the treatment of paget's disease is directed toward controlling the disease activity and managing its complications. when paget's disease causes no symptoms and blood testing shows that the level of serum alkaline phosphatase is normal or minimally elevated no treatment may be necessary. bone pain can require anti-inflammatory drugs (nsaids) or pain-relieving medications. bone deformity can require supports such as heel lifts or specialized footwear. surgical operations may be necessary for damaged joints fractures severely deformed bones or when nerves are being pinched by enlarged bone. prior to undergoing an operation on bone affected by paget's disease it is helpful to be treated with medications such as bisphosphonates or calcitonin (miacalcin) as this tends to diminish the risk of surgical complications including bleeding. the medical treatment of the bone of paget's disease involves either medications called bisphosphonates or injectable calcitonin. these drugs are also used to treat certain patients with osteoporosis. bisphosphonates are the mainstay of treatment. there are a number of these available that are taken by mouth including alendronate (fosamax) risedronate (actonel) etidronate (didronel) and tiludronate (skelid) and that are administered intravenously including pamidronate (aredia) and zoledronate (reclast). in general oral bisphosphonates are taken first thing in the morning on an empty stomach with 8 ounces of water. they can cause irritation of the stomach and esophagus. intravenous bisphosphonates can cause temporary muscle and joint pain but are not associated with irritation of the stomach or esophagus.
how is paget's disease treated?