Treatment of osteoporosis

Abstract

A method for the prevention or treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis by initiating the treatment with a low dose of an estrogenic compound and increasing the dose of the estrogenic compound after the initiation period.

1 - 7 . (canceled)  
     
     
         8 . A method for the prevention or treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis, which comprises initiating the prevention or treatment with a low dose of an estrogenic compound and after this initiation period increasing the amount of the estrogenic compound and maintaining the increased amount for at least about 1 month.  
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the initiation period lasts from about 4 to about 8 months.  
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the initiation period lasts about 6 months.  
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the amount of the estrogenic compound is doubled after the initiation period.  
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the dose of the estrogenic compound in the initiation period is a dose equivalent in estrogenic activity to approximately 0.5 to approximately 1.5 mg of estradiol valerate.  
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the dose of the estrogenic compound in the initiation period is a dose equivalent in estrogenic activity to approximately 1 mg of estradiol valerate.  
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the method comprises initiating the prevention or treatment with a daily dose of 1 mg of estradiol valerate and increasing the daily dose of estradiol valerate to 2 mg after an initiation period of 6 months.  
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the initiation period lasts from about 4 to about 6 months.  
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the initiation period lasts from about 6 to about 8 months.  
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the estrogenic compound is estradiol valerate.  
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the estrogenic compound is estrone, estrone sulphate, an estrone sulphate piperazine salt, or an ester thereof, or a synthetic estrogen.  
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 8 , wherein the amount of the estrogenic compound is increased by about 33% to about 100% after the initiation period.