[New development in bisphosphonate treatment. Characteristics and effectiveness of intermittent bisphophonates]

Despite widely accepted efficacy of bisphophonates for osteoporotic fracture, patients treatment compliance has been low, especially, with daily regimen, in part because of the inconvenience associated with special dosing requirements of oral bisphophonates. Intermittent bisphophonates, oral and intravenous, have been introduced to solve the problem. In Japan, at present, only weekly alendronate and risedronate, both oral, have been approved for osteoporosis. In U. S. A. and other countries, orally, monthly risedoronate and ibandronate, intravenously, quarterly ibandronate and yearly zoledronate have been approved for osteoporosis. Their clinical efficacy will be reviewed.