To treat osteoporosis, you have to treat and prevent fractures and take medicines to make your bones stronger.
Even though an osteoporosis diagnosis is based on the results of your bone density scan, the treatment you need, if any, depends on a number of other things, such as:
- age
- sex
- The possibility of breaking a bone
- history of previous injuries
If you have broken a bone and have been told you have osteoporosis, you should still get treatment to try to lower your risk of breaking more bones.
You might not need or want to take medicine to treat your osteoporosis.
But make sure you get enough vitamin D and calcium.
To do this, your healthcare team will ask you about your diet and may suggest that you make changes or take supplements.
Medicines for osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is treated with a number of different drugs (and sometimes osteopenia).
Bisphosphonates
Bisphosphonates slow down the rate at which your body breaks down bone. This keeps your bone density up and makes you less likely to break a bone.
There are several types of bisphosphonates, such as:
- Alendronic acid
- Ibandronic acid
- Risedronic acid
- Zoledronic acid
They can be taken in the form of a pill or a shot.
Bisphosphonates should always be taken without food and with a full glass of water. After taking them, stand or sit up straight for 30 minutes. You’ll also have to wait anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours before you can eat or drink anything else.
Bisphosphonates usually take 6 to 12 months to start working, and you may need to take them for 5 years or longer.
You might also be given supplements of calcium and vitamin D to take at a different time than the bisphosphonate.
The main things that can go wrong with bisphosphonates are:
- Irritation of the stomach
- Problems with swallowing
- Stomach pain
According to Dr. Vikas Mehra, one of the best knee replacement surgeons in Chandigarh, osteonecrosis of the jaw is a rare side effect of bisphosphonates. It happens most often when high doses of bisphosphonates are given intravenously to treat cancer, not osteoporosis.
In osteonecrosis, the cells in the jaw bone die. This can make it hard for the bone to heal. If you’ve had dental problems in the past, you may need a checkup before starting bisphosphonate treatment. If you’re worried, talk to Dr. Mehra, who is one of the best ortho doctors in Chandigarh.
Find out more about how bisphosphonates are used to treat osteoporosis.
Selective oestrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) SERMs are drugs that work on bones in the same way that the hormone oestrogen does. They help to keep bones strong and reduce the chance of breaking them, especially in the spine.
The only SERM that can be used to treat osteoporosis is raloxifene. It is taken as a tablet every day.
Some of the side effects of raloxifene are:
- heat waves
- leg cramps
- a possible higher chance of blood clots
Find out more about how raloxifene can be used to treat osteoporosis.
Parathyroid hormone
Parathyroid hormone is made by the body on its own. It makes sure that bones have the right amount of calcium.
Treatments with parathyroid hormones, like teriparatide, are used to make cells that make new bone work harder. They are given as shots.
Other medicines can only slow the rate of bone loss, but parathyroid hormone can actually make bones stronger. But it’s only used on a small number of people with very low bone density and when other treatments don’t work.
The treatment often causes people to feel sick and throw up. Learn more about the treatment of osteoporosis with teriparatide.
Calcium and vitamin D supplements
The main mineral in bone is calcium, and getting enough calcium as part of a healthy, well-balanced diet is important for keeping bones healthy.
The recommended amount of calcium for most healthy adults is 700 milligrams (mg) per day. Most people should be able to get this amount from a varied diet that includes good sources of calcium.
According to Dr. Vikas Mehra, who is the best orthopedic doctor in Chandigarh, you may need more calcium, usually in the form of supplements.
Vitamin D makes it easier for the body to use calcium. Every day, every adult should get 10 micrograms of vitamin D.
Most people should be able to get all the vitamin D they need from the sun on their skin.
But it’s hard to get enough vitamin D from food alone, so everyone, including women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, should think about taking a daily supplement with 10 micrograms of vitamin D during the fall and winter.
Read about who should take vitamin D supplements to find out more.
HRT (hormone replacement therapy)
Women going through menopause sometimes take HRT because it can help control symptoms.
HRT has also been shown to keep bones strong and lower the chance of breaking a bone during treatment. But HRT is not often used to treat osteoporosis because it is not recommended for that purpose.
This is because HRT raises the risk of getting breast cancer, endometrial cancer, ovarian cancer, stroke, and venous thromboembolism more than lowers the risk of osteoporosis.
Talk to Dr. Mehra, who is one of the best joint replacement surgeons, about the pros and cons of HRT.
Find out more about the dangers of HRT.
Testosterone treatment
When low levels of male sex hormones cause osteoporosis in men, testosterone treatment can help.
A broken bone caused by osteoporosis needs to be fixed.
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