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What is Fosamax and why is it prescribed?
Fosamax, Alendronate is in a class of medications used to strengthen
bone. Fosamax is prescribed for the prevention and treatment of
osteoporosis, the brittle bone disease, in postmenopausal women.
Fosamax is also used to increase bone mass in men with osteoporosis,
and is prescribed for both men and women who have developed a form
of osteoporosis sometimes caused by steroid medications such
as prednisone.
Bone is in a constant state of remodeling, whereby old bone is removed by cells called osteoclasts, and new bone is laid down by cells called osteoblasts. Fosamax works by preventing bone from being broken down by osteoclasts (cells that break down bone). This indirectly causes an increase in bone formation - increasing the density of bones to make them stronger.
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