Clodronic acid

It is an anti-osteoporotic drug approved for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis in post-menopausal women and men to reduce vertebral fractures, hyperparathyroidism, hypercalcemia in malignancy, multiple myeloma and fracture related pain because of its anti-inflammatory effects shown as a reduction in inflammatory markers like IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α.

[1] A study comparing the analgesic effect of clodronic acid versus acetaminophen in osteoporotic vertebral fractures showed that clodronic acid provided more analgesia than 3 grams/day of acetaminophen.

Clodronic acid is approved for use in horses under the trade name Osphos, for treatment of bone resorptive processes of navicular syndrome.

It is given by intramuscular injection at one point in time, with the total dose divided into 2-3 sites on the horse.

Clinical effects (e.g. improvement of lameness) after a single treatment can be seen up to 6 months post-treatment.