Co-administration of steroids and zoledronic acid to prevent and treat osteoarthritis

A method of treating or preventing osteoarthritis, the method comprising administering a combination of a steroid and a compound of the formula:

• wherein R1 is a 5-membered heteroaryl radical which contains, as hetero atoms, 2 to 4 N-atoms or 1 or 2 N-atoms as well as 1 O- or S-atom, and which is unsubstituted or C-substituted by lower alkyl, phenyl or phenyl which is substituted by lower alkyl, lower alkoxy and/or halogen, or by lower alkoxy, hydroxy, di-lower alkylamino, lower alkylthio and/or halogen, and/or is N-substituted at a N-atom which is capable of substitution by lower alkyl, lower alkoxy and/or halogen, and R2 is hydrogen, hydroxy, amino, lower alkylthio or halogen, wherein the term “lower” means from 1 to 7 carbon atoms, lower alkoxy is C1-4 alkoxy, di-lower alkylamino is di-C1-4 alkylamino, lower alkylthio is C1-4 alkylthio, halogen is fluorine, chlorine or bromine. to a patient in need of treatment or prevention thereof.