It may seem counterintuitive, but recent studies suggest that taking a break from certain osteoporosis drugs can actually help protect you from fractures and other bone problems.
Bisphosphonates are a popular class of drugs used to treat osteoporosis and other diseases. Unfortunately, the drugs have also been linked with causing thigh fractures and osteonecrosis of the jaw when taken for a prolonged period of time.
Researchers at Loyola University Health System aimed to study the ideal length of time that can be taken off during bisphosphonate treatment so as to prevent the patient from suffering unnecessary fractures or osteonecrosis of the jaw.
The study evaluated 139 patients (123 females, 16 males) with osteoporosis and osteopenia, the precursor to the disease. Patients took a bisphosphonate an average of 6.8 years before beginning a drug holiday from 2005 to 2010.
Over three years, five fractures occurred, but bone mineral density did not change significantly. However, bone loss did start to increase at six months. The type of bisphosphonate and the duration of treatment did not affect bone mineral density.
Doctors typically recommend taking a break from the drugs, or a drug holiday, after four to five years of treatment, but there was uncertainty as to how long a patient could remain off their drugs. As a result of the study, researchers discovered that bone density remained stable for at least three years after stopping treatment.
