Can The Osteoporosis Drug Risedronate Help Treat Osteoarthritis?

Risedronate (brand name: Actonel) is a bisphosphonate—a type of drug that is used to treat thinning of the bones (osteoporosis). Other drugs in this category include alendronate (Fosamax) and ibandronate (Boniva). Risedronate is also under investigation as a treatment for OA.

Bisphosphonate

One of a class of drugs used to maintain or improve bone density.

The results of a recent British study of middle-aged men and women with OA of the knee suggest that risedronate may slow the progression of OA and improve pain symptoms. In this study, patients with OA of the knee, all of whom had pain, stiffness, and crepitus (the grinding sensation you get when bending an arthritic joint), were separated into three groups. The control group was given a placebo (sugar pill), the second group was given a low dose of risedronate (5 milligrams), and the third group was given a high dose of risedronate (15 milligrams).

These treatments were continued over the course of a year and were accompanied by regular physical examinations for pain and stiffness as well as x-rays of the knee looking for signs of joint destruction and cartilage thickness.

The researchers found that those patients who were treated with the highest dose of risedronate (15 milligrams) experienced improvements in pain, stiffness, and disability and had less of a need for walking aids. An examination of the x-rays revealed that these patients also had less joint destruction than members of the other two treatment groups.

While these results came from only one small study, they do offer hope that the use of high-dose risedronate might slow joint destruction and delay the need for joint replacement surgery in patients with knee OA. Currently, risedronate is not FDA approved for the treatment of OA. You should discuss the risks and benefits of this treatment with your physician before trying it.