Ibandronate is approved for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. Ibandronate reduces the incidence of spine fractures. For both prevention and treatment, ibandronate is taken once monthly as a 150 mg tablet. For treatment, it is also available as an intravenous (IV) injection of 3 mg given every three months. Although the FDA has approved a daily dose, it is not available in the U.S.
Oral ibandronate should be taken on the same day each month, first thing in the morning after waking up and on an empty stomach. It is swallowed whole by itself (no other pills) with 6 to 8 ounces of plain water (no other liquid), at least 60 minutes before having anything to eat or drink. Patients must remain upright (sitting, standing or walking) during this 60-minute period. Again, this is necessary for adequate absorption of the ibandronate and to minimize the risk of esophageal irritation.
A healthcare professional administers the IV dose in a doctor’s office or other outpatient setting. It takes less than a minute to inject. Patients need to have a blood test (serum creatinine) to confirm that kidney function is normal prior to each IV injection.