Bisphosphonates may reduce pain intensity in short term, but may result in little to no difference in immediate and medium term<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n
By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter<\/b>
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THURSDAY, Dec. 18, 2025 (HealthDay News) — Bisphosphonates may reduce complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) pain intensity in the short term, according to a study published online Dec. 16 in Annals of Internal Medicine<\/em>.<\/p>\n Michael C. Ferraro, from the University of New South Wales in Sydney, and colleagues conducted a systemic review and meta-analysis to examine the efficacy and safety of bisphosphonates versus placebo for CRPS. Eleven trials with 754 participants, assessing alendronate, clodronate, neridronate, pamidronate, and zoledronate, were included.<\/p>\n The researchers found with low certainty that in the immediate term (four weeks or less) bisphosphonates may result in little to no difference in pain intensity (mean difference [MD], \u22129.1 [95 percent confidence interval, \u221219.2 to 1.1]), while they may reduce pain intensity in the short term (more than four weeks to three months; MD, \u221210.0 [\u221218.9 to \u22121.1]), and result in little to no difference in pain intensity in the medium term (more than three months to six months; MD, 8.0 [\u221215.4 to 31.4]). Regarding the effects of bisphosphonates on pain intensity in the long term (more than six months), the evidence was very uncertain (MD, \u22122.5 [\u221219.6 to 14.6]). Bisphosphonates probably increase risk for adverse events (risk ratio, 1.1 [1.0 to 1.2]; moderate certainty).<\/p>\n “While this review represents the best evidence to date on treatment of CRPS, unexplained heterogeneity and limited medium- or long-term data restrict clinical application,” the authors write.<\/p>\n Several authors disclosed financial ties to the biopharmaceutical industry.<\/p>\n Abstract\/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)<\/a><\/p>\n