Oral bisphosphonates are approved to treat osteoporosis and are frequently used to treat
osteopenia as well. 15 They are also used for a variety of less common conditions such as Paget’s
disease of bone, and osteogenesis imperfecta of childhood. 16-17 By far the most prevalent and
common indication, however, is osteoporosis. 18-19 Osteoporosis may arise in the context of
other diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease or primary biliary cirrhosis, as the result of
medications, most commonly steroids, or as a consequence of postmenopausal aging.