Ibandronate is an osteoporosis medication that is used in postmenopausal women. Besides slowing the breakdown of bones, the drug can also increase bone mineral density in women with risk factors for osteoporosis. While the tablets can be taken either daily or once a month, the injectable form is only administered once every three months. Side effects of ibandronate may include heartburn, indigestion, and diarrhea.
Ibandronate sodium (
Boniva®) is a prescription medication used to both treat and prevent
osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. It can be taken either daily or just once a month.
Ibandronate is made jointly by GlaxoSmithKline and Roche Laboratories.
How Does Ibandronate Work?
Ibandronate belongs to a group of medications known as bisphosphonates. The drug binds to certain cells in bones and slows the rate at which they break down.
Ibandronate has been evaluated in a large study involving almost 3,000 postmenopausal women with osteoporosis. In this study, ibandronate reduced the risk of vertebral fractures (broken spinal bones) by about half. The drug did not seem to reduce the risk of other types of broken bones. It also increased bone mineral density (a measure of the strength of bones) in the spine and hip.
Ibandronate can also be used to prevent osteoporosis in postmenopausal women with risk factors for the disease. In studies of ibandronate for
osteoporosis prevention, women taking the medication showed increased bone mineral density, while those not taking it actually experienced bone loss.
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