A committee of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has
recommended the following restrictions in the use of strontium ranelate (sold
in the European Union under the brand names Protelos and Osseor) to reduce the
risk of adverse cardiac events:
1a. Strontium ranelate should only be used for the treatment
of severe osteoporosis in postmenopausal women at high risk for fracture and
severe osteoporosis in men at increased risk for fracture.
2a.Strontium ranelate should not be used in patients with
current or past history of ischemic heart disease (such as angina or MI),
peripheral arterial disease (PAD), or cerebrovascular disease.
3a.Strontium ranelate should not be used in patients with
hypertension that is not controlled by treatment.
What, if anything,
should those of us taking strontium citrate do?
Here is what I think.
1b. Strontium citrate can be used as a supplement by men and
women with osteopenia or osteoporosis. (I believe the first restriction on
strontium ranelate is mostly for cost containment because bisphosphonates,
especially the generic equivalents, are much cheaper than strontium ranelate.)
2b. Strontium citrate can be used UNDER MEDICAL SUPERVISION
in patients with current or past history of ischemic heart disease, PAD, or
cerebrovascular disease.
3b. Strontium citrate should not be used in patients with uncontrolled
hypertension. Patients must get their hypertension under control by medication.
Strontium citrate can be used UNDER MEDICAL SUPERVISION in patients with
hypertension that is controlled by treatment.
