Alendronate therapy for osteopenic postmenopausal women is not cost effective
December 6, 2006 08:39

Treatment guidelines recommend drug treatment to prevent fractures for some postmenopausal women who have low bone mass (osteopenia) but do not have osteoporosis or a history of clinical fractures. For women ages 55 to 75 with no additional fracture risk factors, the cost per quality-adjusted life-year gained ranged from $70,000 $332,000 depending on age and femoral neck bone density. The vast amount of advertising in medical and public media has increased the awareness of osteoporosis and the possibility of treatment with Fosamax, but also has encouraged the use of Fosamax in people who don't really need it. (NIH)

Actonel prevents hip fractures better than Fosamax
December 8, 2006 08:41

A recent study of over 33,000 postmenopausal women showed that among patients newly prescribed one of the two most popular osteoporosis treatments, patients taking Actonel (risedronate sodium) were approximately half as likely tosustain a hip fracture as those... (Read Article)