Table 1.

Bisphosphonates approved for the treatment of osteoporosis

Bisphosphonate	Dosage	Administration	Indications	Lumbar spine BMD increase
Alendronate	10 mg (daily)	Oral	Postmenopausal	+8%64
	70 mg (weekly)		glucocorticoid	+2.9%94
			male	+5.3%96
Risedronate	5 mg (daily)	Oral	Postmenopausal	+6%93
	35 mg (weekly)		glucocorticoid	+2.7%95
	150 mg (monthly)		male	+4.6%97
Ibandronate	150 mg (monthly)	Oral	Postmenopausal	+5%98
	3 mg (quarterly)	intravenous		+6.5%99
Zoledronate	5 mg (yearly)	Intravenous	Postmenopausal	+6.7%8
			male	+6.3%102