Osteoporosis Treatment: Medications and Natural Alternatives

Which medications are most commonly used for osteoporosis treatment?

Bisphosphonates are — by far — the most common medications prescribed for osteoporosis treatment. Fosamax, Actonel and Boniva are just a few examples from this family of medications.

Hormones, such as estrogen, and some hormone-like medications approved for preventing and treating osteoporosis, such as raloxifene (Evista), also play a role in osteoporosis treatment. But fewer and fewer women are receiving these medications for osteoporosis treatment because the bisphosphonates are so effective.

Doctors, in general, feel comfortable prescribing bisphosphonates for osteoporosis treatment. Fosamax — a commonly prescribed bisphosphonate — has been on the market for about 10 years, so there's proven experience with safety. And bisphosphonates really don't affect anything but the bone. Hormones, on the other hand, raise some concerns about what effects they'll have on other parts of the body, such as the breast or circulation. With bisphosphonates, doctors have fewer concerns about side effects or medication interactions. These medications tend to be well tolerated, for the most part, by the women who take them.

When bone rebuilding fails to keep pace, bones deteriorate and become weaker. Bisphosphonates basically put a brake on that. These drugs effectively preserve or maintain bone density during menopause — and decrease the risk of breaking a bone as a result of osteoporosis.

How do bisphosphonates work?

Bisphosphonates slow the bone breakdown process. Healthy bones are in a state of continuous breakdown and rebuilding. As you get older, and especially after menopause when your estrogen levels decrease, the bone breakdown process accelerates. When bone rebuilding fails to keep pace, bones deteriorate and become weaker. Bisphosphonates basically put a brake on that. These drugs effectively preserve or maintain bone density during menopause — and decrease the risk of breaking a bone as a result of osteoporosis.

The Myth of Osteoporosis is a research-based work that provides clear insight into the myths of osteoporosis and its treatment. These myths motivate both patient and physician into a lifetime of unnecessary testing and drug therapy — therapy that can in fact be life-threatening. Gillian Sanson's well-documented explanation of these myths can spare women great anxiety. She takes the fear out of aging and restores women's sense of control over their bodies. She gives women good reasons for challenging the common way that osteoporosis is handled in the United States and in many other industrialized nations.

Vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium. When vitamin D is lacking, the body cannot absorb adequate amounts of calcium to prevent osteoporosis. Vitamin D deficiency can result from lack of intestinal absorption of the vitamin such as occurs in celiac sprue and primary biliary cirrhosis;
Certain medications can cause osteoporosis. These include long-term use of heparin (a blood thinner), anti-seizure medications phenytoin (Dilantin) and phenobarbital, and long term use of oral corticosteroids (such as Prednisone).

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