Many osteoporosis medicines prevent fractures but none is proven best

Many medications reduce the risk of bone fractures in people with osteoporosis, but the most commonly used drugs - bisphosphonates- have not been proven more effective than alternatives, according to a new report that was funded by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, part of the US Department of Health and Human Services.

The AHRQ report compared the effectiveness and risks of six bisphosphonates: alendronate (sold as Fosamax), etidronate (Didronel), ibandronate (Boniva), pamidronate (Aredia), risedronate (Actonel) and zoledronic acid (Zometa). The report also looked at estrogen, calcitonin (a man-made hormone), calcium, vitamin D, testosterone, parathyroid hormone and selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs).

Lack of scientific evidence