Osteoporosis - Treatment
Specific treatment for osteoporosis must be based on:
- your age, overall health, and medical history
- extent of the disease
- your tolerance for specific medications, procedures, or therapies
- expectations for the course of the disease
- your opinion or preference
The goals of managing osteoporosis are to decrease pain, prevent fractures, and minimize further bone loss.
Some of the methods used to treat osteoporosis are also the methods to help prevent it from developing, including the following:
- Maintain an appropriate body weight.
- Increase walking and other weight-bearing exercises.
- Minimize caffeine and alcohol consumption.
- Stop smoking.
- Maintain an adequate intake of calcium through diet and supplements. Vitamin D is also necessary because it facilitates the absorption of calcium.
- Prevent falls in the elderly to prevent fractures (i.e., install hand railings, or assistive devices in the bathroom, shower, etc.).
- Consult your physician regarding a medication regimen.
For postmenopausal osteoporosis in women, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the following medications to maintain bone health:
Estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) and hormone replacement therapy (HRT) - ERT has proven to reduce bone loss, increase bone density, and reduce the risk of hip and spinal fractures in postmenopausal women. However, a woman considering ERT should consult her physician, as the recent study conducted by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) found health risks associated with this therapy.
- Fosamax (Alendronate) - this medication, from a group of medications called bisphosphonates, reduces bone loss, increases bone density, and reduces the risk of fractures.
- Risedronate Sodium (Actonel®) - this medication is also from the bisphosphonate family and has similar effects as alendronate.
- Ibandronate Sodium (Boniva®) - this medication is a new type of bisphosphonate that is taken once a month. It works by slowing the loss of bone, which may increase bone mass.
- Evista (Raloxifene) - this medication is from a new group of medications called selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) that help to prevent bone loss.
- Parathyroid Hormone (Fortéo®) - this medication is a form of parathyroid hormone, teriparatide, and is approved to treat postmenopausal women and men who are at high risk for fractures. It helps form bone.
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