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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?
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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?
How do you know if you're taking the right bisphosphonate?
Drugs in the bisphosphonate class are more alike than they are different. They all help maintain bone density. And, all bisphosphonates have been shown to reduce the chance of a fracture.
The decision to take one drug over another often is based on:
- Preference
- Convenience
- Adherence to the dosing schedule
- Cost, including whether or not the drug is a "preferred" option on your insurance company's list of acceptable medications (formulary)
Your doctor might recommend a monthly dose of medication if it's going to be better tolerated or better accepted. But if you're likely to forget to take your medicine on a monthly schedule, you might do better taking medication once a week.
