Common Questions
What are the indications for alendronate?
The following groups are candidates for treatment with alendronate, 10 mg, based on direct evidence for fracture prevention:
- Women with osteoporosis (T-score < -2.5)
- Women with prior osteoporotic vertebral fractures
- Men with osteoporosis*
- Some patients on long-term corticosteroids**
Clinical trials of alendronate did not address treatment of women with lesser degrees of bone loss and multiple risk factors. Treatment nomograms developed as part of a cost-effectiveness analysis provide extrapolated guidelines for treatment based on a patient's fracture history and presence or absence of risk factors.
In the following nomograms, any women who falls below the line might benefit from treatment (based on this model's assumptions).
*Osteoporosis in men was defined as: L-spine T-score of -1.0 and either prior vertebral fracture or hip T-score <-2.0
**See stand-alone on treatment of glucocorticoid-induced