequent decrease in osteocalcin at 6 (P < .02) and 12 months (P < .003) and a significant increase in parathyroid hormone after 12 months (P < .001) of therapy.

    CONCLUSION:

    One-year treatment with clodronate induces a gain in bone mass, especially in the spine. The continuous regimen does not result in any further benefit in lumbar bone density over the cyclical one, probably because of a greater suppression of bone turnover.

  • American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 76, No. 2, 482-488, August 2002 Kent V Haderslev, Lone Tjellesen, Henrik A Sorensen and Michael Staun 1 From the Department of Gastroenterology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen (KVH, LT, and MS), and the Department of Endocrinology, Hvidovre Hospital, Hvidovre, Denmark (HAS).

    "Effect of cyclical intravenous clodronate therapy on bone mineral density and markers of bone turnover in patients receiving home parenteral nutrition1,"

  • "CLODRONATE: A Proven Therapy; Battling Back Against Cancer-Induced Bone Metastasis and Pain". See:http://jpet.aspetjournals.org/content/284/1/312.full.pdf

Additional comment:s

While it is too soon to tell if this drug will be embraced by health care professionals outside the oncology specialty,it is a drug worth noting. Also a number of articles about the drug note that although it is a bisphosphonate,it has NOT been associated with 'sudden fracture' or osteonecrosis of the jaw.

Readers should remember that reports ofthese negative side effects with other bisphosphonates did not become prevalent until patients were using their prescribed medication for some years. This drug is relatively new for use for Osteoporosis or Osteopenia in the general population. We need to track whether negative side effects grow over time.

If you wish to read about other Osteoporosis or Osteopenia pharmaceutical drugs, click on Osteopenia Medications.

If you would like to find out about some some of the non-pharmaceutical treatments of Osteoporosis and Osteopenia, click on: Natural treatments for Osteoporosis and Osteopenia

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