Medication is critical to the treatment of osteoporosis. This section has been prepared for informational purposes only. It will provide an overview of the various medications for osteoporosis and is not meant to replace the relationship you have with your physician. You need to consult with your physician regarding the choice of whether to use a medication and which one is most appropriate.
Your physician may decide, based on his or her diagnosis, that you should go on medication. Generally, your physician will do this when he or she is concerned that you have a high risk of fracture and you need to build bone mineral density quickly. Medications are the most effective and quickest way to do this. Your physician will mostly likely counsel you to adopt bone-friendly daily activities.
It is important to research this aspect of your care as much as possible. You may need to take a drug for months or years and so you should be well informed and comfortable about your decision. You should ask your physician the following questions if you are prescribed medication:
- Do I really need it and what are my alternatives?
- What are the side effects?
- How long do I need to take it?
- Do I need any follow up or monitoring? (e.g., blood tests, bone density tests etc)
- How do I take it? This is very important when taking one of the bisphosphonate class of drugs-more on these later.
- How effective is it at helping or improving my bone density?
- Can I take it with my other medicines or with my supplements e.g. Calcium and Vitamin D?
- Are there any drug interactions with any other medicines?
Recent research on long term usage of osteoporosis-related medications has indicated that the "persistence rate" (i.e., continued usage over an extended period) for these medications is alarmingly low. Less than 40% of patients stick with their medications. Researchers believe that there are several contributing factors to the low rate, including the side effects of the medications and the fact that the patient cannot "see" or "feel" that the drug is working. If you are prescribed the medication, you should stick with it. If you are having issues with the medication, consult your physician.
Osteoporosis medications fall into two classes:
- Medications that slow the bone-erosion process occurring in your body by interfering with the actions of osteoclasts, the cells that destroy old bone tissue in order to prepare it for repair. This medication class is referred to as antiresorptive agents. Four types of antiresorptive agents are available on the market today:
- Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators (SERMs)
- Estrogen and progesterone
- Medications that accelerate the bone-building process occurring in your body by encouraging the actions of osteoblasts, the cells that distribute new bone tissue in the pits created during the osteoclast phase. This class of medications is referred to as parathyroid hormone (PTH).
MelioGuide believes that medication is an important part of your treatment for osteoporosis that includes a targeted exercise program and a proper “bone-friendly” diet. You should discuss your program with your physician and, depending on their assessment, they may direct you to a Physical Therapist and/or a Dietician.
MelioGuide receives no compensation or other consideration from any of the companies offering the medications mentioned in this section.
