bisphosphonate

Meaning of bisphosphonate: Bisphosphonates slow bone breakdown and are used chiefly for osteoporosis, along with certain cancer related bone conditions and Paget disease.

Definition of bisphosphonate

A bisphosphonate is a member of a class of medications that slow the activity of osteoclasts, the cells responsible for breaking down old bone tissue as part of the body's normal bone remodeling process. By reducing this activity, bisphosphonates help preserve bone density and structure.

Bisphosphonates are most commonly used to treat and help prevent osteoporosis, a condition marked by weakened, more fracture prone bone, and they are also used for Paget disease of bone, a condition involving abnormal bone remodeling. In people with certain cancers, bisphosphonates are used to treat hypercalcemia, an abnormally high blood calcium level, and to help reduce bone pain and fracture risk when cancer has spread to bone.

Bisphosphonates are taken by mouth or given intravenously depending on the specific medication and condition being treated, and because they concentrate in bone tissue, their effects on bone remodeling can persist for an extended period after treatment.