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 Summary: Your bones, like everything else in your body, are part of a dynamic system:  in this case calcium is stored or released, depending on the needs of your body and the amount of calcium consumed.  Bone mineral density, which measures calcium and other minerals, provides a picture of the strength of your bones.  Naturally – or maybe not so naturally – when there is a low bone mineral density (osteopenia or osteoporosis) there are drugs designed to affect this building and breakdown of bone.  This episode discusses alendronate – a common drug in the bisphosphonate class, designed to slow bone resorption (breakdown).

 Topics:

·      Osteopenia Definition 01:15

·      Osteoporosis Definition 01:50

·      t-number 02:10

·      Bone Remodeling 04:25

·      Bone = Calcium reservoir and source 04:50

·      -penia 06:40

·      Before Meds 07:20

·      Drug-Induced Osteopenia 08:00

·      You’re Not Alone! 09:45

·      Osteoclasts and Osteoblasts 11:00

·      Bisphosphonate – Alendronate 11:50

·      GI Concerns 14:20

·      Duration of Treatment? 14:45

·      Alendronate Onset of Action 15:20

·      Evista 16:00

·      Alendronate Possible Side Effects 18:25

·      Jaw Necrosis (rare) 21:00

·      Resources 23:00

·      Falls Prevention 23:15

·      Monitor You 24:30

·      Pharmacist and Physician 24:50

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