Lesson 3: Treatment

Most people who have osteoporosis do quite well on their medically prescribed treatment plan.

Pharmacy

"It's time for your medication."

Familiar words to those with osteoporosis and their caregivers. So, what are we concerned with here? We are concerned with medicines that are used to prevent osteoporosis as well as those used in its treatment. It is also important to know that there are medicines approved for use in men or women, medicines for men only, and medicines for women only.

Doctors Have a Choice--You Have a Choice

Your doctor has several choices of FDA approved medications for use in osteoporosis. First, in a group of medications for prevention and treatment are the Bisphosphonates. These are the big three and are for use in men and women. Their action is to slow down the rate of bone thinning:

• alendronate (brand name is Fosamax)
• risedronate (brand name is Actonel)
• ibandronate (brand name is Boniva)

Fosamax is available to take daily or once a week. The most important thing about the weekly Fosamax, as with the daily, is that it must be taken EXACTLY as directed for it to work and to avoid harmful side effects. For further information, ask your pharmacist for a Fosamax crimp or print-out. The bisphosphonates are followed by:

Raloxifene (brand name is Evista). This is an estrogen product and for use in women only. It slows bone thinning and produces an increase in thickness of bone.

Calcitonin (brand name is Calcimar and Miacalcin). This is a hormone whose function is to regulate the body's level of calcium. It also helps to build bone. Even a small amount of new bone growth is an advantage in the reduction of fractures. It is dispensed as a nasal spray or injection. It is probably the only one that actually relieves pain caused by compression fractures of the spine. It is approved for use in men and women.

Parathyroid hormone (brand name is Forteo). Approved for treatment of postmenopausal women who are prone to frequent fractures from severe osteoporosis. It is also approved for male use. It is administered by injection.

The last big group are the hormones known to the general public as Hormone Therapy. Here is included estrogen, as in hormone replacement therapy or estrogen replacement therapy. This is for women who have completed menopause and/or have had surgical removal of the uterus. Since estrogen therapy increases the risk of endometrial cancer, replacement therapy is only used if there is no uterus.

For men, testosterone in the form of a gel, injections or patches can be used as a preventative of low level testosterone osteoporosis. Testosterone is not approved as a treatment for existing osteoporosis.

As always, this lesson is for education and general information purposes only. Your doctor is your best source for what is right for you.

Sources

"Medications for Osteoporosis." This is a Quest Diagnostics Patient Health Library where many of your questions can be answered.

1  2  3  4   

Print this page