Bisphosphonate

bisphosphonate /bis·phos·pho·nate/ (bis-fos´fo-nat) diphosphonate.

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Bisphosphonate

A class of drugs used to treat Paget's disease. These drugs bind to the minerals in bone tissue and lessen the amount of bone loss associated with Paget's disease.

Mentioned in: Paget's Disease of Bone

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bisphosphonate (bisfos´fnōt),

n brand names: Fosamax, Didrone;
drug class: two classes: the N-containing (atendronate) and non-N-containing (Etidronate);
action: used to inhibit bone resorption;
uses: prevention and treatment of osteoporosis, osteitis deformans (“Paget's disease of bone”), bone metastasis (with or without hypercalcemia), multiple myeloma and other conditions that feature bone fragility. Can rarely cause osteonecrosis of the jaw; this may be reason to postpone drug treatment until after dental treatment, as they remain bound to the bone for a prolonged period. Most cases occur in high-dose intravenous types used in cancer patients, but a small proportion happens in patients on oral types. Also called
diphosphonate. See also osteonecrosis, bisphosphonate-associated (BON).