Medicines for osteoporosis: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia

P Osteoporosis is a disease that causes bones to become brittle and more likely to fracture (break). With osteoporosis, the bones lose density. Bone density is the amount of bone tissue that is in your bones.
P A diagnosis of osteoporosis means you are at risk for bone fractures even if you DO NOT have a severe bone injury.

T When are Medicines Used?
P Your doctor may prescribe certain medicines to help lower your risk of fractures. These medicines make the bones in your hips, spine, and other areas less likely to break.
P Your doctor may prescribe medicines when:
- A bone density test shows you have osteoporosis, even if you have not had a fracture before, but your fracture risk is high.
- You have a bone fracture, and a bone density test shows you have thinner than normal bones, but not osteoporosis.
- You have a bone fracture that occurs without any significant injury.

T Bisphosphonates
P Bisphosphonates are the main medicines that are used to both prevent and treat bone loss. They are most often taken by mouth. You may take a pill either once a week or once a month.
P Common side effects are heartburn, nausea, and pain in the belly. When you take bisphosphonates:
- Take them on an empty stomach in the morning with 6 to 8 ounces (oz), or 177 to 236 milliliters (mL), of plain water (not carbonated water or juice).
- After taking the pill, remain sitting or standing for at least 30 minutes.
- DO NOT eat or drink for at least 30 to 60 minutes.
P Rare side effects are:
- Low blood calcium level
- A certain type of leg-bone fracture
- Damage to the jaw bone
- Fast, abnormal heartbeat (atrial fibrillation)
P Your doctor may have you stop taking this medicine after about 5 years. Doing so decreases the risk of certain side effects. This is called a drug holiday.
P You also may get bisphosphonates through a vein (IV). Most often this is done once a year.

T Other Drugs for Osteoporosis
P If you are at high risk of fractures, your doctor may ask you to take parathyroid hormone.
- This medicine is given as daily shots under the skin. Your doctor or nurse will teach you how to give yourself these shots at home.
- Parathyroid hormone works better if you have never taken bisphosphonates.
P Calcitonin is a medicine that slows the rate of bone loss. This medicine:
- Is sometimes used after a bone fracture because it decreases bone pain
- Is less effective than bisphosphonates
- Comes as a nasal spray or an injection
P Raloxifene (Evista) may also be used to prevent and treat osteoporosis.
- It can reduce the risk of spinal fractures, but not other types of fractures.
- The most serious side effect is a very small risk of blood clots in the leg veins or in the lungs.
- This drug may also help decrease the risk of heart disease and breast cancer.
P Denosumab (Prolia) is a medicine that prevents bones from becoming more fragile. This medicine:
- Is given as an injection every 6 months
- May increase bone density more than bisphosphonates
- Does not cause stomach upset compared with other medicines taken by mouth
- Is generally not a first-line treatment
- May not be a good choice for people who have weak immune systems or who take medicines that affect the immune system
P Teriparatide (Forteo) is a bio-engineered form of parathyroid hormone. This medicine:
- May increase bone density and decrease the risk for fractures
- Is not a first-line drug treatment for osteoporosis
- Is given as an shot underneath the skin at home, often every day
- Does not seem to have severe long-term side effects, but may cause nausea, dizziness, or leg cramps
P For a time, estrogen and hormone replacement therapy (HRT) were frequently used to prevent osteoporosis. Estrogen is used less commonly for this purpose now, but may be a good option in younger women. If a woman is taking estrogen already, she and her doctor must discuss the risks and benefits of doing so.

T When to Call the Doctor
P Call your doctor for these symptoms or side effects:
- Chest pain, heartburn, or problems swallowing
- Nausea and vomiting
- Blood in your stool
- Swelling, pain, redness in one of your legs
- Fast heart beat
- Skin rash

T Alternative Names
P Alendronate (Fosamax); Ibandronate (Boniva); Risedronate (Actonel); Zoledronic acid (Reclast); Raloxifene (Evista); Teriparatide (Forteo); Denosumab (Prolia); Low bone density - medicines; Osteoporosis - medicines

T References
P Cosman F, de Beur SJ, LeBoff MS, et al. Clinician's guide to prevention and treatment of osteoporosis. Osteoporos Int. 2014;25:2359-2381. PMID: 25182228 www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25182228.
P De Paula FJA, Black DM, Rosen CJ. Osteoporosis and bone biology. In: Melmed S, Polonsky KS, Larsen PR, Kronenberg HM, eds. Williams Textbook of Endocrinology. 13th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2016: chap 29.

T Review Date 5/2/2016
P Updated by: Brent Wisse, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology & Nutrition, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Isla Ogilvie, PhD, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

T Related MedlinePlus Health Topics
- Osteoporosis

