What are examples of bisphosphonates
Andrew Mitchell
Published Apr 21, 2026
Bisphosponates such as risedronate (Actonel), alendronate (Fosamax), ibandronate (Boniva), zoledronic acid (Reclast), and pamidronate (Aredia) are used to treat and prevent osteoporosis—or, bone thinning—which occurs when the bones lose calcium and other minerals that help keep them strong and compact.
Which drugs belong to the bisphosphonate class of drug?
- Actonel or Altevia (risedronate)
- Fosamax (alendronate)
- Boniva (ibandronate)
- Reclast or Zometa (zoledronic acid)
Which is the best bisphosphonates?
Oral – We suggest alendronate or risedronate as the initial choice of oral bisphosphonate (table 1). We most commonly use alendronate, in part due to direct evidence showing residual fracture benefit in selected patients after completing a five-year course of therapy [1].
How many types of bisphosphonates are there?
Drug NameAvg. RatingReviewsBoniva (Pro) Generic name: ibandronate3.381 reviewsFosamax (Pro) Generic name: alendronate3.055 reviewsZometa (Pro) Generic name: zoledronic acid4.837 reviewsActonel (Pro) Generic name: risedronate3.226 reviewsWhich are the bisphosphonates?
What are bisphosphonates? Bisphosphonates are a group of drugs that work by slowing bone loss. They reduce the risk of hip and spine fractures. Bone renewal is a slow process, but in many people an increase in bone density can be measured over five years of treatment.
Is raloxifene a bisphosphonate?
The bisphosphonate alendronate and the selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) raloxifene are among the most popular antiresorptive agents for the prevention and treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis6,7.
Is Evista a bisphosphonate?
Fosamax and Evista belong to different drug classes. Fosamax is a bisphosphonate and Evista is an estrogen agonist/antagonist.
Is anastrozole a bisphosphonate?
One is Anastrozole (ArimidexR) as an aromatase inhibitor, and the other is Alendronate (BonalonR) as a bisphosphonate medicine.Is prolia considered a bisphosphonate?
Fosamax and Prolia belong to different drug classes. Fosamax is a bisphosphonate and Prolia is a monoclonal antibody.
Is Forteo a bisphosphonate?Fosamax and Forteo belong to different drug classes. Fosamax is a bisphosphonate and Forteo is a synthetic parathyroid hormone.
Article first time published onWhat is the name of the injection for osteoporosis?
Denosumab injection (Prolia) is used treat osteoporosis that is caused by corticosteroid medications in men and women who will be taking corticosteroid medications for at least 6 months and have an increased risk for fractures or who cannot take or did not respond to other medication treatments for osteoporosis.
What is the most commonly prescribed drug for osteoporosis?
- Alendronate (Fosamax, Binosto): may be taken orally daily or a weekly tablet is also available.
- Ibandronate (Boniva): can be taken orally monthly or given by intravenous injection every three months.
What are the two medications that may cause osteoporosis after long term use?
The medications most commonly associated with osteoporosis include phenytoin, phenobarbital, carbamazepine, and primidone. These antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) are all potent inducers of CYP-450 isoenzymes.
What are oral bisphosphonates?
Oral bisphosphonates are commonly prescribed to prevent or treat osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. Common brand names of medications in this class include Fosamax, Actonel, Boniva, and Reclast.
What are bisphosphonate tablets for?
Bisphosphonates are drugs that help prevent or slow down bone thinning (osteoporosis). They can help to treat some types of cancer that cause bone damage. You might hear bisphosphonates called bone hardening or bone strengthening treatment. They are also a treatment for high levels of calcium in your blood.
Is Evenity a bisphosphonate?
Evenity is a sclerostin inhibitor and Fosamax is a bisphosphonate that is a specific inhibitor of osteoclast-mediated bone resorption. Side effects of Evenity and Fosamax that are similar include joint pain, headache, swelling of extremities, and weakness.
Is Evista the same as raloxifene?
Evista is the trade name for Raloxifene. In some cases, health care professionals may use the trade name Evista when referring to the generic drug name Raloxifene. Drug type: Evista is a hormone therapy. This medication is classified as a Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulator (SERM).
What is the difference between Fosamax and Evista?
Fosamax (alendronate) is a first-choice treatment for osteoporosis, but taking it can be a hassle. Prevents bone loss and lowers your risk of invasive breast cancer. Evista (raloxifene) helps to reduce bone loss and lower the risk of breast cancer in post-menopausal women, but it can cause blood clots.
Is boniva a hormone?
Boniva is a bisphosphonate and Forteo is a form of parathyroid hormone.
What is the difference between Evenity and Prolia?
It is intended for chronic treatment, while Evenity is intended for short-term use. Evenity quickly increased bone mineral density and decreases fracture risk, while Prolia increases bone mass while the patient is taking it. Evenity works by inhibiting a protein called sclerostin.
Are Prolia and Fosamax the same thing?
Is Fosamax the same as Prolia? Fosamax is not the same as Prolia. Both belong to different groups of osteoporosis medications and work in different ways to treat and prevent osteoporosis.
What can I take instead of Evista?
Evista raloxifeneAlendronateProlia denosumabRelated Treatment GuideBreast Cancer – Prevention Osteoporosis Prevention of OsteoporosisPrevention of Osteoporosis Osteoporosis Paget’s Disease Aseptic NecrosisOsteoporosis
Is Prolia better than bisphosphonates?
When it comes to improving bone density and reducing fracture risk, denosumab may provide better results than do bisphosphonates. As with bisphosphonates, it has a small risk of serious side effects, such as skin infections, headache and fatigue.
What can I take instead of Prolia?
- alendronate (Fosamax)
- risedronate (Actonel)
- ibandronate (Boniva)
- zoledronic acid (Reclast, Zometa)
- denosumab (Xgeva)
- teriparatide (Forteo)
- abaloparatide (Tymlos)
- raloxifene (Evista)
What is the safest osteoporosis drug 2020?
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Evenity (romosozumab-aqqg) to treat osteoporosis in postmenopausal women at high risk of breaking a bone (fracture).
Is letrozole a bisphosphonate?
A study suggests that the combination of the bisphosphonate Zometa (chemical name: zoledronic acid) and the aromatase inhibitor Femara (chemical name: letrozole) after surgery offers better disease-free survival than tamoxifen for premenopausal women diagnosed with early-stage, hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer.
Is letrozole a form of chemotherapy?
Official Answer. Letrozole is not chemotherapy, it is a type of hormone therapy that is used to treat people with breast cancer that is hormone receptor-positive.
What is osteonecrosis of the jaw?
Osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) is a rare condition, the cause of which is not entirely known. It involves the loss or breakdown of a small segment of the jaw bone. It can be a serious condition and may cause difficult to treat pain.
What is the generic name for Prolia?
Denosumab is the generic name for the trade name drugs Prolia® or Xgeva®. In some cases, health care professionals may use the trade names Prolia® or Xgeva® when referring to the generic drug name denosumab.
Is there a generic version of Forteo?
Generic version In the U.S., Forteo is available in a generic form called teriparatide injection. A generic drug is an exact copy of the active drug in a brand-name medication. They tend to cost less than brand-name drugs. Bonsity is an FDA-approved alternative to Forteo.
Is teriparatide the same as Forteo?
Teriparatide is commonly known by the brand name Forteo®. Forteo® is used in the treatment of osteoporosis. Forteo is a synthetic form of parathyroid hormone (PTH), which is naturally found in the body, that stimulates the formation of new bone and leads to increased bone mineral density.