Updated 18 January 2007​​

The standard first line therapy of osteoporosis according to Pharmacare is etidronate. This is the only drug therapy covered. Presumably this is primarily based on cost:

• Etidronate (Didrocal®) one tablet daily ($0.43/day)
• Alendronate (Fosamax®) 10 mg daily ($1.84/day)
• Risedronate (Actonel®) 5 mg daily ($1.93/day)
• Raloxifene (Evista®) 60 mg daily ($1.69/day)

Pharmacare criteria for use of alendronate/ risedronate are stringent, for example:

• Radiographically documented fractures due to osteoporosis plus
• an adequate trial of etidronate that has failed to prevent clinically significant fractures (i.e. those that are painful, produce disability, or both)

The BC Cancer Agency only covers the use of bisphosphonates (clodronate, pamidronate) for the treatment of multiple myeloma or breast cancer with bone metastases.