PAD Refills
Read below on the web page or download the PDF.
Osteoporosis medication table update
This is a 2022 update to the BC Provincial Academic Detailing (PAD) Service’s 2011 table “Bisphosphonate Medications for Osteoporosis,” which includes all medications for osteoporosis that are approved in Canada. For complete details on PharmaCare coverage of medications for osteoporosis in British Columbia, please see the PharmaCare Special Authority web page.
Osteoporosis Medications Currently Available in Canada1 | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Generic Name, Brand Name, Available Strengths | Health Canada Osteoporosis Indications | Dosage and Annual Cost† | PharmaCare Coverage | |
BISPHOSPHONATES | ||||
alendronate FOSAMAX, generics 5, 10, 70 mg tabs alendronate + vitamin D3 FOSAVANCE 70 mg/2800, 70 mg/5600 IU tabs |
|
5 mg PO once a day | $410 | Non-benefit |
10 mg PO once a day | $160 | Limited Coverage | ||
70 mg PO once a week | $120 | |||
70 mg/5600 IU PO once a week | $115 | |||
70 mg/2800 IU PO once a week | $210 | Non-benefit | ||
risedronate ACTONEL, ACTONEL DR, generics 5, 35, 150 mg tabs 35 mg delayed-release (DR) tabs |
|
5 mg PO once a day | $695 | Limited Coverage |
35 mg PO once a week | $110 | |||
35 mg DR PO once a week | $565 | Non-benefit | ||
150 mg PO once a month | $530 | |||
zoledronic acid ACLASTA, generics 5 mg/100 mL vial |
|
5 mg IV infusion once a year | $360 | Limited Coverage |
DENOSUMAB rank ligand inhibitor | ||||
denosumab PROLIA 60 mg single prefilled syringe |
|
60 mg subcut every 6 months | $860 | Limited Coverage |
RALOXIFENE selective estrogen receptor modulator | ||||
raloxifene EVISTA, generics 60 mg tabs |
|
60 mg PO once a day | $405 | Limited Coverage |
ROMOSOZUMAB sclerostin inhibitor | ||||
romosozumab EVENITY 105 mg single prefilled syringe |
|
210 mg subcut once a month maximum treatment: 12 months |
$8510 | Non-benefit |
TERIPARATIDE synthetic parathyroid hormone | ||||
teriparatide FORTEO, generics OSNUVO biosimilar 250 mcg/mL multidose prefilled pen or cartridge |
|
20 mcg subcut once a day maximum treatment: 24 months |
$7960 | Non-benefit |
tabs tablets; PO by mouth; IU international units; IV intravenous; subcut subcutaneous; †Cost without mark-up, professional fee or administration; calculated from McKesson Canada (accessed April 7, 2022) |
1 Health Canada Drug Product Database
2022
- May: Osteoporosis Medication Table Update (PDF, 241KB)
- April: Can thiazides be continued in patients with chronic kidney disease when eGFR progresses below 30 mL/min/1.73m2? (PDF, 260KB)
- February: What do I need to know about sulfonylurea medications’ glucose lowering effect, dose and cost? (PDF, 247KB)
- January: What do I need to know about metformin’s glucose lowering effect, formulations, dose and cost? (PDF, 262KB)
2021
- December: Is quetiapine a safer alternative to zopiclone for insomnia? (PDF, 246KB)
- November: For people with type 2 diabetes, how does the oral daily formulation of semaglutide (Rybelsus®) compare with the subcutaneous weekly formulation (Ozempic®)? (PDF, 248KB)
- October: How does eszopiclone (Lunesta®) differ from zopiclone? (PDF, 242KB)
- September: Does vortioxetine (Trintellix®) improve cognitive functioning in people with major depressive disorder? (PDF, 242KB)
- June: What is lemborexant (Dayvigo) and how does it differ from other hypnotics for insomnia, such as zopiclone? (PDF, 247KB)
- May: Hypertension Medication Table Update (PDF, 251KB)
- April: Why and how should adverse drug reactions be reported? (PDF, 257KB)
- March: Is there a relationship between mirtazapine (Remeron®) dose and sedation? (PDF, 190.5KB)
- February: What is a prescribing cascade? The case of calcium channel blocker induced peripheral edema and loop diuretics (PDF, 188KB)
- January: Is venlafaxine (an SNRI antidepressant) more efficacious than SSRI antidepressants for generalized anxiety disorder? (PDF, 166KB)
2020