Some Facts About Clodronate Liposome Medicine

By Teri Farley


A Clodronate enclosed in a synthetic lipid membrane is what is commonly referred to as clodronate liposome. It is because of this encapsulation that the drug can reach its target organ or body part. Most of these drugs are highly hydrophilic and thus would not be effective if they were to be admitted independently. Liposome is useful if the depletion of macrophages which is the focus of the treatment.

The principle behind this new method of drug administration is based on the use of synthetic lipid (Liposome) as a Trojan horse. Once ingested, the lipid is digested by the macrophages thus releasing Clodronate. This if followed by the release of the active components such as bisphosphonates which are good inhibitors of many autoimmune conditions.

Examples of the disease this drug is expected to treat include metastatic carcinomas of the breast, multiple myeloma and osteoporosis. It is also expected to be the best solution for autoimmune hyemolitic anemia, cancers and tumors in general. Significant strides have also been made with the drug during tests as far as inhibition of macrophages activities in therapies such gene and transplantation. Even in the handling of neurological disorders, this drug will be the best.

While it is still in its testing stages, the drug will not be strange since some clodronate products are already in the market to help with the treatment of excessive blood calcium. This condition is mostly seen in cancer patients. It is however encouraging that there are few mild side effects and rarely serious complications are reported. Patients using bisphosphonate products have in the past presented with nausea, vomiting and mild stomach pains.

Apart from loss of appetite, the other complications include heavy breathing, hives and skin rashes. Though some of these may not need one to see a doctor, the cases of difficulty in breathing certainly does require the attention of one. You should therefore not hesitate to report to your physician for help if the side effects take longer than normal.

Other adverse drug reactions that might be associated with this drug include mouth pain, swelling and unexplainable tiredness or weakness. Moreover, patients who develop skin rashes and hives or severe muscle cramps after taking Clodronate should seek medical attention as a matter of urgency. Since these are just pre-release precautions, one should not be discouraged, as the final product may be a very stable product with lesser side effects.

There are conditions in which the use of bisphosphonates is prohibited. For instance, pregnant mothers and those allergic to Clodronate and other bisphosphonate products should not use the drug. Those on similar drug components are accordingly advised to avoid the drug too. On the other hand, patients with underlying conditions such as gastrointestinal swellings are equally prohibited from using the drug.

Clodronate liposome as mentioned before is a prescription drug and thus cannot be shared with a family member, even if they have the same conditions. On the other hand, one cannot use the drugs unless the doctor prescribes it. Once it is officially released, it is expected to bring the much-needed cure for cancer. However, success will depend on how strict the patients will follow the prescription of the doctor.




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