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Osteoporosis treatment: Medications can help

Which medications are commonly used for osteoporosis treatment? How do most osteoporosis medications work? How do you know if you're taking the right bisphosphonate? When might other osteoporosis medications be used? Can bisphosphonates hurt your bones? How long should you take a bisphosphonate for osteoporosis treatment? What happens if you break a bone while taking an osteoporosis medication? Content Which osteoporosis medications are usually tried first? What are common side effects of bisphosphonate pills? Do intravenous bisphosphonates have advantages over the pill form? Can osteoporosis medications hurt your bones? Should I take a drug holiday from bisphosphonates? Are hormones used to treat osteoporosis? How do osteoporosis medications work? Which drugs help speed up the bone-building process? Can medication alone successfully treat osteoporosis?

Are hormones used to treat osteoporosis?

Estrogen, sometimes paired with progestin, was once commonly used to treat osteoporosis. This treatment can increase the risk of blood clots, endometrial cancer, breast cancer and possibly heart disease. It's now usually reserved for women at high risk of fracture who can't take other osteoporosis drugs.

Women who are considering hormone replacement therapy to reduce menopausal symptoms, such as hot flashes, may factor in increased bone health when weighing the benefits and risks of estrogen treatment. Current recommendations say to use the lowest dose of hormones for the shortest period of time.

Raloxifene (Evista) mimics estrogen's beneficial effects on bone density in postmenopausal women, without some of the risks associated with estrogen. Taking this drug can reduce the risk of some types of breast cancer. Hot flashes are a common side effect. Raloxifene may also increase your risk of blood clots.

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