{blacktriangledown}Strontium ranelate for osteoporosis?

doi:10.1136/dtb.2006.44429

Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin 2006;44:29-32; doi:10.1136/dtb.2006.44429

${blacktriangledown}$ Strontium ranelate for osteoporosis?

Relevant BNF section: 6.6.2

In the UK, there are around 200,000 osteoporotic fractures eachyear.^1,2 National guidelines in the UK recommend preventativetreatment in patients who are at high risk of fracture on thebasis of age, fracture history, bone mineral density and otherrisk factors.^1,2 For secondary prevention, an oral bisphosphonate,such as alendronate or risedronate, is the drug of choice butmay not be tolerated, particularly because of unwanted uppergastrointestinal effects.^2,3 Raloxifene provides a potentialoral alternative in women.⁴ National guidelines also suggestsubcutaneous ${blacktriangledown}$ teriparatide for women aged more than 65 yearswith severe osteoporosis who have failed to tolerate or respondto a bisphosphonate;² however, we believe use of this drug isproblematic.⁵ ${blacktriangledown}$ Strontium ranelate (Protelos - Servier) is a neworal treatment for women with postmenopausal osteoporosis thatis promoted as "the first dual action bone agent" and "the onlydrug to simultaneously increase bone formation and decreasebone resorption". Here we review the evidence for strontiumranelate and consider whether it has a role in postmenopausalosteoporosis.