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Suspected adverse reactions reported for Ibandronic acid
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Suspected adverse reactions reported for Ibandronic acid
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1 branded products available
WHO defined daily dose (DDD)
6 mg
Not a recommended dose. The DDD is the assumed average maintenance dose per day for a drug used for its main indication in adults. It is a statistical measure used for research and comparison purposes only.
Source: WHO Collaborating Centre for Drug Statistics Methodology, distributed via the NHS dm+d supplementary BNF/ATC mapping files (NHSBSA). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Therapeutically similar medicines
Similarity is based on WHO Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) classification and on a factual NHS dm+d therapeutic-grouping code prefix. Source data: NHS dm+d via TRUD (OGL v3.0), WHO ATC/DDD Index.
NHS prescribing volume and spending trends
Guidelines from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence
NICE clinical guidance(3)
Bisphosphonates for treating osteoporosis (TA464)
Denosumab for the prevention of skeletal-related events in adults with bone metastases from solid tumours (TA265)
Romosozumab for treating severe osteoporosis (TA791)
Source: National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
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Codes for healthcare professionals and prescribing systems
These codes are used by healthcare IT systems and prescribers to identify this medicine.
NHS UK identifiers
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SNOMED CT and dm+d codes from NHS TRUD (Technology Reference data Update Distribution), licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. BNF code shown is the factual mapping value distributed by NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) in the dm+d supplementary file under OGL v3.0; it is not affiliated with, nor licensed from, the publishers of the British National Formulary. ATC codes from the WHO Collaborating Centre for Drug Statistics Methodology (whocc.no).
Active and completed clinical studies from ClinicalTrials.gov
Source: ClinicalTrials.gov, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM), National Institutes of Health (NIH). Data accessed via ClinicalTrials.gov API v2. Trial information is provided for research purposes and does not constitute medical advice.
Academic studies and reviews for this medicine's active substance
Showing the 50 most relevant studies.
Reviews & meta-analyses: 11 · Randomised trials: 1 · Trials: 1 · 2008–2026
Showing the 50 most relevant studies, sorted by most relevant.
Mann RS, Chopra I, Kilic A, et al.
2026
The majority of clinical research continues to focus on evaluating the efficacy of teriparatide and bisphosphonates in the treatment of osteoporosis. This systematic review gathered data from extensive research assessing the efficacy, safety, and clinical outcomes of various medications. The objective was to determine the effectiveness and clinical implications of teriparatide and bisphosphonates in the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis. We analyzed 15 comprehensive studies, encompassing randomized controlled trials (RCTs), systematic reviews, and meta-analyses. The primary studies included large trials and several medium-sized trials that examined changes in bone mineral density (BMD), fracture risk, and adverse outcomes. Teriparatide significantly lowered vertebral fracture risk compared with risedronate in patients with severe osteoporosis and increased lumbar spine BMD to a comparable extent as alendronate, though via a distinct anabolic mechanism. Combination therapy with zoledronic acid resulted in greater BMD gains than either agent alone. Most adverse events were mild and transient, including injection-site reactions, nausea, and dizziness, with no significant difference in serious adverse event rates compared with bisphosphonates. Network meta-analyses indicate that romosozumab may achieve greater early spine BMD gains than teriparatide. Teriparatide is effective in lowering vertebral fracture risk and enhancing BMD in postmenopausal osteoporosis. Anabolic agents, including teriparatide, are recommended as first-line therapy for patients at very high risk of fractures (e.g., very low BMD with prevalent fractures or fractures occurring during glucocorticoid therapy), followed by a transition to antiresorptive therapy. Treatment selection should be guided by guideline-based risk stratification rather than applying a uniform stepwise approach.
Abstract licence: CC BY
Mun S, Chalasani R, Van de Vel G, et al.
2025
Spinal cord injury (SCI) causes significant bone loss as a long-term complication, increasing fracture risk and healthcare costs. Bisphosphonates are widely studied for mitigating bone loss since they can prevent fractures and preserve rehabilitation potential in acute SCI patients. Zoledronic acid, in particular, stands out due to its high potency, dosing convenience, and better patient adherence. This review aims to evaluate the efficacy of bisphosphonates, particularly zoledronic acid, in mitigating bone loss in acute SCI. A systematic review was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 guidelines using PubMed, ScienceDirect, PubMed Central (PMC), Google Scholar, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) databases. Studies from January 1, 2016, to December 31, 2024, on bisphosphonate use within six months of SCI were included. Randomized controlled trials using zoledronic acid as the intervention and meta-analyses or systematic reviews covering all bisphosphonates were selected based on predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Eight studies, comprising three meta-analyses and five randomized controlled trials with 729 participants, were selected after quality assessment using Assessment of Multiple Systematic Reviews 2 (AMSTAR 2) and a revised Cochrane risk of bias tool for randomized trials (RoB 2). Seven studies demonstrated significant bone mineral density (BMD) improvements at the total hip, four at the lumbar spine, two at the trochanter, and five at the femoral neck. Two meta-analyses performed subgroup analyses of zoledronic acid, demonstrating substantial bone loss reduction, although comparisons with other bisphosphonates were lacking. Reductions in bone resorption markers, such as C-terminal telopeptide (CTX), were observed in five studies. While zoledronic acid exhibits strong anti-resorptive effects and allows for practical intravenous administration, its limited impact on bone formation markers, such as P1NP, and inconsistent BMD improvements across skeletal sites require further investigation. Future studies should assess long-term outcomes, utilize advanced imaging techniques, and directly compare zoledronic acid with other bisphosphonates.
Abstract licence: CC BY
Neupane R, Ness B, Sivakumar B, et al.
2025
Osteoporotic fractures are fractures caused by underlying osteoporosis that occur after minimal trauma. They represent a prevalent public health problem worldwide with significant economic burden and negative effects on quality of life. Fracture liaison services (FLS) are multidisciplinary programs aimed to decrease secondary fractures in high-risk patients by improving the post-fracture care gap. This review analyzes the impact of FLS on patient outcomes, especially refracture risk and osteoporosis medication initiation. This review was conducted using Ovid (MEDLINE), CINAHL, and Web of Science. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs), cross-sectional studies, observational studies, longitudinal studies, and cohort prospective/retrospective studies published between 2010 and 2024 were included. Selected articles also had a focus on refracture risk and/or osteoporotic medication initiation, a patient cohort mean age greater than 65 years old, and patients presenting with an initial osteoporotic fracture (as opposed to a history of fractures). Out of 727 total articles screened, 49 were included. The most prescribed medications were zoledronic acid, denosumab, and alendronate. FLS implementation was generally associated with a decrease in refracture rate, but only 11 out of 20 studies that assessed this found a statistically significant difference. Variability in refracture rates among studies may be due to differences in program intensity and patient demographics (namely, age and level of function). FLS can be an effective model to target the post-fracture care gap in older osteoporosis patients and improve outcomes, particularly medication initiation. Future studies should evaluate best practices for FLS programs.
Abstract licence: CC BY
Jakonyte A, Gustainyte E, Petronis Z, et al.
2025
- Osteonecrosis
- Diphosphonates
- Imidazoles
Background and Objectives: Bisphosphonates (BP) like zoledronic acid (ZA) and alendronic acid (AA) are used for osteoporosis (OP) or other bone-related conditions as well as to prevent the spread of metastases and in rheumatoid arthritis treatment. However, they have been associated with an increased risk of osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ). This systematic review aimed to assess the incidence and risk of ONJ in osteoporotic patients treated with ZA or AA and evaluate the impact of treatment duration. Material and Methods: The systematic literature review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines. The keywords "Zoledronic acid," "Alendronic acid," "Osteoporosis," and "Osteonecrosis" were searched in PubMed and ScienceDirect databases. Selection criteria included studies on humans written in English, published from 2014. The systematic review protocol was registered in the PROSPERO register under the following number: CRD42024587046. Results: A total of 7 studies with 98,717 osteoporotic patients met the criteria, showing a higher ONJ incidence with ZA than AA. Six studies linked longer BP use to increased ONJ risk, which quadrupled after 5 years of AA use. A positive correlation was found between BP use (≥3 years) and ONJ in OP patients, primarily affecting females over 60. ONJ appeared after 1 year with AA, increasing over time, while ZA-related ONJ emerged as early as 5 months with a higher overall incidence. Conclusions: ZA poses a higher ONJ risk and incidence and earlier onset than AA, occurring within 5 months versus 1 year for AA. These findings emphasize the need for careful monitoring, especially in long-term BP therapy with additional risk factors.
Abstract licence: CC BY
W-Y Wang, L-H Chen, W.W. Ma, et al.
PubMed, 2023
- Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal
- Spinal Fractures
- Denosumab
Peter Barrett‐Lee, Angela Casbard, Jacinta Abraham, et al.
The Lancet Oncology, 2013
- Zoledronic Acid
- Ibandronic Acid
- Bone Neoplasms
N. A. Sayuti, T. Andayani, D. Endarti, et al.
Journal of Applied Pharmaceutical Science, 2019
Hideki Murakami, Sunao Ito, Shuji Takiguchi, et al.
F1000Research, 2023
Li JW, Lei XD, Dai B
2025
ObjectiveThis study analyzed severe cutaneous adverse reactions (SCARs) linked to anti-osteoporosis drugs using FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) data and characterized implicated drugs and clinical features through a literature review.MethodsA retrospective disproportionality analysis of SCAR reports from FAERS (2004-2024) utilized signal detection metrics, including reporting odds ratio (ROR), proportional reporting ratio (PRR), and Bayesian confidence propagation neural network (BCPNN). A structured literature search across PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus gathered case reports of SCARs induced by anti-osteoporosis drugs.ResultsOf 77,789 SCAR reports, 399 (0.51%) involved anti-osteoporosis drugs, mainly affecting female patients (76.25%) with a median age of 69 years. Denosumab (24%), alendronate (23.25%), and zoledronic acid (17.13%) were most frequently reported. Significant signals included risedronic acid with erythema multiforme [ROR = 9.06; PRR = 9.03; information component (IC) = 3.17], zoledronic acid with cutaneous vasculitis (ROR = 3.15; PRR = 3.15; IC = 1.65), and alendronic acid with Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) (ROR = 4.03; PRR = 4.02; IC = 2.00). The literature review (33 cases) confirmed a median symptom onset of 22 days, with treatments often involving corticosteroids and supportive care.ConclusionAnti-osteoporosis drugs, notably bisphosphonates and strontium ranelate, are rarely linked to SCARs but may cause serious consequences. Increased clinical awareness, pre-treatment risk evaluation, and vigilant monitoring are essential for at-risk patients.
Abstract licence: CC BY
Sources: aggregated from Europe PMC (EMBL-EBI), OpenAlex, Crossref, PubMed and other open scholarly databases. Retracted articles are excluded. Study information is provided for research purposes and does not constitute medical advice.
Pharmacology and chemical data from DrugBank
Key facts
Drug status
Approved
Major interactions
195 found
Half-life
37-157 hours
Mechanism
Bisphosphonates are taken into the bone where they bind to hydroxyapatite.
Food interactions
2 warnings
Human targets
3 targets
Data: DrugBank · CC BY-NC 4.0
Pharmacokinetics at a glance
Absorption
0.63%
[A203153]
In a study of healthy males, a 10mg oral dose had a Tmax of 1.1±0.6h…
Half-life
37-157 hours
[L13805][L13808]
Protein binding
85.7-99.5%
Volume of distribution
90-368L
[A203153][L13805][L13808]…
Metabolism
[L13805][L13808]
Elimination
[A203153][L13805][L13808]
Clearance
84-160mL/min
[L13805][L13808]
Pharmacokinetic data: DrugBank · CC BY-NC 4.0
Ibandronate was granted FDA approval on 16 May 2003.[L13805]
[L13805][L13808]
Known interactions with other medications. Always consult a healthcare professional.
Showing 50 of 784 interactions
[L13805][L13808]
Oral overdose can be managed by giving patients milk or antacids to bind excess unabsorbed ibandronate.
[L13805]
Overdoses can be managed by providing intravenous electrolytes and dialysis is not expected to remove excess drug from serum.
[L13805][L13808]
Osteoclasts mediate resorption of bone.[A6366] When osteoclasts bind to bone they form podosomes, ring structures of F-actin.[A6366] Disruption of the podosomes causes osteoclasts to detach from bones, preventing bone resorption.[A6366]
Nitrogen containing bisphosphonates such as ibandronate are known to induce apoptosis of hematopoietic tumor cells by inhibiting the components of the mevalonate pathway farnesyl diphosphate synthase, farnesyl diphosphate, and geranylgeranyl diphosphate.[A202769][A203147] These components are essential for post-translational prenylation of GTP-binding proteins like Rap1.[A202769] The lack of prenylation of these proteins interferes with their function, and in the case of Rap1, leads to apoptosis.[A202769] ibandronate also activated caspase-3 which contribute to apoptosis.[A203150]
How the body processes this drug — absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination
[A203153]
In a study of healthy males, a 10mg oral dose had a Tmax of 1.1±0.6h and a Cmax of 4.1±2.6ng/mL.
[A203162]
The Tmax is approximately 1 hour, while Cmax varies depending on dose.
[A203162]
A 2mg intravenous dose of ibandronate has an AUC of 316ng\*h/mL, a 4mg intravenous dose of ibandronate has an AUC of 581ng\*h/mL, and a 6mg intravenous dose of ibandronate has an AUC of 908ng\*h/mL.
[A203159]
[L13805][L13808]
[L13808]
[A203153][L13805][L13808]
[L13805][L13808]
[A203153][L13805][L13808]
[L13805][L13808]
Proteins and enzymes this drug interacts with in the body
ATC M05BA06
ATC M05BB09
Chemical identifiers
CAS, UNII, InChI Key and database cross-references
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Chemical identifiers
CAS, UNII, InChI Key and database cross-references
Linked compound data from DrugBank Open Data (CC BY-NC 4.0)
Additional database identifiers
Drugs Product Database (DPD)
11519
ChemSpider
54839
BindingDB
12577
PDB
BFQ
ZINC
ZINC000001533877
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:4249
GeneCards
GGPS1
GenBank Gene Database
AB017971
GenBank Protein Database
4520350
Guide to Pharmacology
643
UniProt Accession
GGPPS_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:3631
GenAtlas
FDPS
GeneCards
FDPS
GenBank Gene Database
J05262
GenBank Protein Database
182399
Guide to Pharmacology
644
UniProt Accession
FPPS_HUMAN
DrugBank citations
If you use DrugBank data in your research, please cite the following publications:
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Structured knowledge from the free knowledge base
ATC classifications (Wikidata)
Linked open data from Wikidata (Q166825), a free and open knowledge base operated by the Wikimedia Foundation. Data is available under the Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Public Domain Dedication.