disodium etidronate in Paget's disease
Last reviewed 01/2018
Disodium etidronate was the first bisphosphonate to be used clinically in the management of Paget's disease.
Adverse effects include:
- nausea
- diarrhoea
- in 5% of patients there may be an increase in bone pain during the first four weeks or so of treatment
- at higher doses there is an increased incidence of spontaneous fractures because of demineralization that occurs with high doses
There have now been developed second- and third- generation bisphosphonates.
The summary of product characteristics should be consulted before prescribing this drug.