Improved GI tolerability with monthly ibandronate in women previously using weekly bisphosphonates.

Objective: This subanalysis of CURRENT, an open-label, 6-month, multicenter study, assesses changes in gastrointestinal (GI) tolerability with once-monthly oral ibandronate in women who switched from once-weekly bisphosphonates and had reported GI symptoms with their previous weekly bisphosphonate regimen.

Methods: Postmenopausal women currently taking a weekly bisphosphonate switched to 150 mg monthly ibandronate. At the start of the treatment phase and after 6 months of therapy, all participants completed the Osteoporosis Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire (OPSAT-Q), a validated instrument consisting of four domains: convenience, satisfaction, quality of life, and side effects. This subanalysis assessed GI tolerability in those women who reported GI symptoms at baseline in the side effects domain of OPSAT-Q and change in satisfaction in those who had reported stomach upset within 48 hours of taking their previous bisphosphonate at screening.

Results: Of women who reported GI symptoms at baseline, >60% reported an improvement in heartburn or acid reflux after switching to monthly ibandronate. Further, >70% reported improvements in stomach upset (excluding heartburn or acid reflux). Of those women who reported stomach upset within 48 hours of taking their previous weekly bisphosphonate at screening (n = 89), >80% reported improved overall satisfaction compared with baseline. Monthly ibandronate was generally well tolerated.

Conclusion: A majority of women who experienced GI tolerability issues with weekly bisphosphonates reported improvements in GI symptoms after transitioning from a weekly bisphosphonate to monthly ibandronate for 6 months.