Once a Month Osteoporosis tablet

Once-a-month osteoporosis tablet helps Menopausal Women.

Osteoporosis can lead to fractures and is especially prevalent in post menopausal women.
People with the bone disease osteoporosis will now be able to take a monthly rather than daily or weekly tablet for their condition, which will help patient compliance.
The drug works in the same way as other available bisphosphonates - helping the body to rebuild bone loss.

Doctors hope "Bonviva" will mean more patients keep taking their long term medication.
Research suggests half of patients on weekly bisphosphonates stop taking the pills by the end of the first year.
Many do not continue with treatment because they do not have symptoms for a number of years and they may not feel the beneficial effect that the treatment is having on their bones.
Osteoporosis affects an estimated three million people and is responsible for 230,000 breaks per year in the UK.

Every three minutes someone has a fracture due to osteoporosis.
Women are particularly at risk because they have smaller more fragile bones to start off with.
This is complicated by the menopause during which the body stops producing oestrogen - a hormone essential for good bone health.
And because of the natural ageing process, the risk increases with age.

OSTEOPOROSIS-RELATED FRACTURES PER YEAR
70,000 hip fractures
50,000 wrist fractures
120,000 spinal fractures

Currently, there is no cure for osteoporosis, so the treatments available aim to preserve bone mass and prevent fractures.

Dr Richard Keen of the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital in London said people on osteoporosis treatment ( and this goes for all women going throught the menopause too) should not overlook the importance of ensuring that they were also getting enough vitamin D and calcium, which is important for bone health.