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DISCLAIMER:
Please be
advised that the
inclusion of any
medication on
this site is not
indicative of an
endorsement. I
do not have any
affiliation with
the
pharmaceutical
corporations
that manufacture
prescription
osteoporosis
medications. I
am not a doctor,
therefore I am
not medically
qualified to
counsel or
advise
osteoporosis
patients about
which medication
is best suited
for their
individual case.
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My
mission for this page is to
present you with all of the
facts to assist you in making an
informed decision. Deciding
which treatment method that you
would like to pursue, is a
decision that only you should
make. Keep in mind that we are
individuals who respond
differently to different forms
of treatment, so don't base your
decision solely on how someone
else happened to respond to a
medication.
Click on the following
for details about each
individual osteoporosis
medication
• actonel • aredia • boniva • didronel • evista • Forteo • fosamax • miacalcin • zometa • vivelle • reclast •
The goals of osteoporosis
medications used in the
management of osteoporosis are:
1. prevent a first fragility
fracture, or future fractures if
one has already occurred, by:
a. stabilizing or increasing
bone mass
b. preventing falls
c. improve mobility and
functional status
d. adjust the environment to
decrease risk of accidents
2. relieve symptoms of fractures
and/or skeletal deformities
.
National Osteoporosis
Foundation's guidelines
recommend that the following
people should take or consider
bisphosphonates:
- Women with a
below-normal bone density of
2.5 SD or greater and who
have no history of fractures
should take bisphosphonates.
- Women with below-normal
bone density 1 SD or more
and have a history of
fractures should consider
bisphosphonates.
Finding the medication that's
right for you
You and your physician need to
review the drug treatment
options, assessing the risks and
benefits each offers and
choosing the best treatment for
you, based on current scientific
evidence. You may also need to
explore several treatment
options, because each person is
different. Some people respond
better to one drug than another.
Some people have side effects on
one and not another. No matter
what drug therapy you choose,
remember that a diet rich in
calcium and vitamin D is
required to maintain healthy
bones.
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Medication and it's
use for osteoporosis |
Benefits |
Drawbacks |
|
HRT
used for prevention
and treatment in
postmenopausal women |
improves bone density
and reduces fractures.
Alleviates menopausal
symptoms, slightly
reduces risk of colon
cancer |
increased risk of blood
clots; slightly
increased risk of breast
cancer and
cardiovascular problems,
including pulmonary
embolisms, heart
attacks, and strokes.
May cause breakthrough
bleeding, water
retention, and other
minor side effects |
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ERT
used for prevention
and treatment in
post-menopausal women
whose uterus has been
removed |
improves bone density
and reduces fractures,
alleviates menopausal
symptoms |
increased risk of blood
clots; slightly
increased risk of breast
cancer. May cause
breakthrough bleeding,
water retention, and
other minor problems.
Research is underway to
determine if ERT
increases heart disease,
as HRT does |
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Bisphosphonates
Fosamax
Actonel
Boniva |
improves bone density
and reduces fractures as
effectively as HRT/ERT |
Bisphosphonates can
cause gastrointestinal
problems. Minimize by
following careful
morning routine |
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Evista |
improves bone density
and reduces fractures,
but not quite as well as
bisphosphonates or HRT/ERT.
Also significantly
reduces risk of breast
cancer, can reduce
cholesterol slightly |
Increased risk of blood
clots. Can cause hot
flashes, swelling of the
arms and legs. |
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Forteo |
stimulates new bone
formation and increased
bone density to a
greater degree than all
other medications.
Reduces fracture risk.
Recommended for men and
postmenopausal women who
are at greatest risk for
fractures due to
osteoporosis. |
must be taken daily
self-administered
injections. Side
effects include nausea,
leg cramps, and
dizziness. Long-term
safety still unclear |
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Calcitonin
Miacalcin
Calcimar |
improves bone density in
the hip and especially
in the spine, but not as
effectively as HRT/ERT,
bisphosponates, or
evista. Relieves pain
of recent spinal
fractures |
can cause facial
flushing and
gastrointestinal
distress |
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Zometa
Reclast
Aclasta
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the first and only once
yearly treatment for
osteoporosis, Shown to
be highly effective in
strengthening bones and
protecting against
osteoporosis-related
fractures, including
spine and hip
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An infrequent but
significant side effect
associated with
zoledronic acid in the
clinical trial was an
increased incidence of
atrial fibrillation, an
irregular heart rhythm |
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