title: Does the combination of alendronate and parathyroid hormone give a greater benefit than either agent alone in osteoporosis?
abstract: In osteoporosis, both the bisphosphonate alendronate and parathyroid hormone (1-34) (PTH (1-34) ) have been shown to reduce the incidence of fractures. As bisphosphonates and PTH have different mechanisms, it has been proposed that their effects in osteoporosis may be additive. However, a major clinical trial of PTH (1-84) and alendronate in postmenopausal women demonstrated that their effects were not additive. A further trial in men with osteoporosis showed that alendronate impaired the ability of PTH (1-34) to increase bone mineral density. The combination of alendronate and PTH does not have greater benefit than either agent alone, and may even be detrimental, thus should not be used.
authors.affiliation: Doggrell Biomedical Communications, Auckland, New Zealand. s_doggrell@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Sheila A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Doggrell
mesh_terms: D019386:Alendronate / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000188:drug therapy; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D010281:Parathyroid Hormone; D019386:Alendronate