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To treat osteoporosis, millions of Americans take oral bisphosphonate drugs, a class of drugs that includes alendronate (Fosamax), ibandronate (Boniva), risedronate (Actonel) and others. Estimates indicate about 20 cases of osteonecrosis may occur in a year in this large group of people.
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 to
sustain a hip fracture as those taking alendronate (Fosamax) in the first year
of treatment. These Actonel and Fosamax results were published in the peer-reviewed
journal Osteoporosis International.