Clodronic acid is a bisphosphonate used for the treatment of osteoporosis in women experiencing menopause, hypercalcemia malignancy and osteolysis. Travelling into the bone it binds to hydroxyapatite, osteoclast break down the bone releasing the bisphosphonate. Bisphosphonate is then consumed by the osteoclast by endocytosis and disrupts their mechanism of breaking down the bone. Usually administered intravenously, it is not metabolized and is eliminated via the urine unchanged. Caution should be taken as severe overdoses can cause kidney failure, liver damage and render the patient unconscious. It can be managed through monitoring as hypocalcemia can present itself prior to the overdose, and specializing care via the administration of electrolytes.

Clodronic Acid Pathway References