Treatment for Osteoporosis

Treatment

If you have been diagnosed with osteoporosis, are at high risk for fractures or have suffered a low-trauma fracture, you should begin treatment. In addition to exercise, calcium, and vitamin D supplements, you may also require one or more of the following medications:

Bisphosphonates (alendronate and risedronate)

Bisphosphonates slow down excessive bone activity, stabilize BMD and reduce fracture risk

Calcitonin
- Calcitonin slows down excessive bone activity and reduces fracture risk in the spine but not clearly in other bones, such as the hip. It can also reduce pain from acute spinal fractures.
Estrogen

Estrogen reduces fracture risk, but when the estrogen is discontinued, bone loss accelerates somewhat like what happens in menopause.

Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators or SERMS (raloxifene)

This medication reduces spine fractures and may have beneficial effects on other tissues.Reduction of fracture risk in other bones like the hip is uncertain.

Tariparitide

Tariparitide builds new bone and may be particularly helpful in people with very low bone mass, fracture while on other forms of therapy, or very poor ability to form new bone.

Denosumab

Denosumab does not directly affect the bone but decreases the activity of cells that cause too much bone to be removed. It may be helpful in patients who cannot tolerate other forms of treatment, such as bisphosphonates.

NOTE: Some of these drugs, if used for too long, may result in fragile bone (jaw and hip) that can fracture and, in the jaw, decay. Check with your doctor about your specific treatment options.

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Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis Treatments