Improved GI tolerability with monthly ibandronate in women previously using weekly bisphosphonates.
OBJECTIVE
This subanalysis of CURRENT, an open-label, 6-month, multicenter study, assesses changes in gastrointestinal (GI) tolerability with once-monthly oral ibandronate in women who switched from once-weekly bisphosphonates and had reported GI symptoms with their previous weekly bisphosphonate regimen.


METHODS
Postmenopausal women currently taking a weekly bisphosphonate switched to 150 mg monthly ibandronate. At the start of the treatment phase and after 6 months of therapy, all participants completed the Osteoporosis Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire (OPSAT-Q), a validated instrument consisting of four domains: convenience, satisfaction, quality of life, and side effects. This subanalysis assessed GI tolerability in those women who reported GI symptoms at baseline in the side effects domain of OPSAT-Q and change in satisfaction in those who had reported stomach upset within 48 hours of taking their previous bisphosphonate at screening.


RESULTS
Of women who reported GI symptoms at baseline, >60% reported an improvement in heartburn or acid reflux after switching to monthly ibandronate. Further, >70% reported improvements in stomach upset (excluding heartburn or acid reflux). Of those women who reported stomach upset within 48 hours of taking their previous weekly bisphosphonate at screening (n = 89), >80% reported improved overall satisfaction compared with baseline. Monthly ibandronate was generally well tolerated.


CONCLUSIONS
A majority of women who experienced GI tolerability issues with weekly bisphosphonates reported improvements in GI symptoms after transitioning from a weekly bisphosphonate to monthly ibandronate for 6 months.
Department of Medicine, Institute on Aging, Universityof Wisconsin-Madison, 2870 University Avenue, Madison, WI 53705, USA. nbinkley@wisc.edu
Neil
N
Binkley
Mark G
MG
Martens
Stuart L
SL
Silverman
Richard J
RJ
Derman
Maria
M
Greenwald
Joseph D
JD
Kohles
Gloria A
GA
Bachmann
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019386:Alendronate / Q000009:adverse effects; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D004164:Diphosphonates / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D012968:Etidronic Acid / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D005260:Female; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control; D006356:Heartburn / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D000077557:Ibandronic Acid; D008875:Middle Aged; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010349:Patient Compliance; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D000068296:Risedronic Acid
D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents; D004164:Diphosphonates; D000068296:Risedronic Acid; D012968:Etidronic Acid; D000077557:Ibandronic Acid; D019386:Alendronate