Osseor

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Osseor

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Medically reviewed

Marina Burgos

Last updated on 10/01/2026

This page provides general, reference-level information compiled from official medical sources. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. For decisions about your health, please consult a qualified healthcare professional.

Overview of Osseor

Quick Facts

Property Description
Active Ingredient Strontium Ranelate
Form Granules for oral suspension
Pharmacological Class Anti-osteoporotic agent; Bone metabolism regulator
Origin Synthetic

What Type of Medicine is Osseor?

Osseor is a synthetic, prescription-only medicine that contains the active ingredient known as Strontium Ranelate. It is categorized as an anti-osteoporotic agent, belonging to the pharmacological class of bone metabolism regulators. The medicine is primarily distinguished by its classification as a Dual Action Bone Agent (DABA), reflecting its capacity to modulate both the formation and breakdown of bone tissue simultaneously.

The product is supplied as granules for oral suspension in individual sachets, a preparation intended for oral administration after being dispersed in water. This formulation is designed for the specific and controlled delivery of the Strontium Ranelate required for systemic effects on skeletal integrity.

Composition, Form, and Unique Classification

The core of the medicine is the Strontium Ranelate compound, which is a salt formed from ranelic acid and the Strontium cation. Strontium is a divalent metal ion that interacts with the body's mineral processes, a feature central to its mechanism.

The unique structure of the Strontium Ranelate compound is noted for its ability to provide a balanced therapeutic effect on the skeleton. The use of the granules for oral suspension is a differentiating factor, as it means the medicine is not a conventional tablet or capsule, requiring specific preparation prior to oral ingestion to achieve its intended skeletal benefit.

General Purpose of the Bone Metabolism Regulator

The general purpose of the medicine is to improve overall skeletal integrity and strength through its effect on bone remodeling. The drug operates via its dual action mechanism, promoting bone formation stimulation while simultaneously engaging in bone resorption inhibition.

By maintaining this unique balance, Strontium Ranelate helps to increase bone density and mass. This makes the medicine an established treatment option for managing conditions that require long-term regulation of bone metabolism to strengthen bones and reduce skeletal fragility.

Regulatory References

  1. Osseor (strontium ranelate) EPAR

What side effects are possible with Osseor?

Possible Side Effects and Safety Information

The official safety profile of Strontium Ranelate is based on regulatory documents from agencies such as the EMA, which classify documented patient experiences into defined frequency categories. The profile emphasizes risks concerning the cardiovascular system and hypersensitivity reactions, leading to specific restrictions on its use.

Classification of Adverse Reactions
Common (ge 1/100 to < 1/10) adverse effects include Nausea, Diarrhoea, Headache, Dermatitis, Eczema, and Peripheral oedema.
Uncommon effects (ge 1/1,000 to < 1/100) include Seizures, Loss of consciousness, and Angioedema.
Rare reactions (ge 1/10,000 to < 1/1,000) include severe cutaneous reactions like DRESS syndrome, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, and Toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN).

Serious adverse events explicitly documented in regulatory sources include the risk of Venous Thromboembolism (VTE), such as Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) and Pulmonary Embolism (PE), as well as Myocardial Infarction (heart attack) and Stroke. The safety profile notes that nausea and diarrhoea are most frequently reported during the first few weeks of treatment.

Regulatory Safety Restrictions

Specific safety restrictions on the use of Strontium Ranelate are mandated by regulatory agencies. The medicine is contraindicated in patients with a history of Ischaemic heart disease, Peripheral arterial disease, Cerebrovascular disease, or uncontrolled hypertension. It is also not recommended for patients who have severe renal impairment (creatinine clearance < 30 mL/min). Caution is advised for patients who become temporarily or permanently immobilised, due to a documented increased risk of VTE. These regulatory constraints define the boundaries of the drug's acceptable safety profile.

Overdose and Emergency Response

Overdose and when to seek help

The official regulatory documentation for Osseor (Strontium Ranelate) outlines the documented clinical findings and mandated supportive actions concerning overdose scenarios. Clinical data from studies involving healthy volunteers demonstrated that acute single administrations of high doses, up to 11 g, and chronic repeated doses did not result in the observation of any particular symptoms or clinically relevant adverse events.

This finding indicates that a defined, acute symptomatic overdose profile is not established in the official prescribing information. The regulatory response therefore focuses on management procedures intended to reduce the body's overall systemic exposure to the active substance following a substantial over-ingestion.

Mandated supportive procedures include the consideration of inducing vomiting to remove unabsorbed medication from the gastrointestinal tract. Additionally, the administration of specific substances such as milk or antacids may be helpful, as these measures can reduce the absorption of the active compound. No specific antidote for Strontium Ranelate is listed in the regulatory documents, and no explicit statement mandates immediate contact with emergency services based solely on the documented manifestations.

Therapeutic Uses of Osseor

What Osseor Treats: Main Uses and Benefits

Osseor is relevant for managing conditions that may be characterized by severe, established bone deterioration. Its application may assist with providing structural skeletal support and helping to ease the overall symptomatic burden of skeletal fragility. Osseor is applied in clinical settings for the treatment of severe osteoporosis in specific patient populations. This therapeutic use may contribute to maintaining bone integrity and generally assists with easing the overall symptomatic burden associated with the condition.

The medicine is applied in addressing conditions marked by severe osteoporosis in postmenopausal women and adult men, and may assist with reducing the incidence of new bone breaks, including vertebral fractures and hip fractures. The supportive benefit is related to long-term stability by addressing the chronic deterioration of bone structure, and the medication may help maintain a sense of stability when symptoms are more noticeable.


Quick Fact: Supportive Management of Skeletal Fragility
Therapeutic Focus Supports management of fracture risk across vertebral and non-vertebral sites.
Condition Targeted Severe and established osteoporosis (high-risk adult men/postmenopausal women).
Patient Benefit Supports maintenance of physical stability and functional well-being.

Eligibility and Restrictions for Use

Official Population Eligibility and Restrictions

Osseor (Strontium Ranelate) is authorized by regulatory agencies, such as the European Medicines Agency (EMA), with highly restricted eligibility criteria, generally limiting its use to patients for whom other approved osteoporosis treatments are not possible due to contraindications or intolerance.

Populations for whom use is allowed (as stated in label):

  • Postmenopausal women with severe osteoporosis at high risk of fracture.
  • Adult men with severe osteoporosis at high risk of fracture.

Absolute Contraindications (Must Not Use):

Condition / Population Regulatory Restriction
Cardiovascular Disease Established, current, or past history of Ischaemic Heart Disease, Peripheral Arterial Disease, or Cerebrovascular Disease (e.g., stroke).
Hypertension Uncontrolled high blood pressure.
Thromboembolic Events Current or previous venous thromboembolic events (VTE).
Immobilisation Temporary or permanent immobilisation (due to increased VTE risk).
Hypersensitivity Known hypersensitivity to Strontium Ranelate or excipients.

Condition and Age Restrictions

  • Renal Impairment: The medicine is not recommended for patients with severe renal impairment (creatinine clearance below 30 mL/min).
  • Pediatric Use: Use in children and adolescents (below 18 years) is not recommended as safety and efficacy have not been established.
  • Pregnancy and Lactation: Use is contraindicated during breastfeeding and, if exposure occurs during pregnancy, treatment must be stopped.

These official regulatory limitations ensure the medicine is reserved for a specific, high-risk patient population lacking alternative options.

What should I know about interactions with other medicines?

The official regulatory interaction profile for Strontium Ranelate is primarily defined by physicochemical mechanisms that lead to a reduction in the drug's absorption.

Interaction Scope

Interacting substances include oral tetracycline and quinolone antibiotics, food, milk, and derivative products, medicinal products containing calcium, and aluminum and magnesium hydroxides (antacids). The basis of these interactions is the formation of non-absorbable complexes between the strontium ion and multivalent cations in the gastrointestinal tract, significantly decreasing drug exposure.

Interaction-Related Restrictions

Administration of Osseor and food, milk, or calcium-containing products must be separated by at least two hours to mitigate the documented 60–70% reduction in bioavailability. For antacids, taking them two hours after Osseor is preferable. Co-administration with oral tetracycline and quinolone antibiotics is not recommended, and regulatory labels advise the temporary suspension of Osseor therapy during the course of these antibiotic treatments.

Interaction Profile Note

Regulatory documents state that Strontium Ranelate is not metabolized by the liver and shows no evidence of clinically relevant interactions involving cytochrome P450 enzymes. However, the strontium ion can interfere with standard colorimetric laboratory methods used to determine blood and urinary calcium concentrations, which necessitates the use of alternative analytical techniques for accurate measurement.

Mechanism of Action

Dual Agonism on the Calcium-Sensing Receptor (CaSR)

Osseor's active strontium ion targets the Calcium-Sensing Receptor (CaSR) found on the surface of bone cells. This interaction functions as an agonist, initiating a dual signaling cascade that results in the modification of bone-forming cell activity and attenuation of bone-resorbing cell activity. This receptor activation modulates the signaling ratio that governs overall bone remodeling dynamics.

Regulation of Osteoblast and Osteoclast Cell Fate

The mechanism directly modulates the life cycle of bone cells by influencing intracellular pathways. It modifies the activity and survival rate of osteoblasts (bone-forming cells) while promoting the apoptosis (cell death) and restricting the differentiation of osteoclasts (bone-resorbing cells).

This selective cellular modulation contributes to a positive shift in the bone turnover balance.

Modulation of the Bone Communication Pathway

The drug adjusts the local signaling dynamics within the bone microenvironment by influencing the ratio of RANK Ligand (RANKL) to Osteoprotegerin (OPG) produced by osteoblasts. This alteration acts to attenuate the signal that mediates bone resorption, which contributes to the net balance of bone remodeling activity.

Dosage and Administration Information

How to Use Osseor: Official Administration Guidelines

Osseor (Strontium Ranelate) is formulated as granules for oral suspension, and its use is based on a specific, standardized protocol. The regimen is designed to optimize the absorption of the active ingredient while minimizing interactions with food and dietary supplements.


Administration and Dosing Schedule

The approved route of administration is oral. The standard regimen is a single 2 g dose of Strontium Ranelate, which is the full contents of one sachet, taken once daily. This fixed dose is intended for long-term use as part of a structured treatment plan.

Feature Official Instruction
Route of Administration Oral (Suspension)
Standard Daily Dose One 2 g sachet
Frequency Once daily
Timing Administered specifically at bedtime

Preparation and Contextual Requirements

To prepare the medicine, the granules must be dispersed in a glass containing a minimum of 30 ml of water. The resulting suspension should be consumed immediately after preparation to ensure the full dose is received. A mandatory instruction for proper use is the strict separation of the dose from food, milk, or calcium-containing products. Administration must be carried out at least two hours after consuming any of these items, a requirement which necessitates the bedtime schedule.

Special Use Considerations

Treatment with Osseor is often associated with the concurrent use of calcium and Vitamin D supplements if the patient's dietary intake is assessed as insufficient. No dose adjustment is required for patients based solely on advanced age or in the presence of hepatic impairment. However, the medicine is not recommended for use in individuals with severe renal impairment (creatinine clearance below 30 ml/min).

In the event a dose is missed, patients should not take a dose at an unusual time, but rather resume the regular schedule by taking the next dose the following night.

Recent Clinical Evidence

Research Evidence: Overview of Studies for Osseor

Evidence for Use in Severe Postmenopausal Osteoporosis

Research into the use of Strontium Ranelate was primarily conducted through large-scale randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials. These studies focused on studying outcomes related to the incidence of new vertebral fractures and non-vertebral fractures over intermediate periods, typically three to five years. Trials reported patterns related to the incidence of new fractures that were monitored over the primary analysis periods. Studies also examined changes in Bone Mineral Density (BMD) at the hip and spine.

Definitive conclusions on fracture outcomes beyond the intermediate follow-up duration are limited, as subsequent evidence was derived from less controlled, open-label studies. The evidence related to hip fractures was based mainly on an analysis of a pre-specified, high-risk subgroup of women, meaning the data for hip fractures remain limited to observations within this specific subgroup.


Evidence for Use in Osteoporosis in Adult Men

The evidence base for men includes smaller, randomized, placebo-controlled bridging trials designed to establish outcomes in men that could be compared with the patterns established in women’s trials. Because these trials were not adequately powered or designed to measure actual fracture reduction, they focused instead on the change in Bone Mineral Density (BMD). The findings are documented as being consistent with the BMD patterns previously reported in women’s studies.


What Remains Uncertain or Requires Further Research

Several limitations are noted in the evidence landscape. The measurement of Bone Mineral Density (BMD) is complex because the medicine’s core ingredient incorporates into bone tissue. This means the standard DXA scanner reading is known to require adjustment to reflect density changes, which is a consideration for technical interpretation. Finally, there is limited information confirming actual fracture risk reduction in adult men, as their dedicated trials were not powered for fracture endpoints.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Common questions about Osseor (FAQ)


Q: What is Osseor, and what is it used for?

A: Osseor is a prescription medicine that contains the active substance strontium ranelate. It is used to treat severe osteoporosis (a disease that makes bones fragile and increases the risk of broken bones) in:

  • Postmenopausal women.
  • Adult men who are at high risk of fracture.

It is only used when treatment with other approved medicines for osteoporosis is not possible due to reasons like contraindications or intolerance. In postmenopausal women, Osseor helps reduce the risk of broken bones in the spine and the hip.


Q: How does Osseor work?

A: The active substance in Osseor, strontium ranelate, works on the bone structure. While the exact mechanism is not fully understood, it is known to act as a Dual Action Bone Agent (DABA) because it appears to:

  • Stimulate new bone formation (bone growth).
  • Reduce bone breakdown (bone resorption).

By affecting both processes, it helps rebalance bone turnover in favor of building stronger bone tissue.


Q: What are the severe health conditions that prevent me from taking Osseor?

A: Osseor must not be used if you have a current or past history of certain severe health conditions, as it can increase the risk of serious side effects. These include:

  • Ischaemic heart disease (such as angina or a heart attack).
  • Peripheral arterial disease (obstruction of blood flow in arteries, usually in the legs).
  • Cerebrovascular disease (diseases affecting blood vessels in the brain, such as stroke).
  • Uncontrolled high blood pressure (hypertension).
  • Venous thromboembolic events (VTE), such as deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or pulmonary embolism (PE).
  • Conditions that cause temporary or permanent immobilization, such as prolonged bed rest or recovery after surgery.

Your doctor will thoroughly assess your overall individual risks, especially cardiovascular risks, before deciding if Osseor is a suitable treatment for you.


Q: What are some of the common side effects of Osseor?

A: Some of the most common side effects of Osseor (meaning they may affect more than 1 in 10 people) are:

  • Hypersensitivity (allergic) skin reactions, such as rash, itching, urticaria (hives), and angioedema (swelling beneath the skin).
  • Pain affecting muscles, bones, and joints (musculoskeletal pain).

How should Osseor be stored and disposed of?

How to Store and Dispose of Osseor?

The official regulatory profile for Osseor (strontium ranelate) establishes specific storage and handling requirements for the granules in their sachets and the prepared suspension.

Storage Conditions

Condition Requirement (Intact Sachets)
Temperature/Environment The product does not require any special storage conditions.
Shelf Life The intact product has a shelf life of 3 years.
Child Safety Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.

Handling and Disposal

The granules are supplied in protective foil sachets. The mandatory regulatory instruction states that the oral suspension should be drunk immediately after being prepared.

For the disposal of unused or expired Osseor, no special requirements are stated in the official documentation.

Attention! Always consult to a doctor or pharmacist before using pills or medicines.

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