TREATMENT OF ARTHRITIS USING DOSAGE FORMS FOR ORAL ADMINISTRATION OF ZOLEDRONIC ACID OR RELATED COMPOUNDS

1 . A method of treating arthritis pain, comprising orally administering zoledronic acid to a mammal in need thereof, wherein the zoledronic acid is administered in an amount and frequency that results in an AUC of zoledronic acid, over a four week period, that is about 100 ng·h/mL to about 2000 ng·h/mL.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the zoledronic acid is administered once a month, or less frequently.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the mammal experiences pain relief at least 3 weeks after a dose of zoledronic acid is administered.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the zoledronic acid is administered weekly.

5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the mammal experiences pain relief at least 48 hours after a dose of zoledronic acid is administered.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the zoledronic acid is administered 2 to 5 times in a month.

7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the mammal experiences pain relief at least 12 hours after a dose of zoledronic acid is administered.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the zoledronic acid is administered daily.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the mammal experiences pain relief at least 12 hours after a dose of zoledronic acid is administered.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the mammal is a human being.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the human being has an age of at least 10 years.

12 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the arthritis affects, a knee, an elbow, a wrist, a shoulder, or a hip.

13 . The method of claim 10 , wherein human being to which the zoledronic acid is administered does not eat food or drink beverage for at least 1 hour before the zoledronic acid is administered.

14 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the human being has suffered from the arthritis for at least 6 months.

15 . A method of treating arthritis pain, comprising orally administering zoledronic acid to a mammal in need thereof, wherein the zoledronic acid is administered in an amount that results in an AUC of zoledronic acid that is about 20 ng·h/mL to about 700 ng·h/mL each time the zoledronic acid is administered.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the zoledronic acid is administered weekly.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the mammal experiences pain relief at least 24 hours after a dose of zoledronic acid is administered.

18 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the mammal is a human being.

19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the human being has an age of about 20 years to about 95 years.

20 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the arthritis affects a knee, an elbow, a wrist, a shoulder, or a hip.

21 . The method of claim 20 , wherein the arthritis affects a knee.

22 . The method of claim 18 , wherein human being to which the zoledronic acid is administered does not eat food or drink beverage for at least 2 hours before the zoledronic acid is administered.

23 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the human being has suffered from the arthritis for at least 1 month.

24 . A method of treating arthritis pain, comprising orally administering zoledronic acid to a mammal in need thereof, wherein the zoledronic acid is administered daily, and a daily dose contains an amount of zoledronic acid that results in an AUC of zoledronic acid that is about 4 ng·h/mL to about 30 ng·h/mL.

25 . The method of claim 24 , wherein the mammal is a human being.

26 . The method of claim 25 , wherein the human being has an age of about 10 years to about 95 years.

27 . The method of claim 25 , wherein the arthritis affects a knee, an elbow, a wrist, a shoulder, or a hip.

28 . The method of claim 27 , wherein the arthritis affects a knee.

29 . The method of claim 18 , wherein human being to which the zoledronic acid is administered does not eat food or drink beverage for at least 30 minutes after the zoledronic acid is administered.

30 . A method of treating arthritis pain, comprising orally administering zoledronic acid to a human being in need thereof.