Some of the views expressed in the following notes on newly approved products should be regarded as tentative, as there may have been limited published data and little experience in Australia of their safety or efficacy. However, the Editorial Executive Committee believes that comments made in good faith at an early stage may still be of value. As a result of fuller experience, initial comments may need to be modified. The Committee is prepared to do this. Before new drugs are prescribed, the Committee believes it is important that full information is obtained either from the manufacturer's approved product information, a drug information centre or some other appropriate source.
When patients who are taking long-term corticosteroids are given risedronate, calcium and vitamin D, their bone density increases. Although they are statistically significant, these increases are small. After a year of treatment the mean increase, compared to placebo, was 2.4% in the femoral trochanter and 2.7%in the lumbar spine.
Risedronate has also been given to patients who had recently started corticosteroids. This prevented the bone loss seen in patients who were only given calcium supplements.
