Treatment FAQ

what is the best treatment for osteoporosis?

by Viola Konopelski Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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Bisphosphonates are usually the first choice for osteoporosis treatment. These include: Alendronate (Fosamax), a weekly pill. Risedronate (Actonel), a weekly or monthly pill.

Medication

Aug 13, 2020 · These include: Alendronate (Fosamax), a weekly pill Risedronate (Actonel), a weekly or monthly pill Ibandronate (Boniva), a monthly pill or quarterly intravenous (IV) infusion Zoledronic acid (Reclast), an annual IV infusion

Nutrition

12 rows · AACE/ACE, ACR, NAMS, and the Endocrine Society recommend bisphosphonates, excluding ibandronate, as ...

What is the best and safest treatment for osteoporosis?

Aug 17, 2020 · Exercise is an important part of an osteoporosis treatment program. Research shows that the best physical activities for bone health include strength training or resistance training. Because bone is living tissue, during childhood and adulthood, exercise can make bones stronger. However, for older adults, exercise no longer increases bone mass.

What medications increase osteoporosis?

Nov 04, 2019 · Increasing your bone density is one of the best and safest treatments for osteoporosis. Weight-bearing exercises, getting plenty of calcium in your diet, and keeping your weight within a healthy range can all help you develop greater peak bone mass when you’re young.

How do you treat osteoporosis naturally?

8 rows · Sep 12, 2021 · Raloxifene (Evista), a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM), is perhaps best known for its ...

What is the daily shot for osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis (OP) is a chronic bone disease characterized by aberrant microstructure and macrostructure of bone, leading to reduced bone mass and increased risk of fragile fractures. Anti-resorptive drugs, especially, bisphosphonates, are currently the treatment of choice in most developing countries.

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What is the fastest way to increase bone density?

10 Natural Ways to Build Healthy BonesEat Lots of Vegetables. ... Perform Strength Training and Weight-Bearing Exercises. ... Consume Enough Protein. ... Eat High-Calcium Foods Throughout the Day. ... Get Plenty of Vitamin D and Vitamin K. ... Avoid Very Low-Calorie Diets. ... Consider Taking a Collagen Supplement. ... Maintain a Stable, Healthy Weight.More items...•Jan 18, 2017

What is the most commonly prescribed drug for osteoporosis?

Bisphosphonates: Most Commonly Prescribed For OsteoporosisAlendronate (Fosamax, Binosto): may be taken orally daily or a weekly tablet is also available.Ibandronate (Boniva): can be taken orally monthly or given by intravenous injection every three months.More items...•Feb 11, 2021

What is the new drug for osteoporosis?

Romosozumab (Evenity). This is the newest bone-building medication to treat osteoporosis. It is given as an injection every month at your doctor's office and is limited to one year of treatment.Aug 21, 2021

What is the safest medication to take for osteoporosis?

The bottom line Fosamax, Prolia, and Boniva are all effective osteoporosis treatments since each one can help lower your risk of fractures. Each also comes with its own risk of side effects.Jan 29, 2021

Which is better Fosamax or Prolia?

Fosamax (alendronate) is a first-choice treatment for osteoporosis, but taking it can be a hassle. Prevents bone loss. Prolia (Denosumab) is an effective and convenient treatment for osteoporosis if other options haven't worked or aren't appropriate for you.

Which is better Tymlos vs Forteo?

Effectiveness. Tymlos is marketed as a better version of Forteo, boasting that it reduces the relative risk of nonvertebral fractures by 43%. But, relative risk can be a deceivingly inflated statistic. In actuality, for both drugs there was just a 2-4% reduction in absolute risk of non vertebral fractures.Mar 13, 2019

Is Forteo or Prolia better?

One of the only studies available comparing Forteo with Prolia did show some slight differences between the two. Forteo was better at preventing spinal bone loss, while Prolia was better at preventing bone loss at the hip. These differences could lead to your provider choosing one over the other.Jan 15, 2021

Is Prolia worth the risk?

Are there any dangers of using this drug? Studies have found that Prolia is generally safe and effective to treat osteoporosis and certain types of bone loss. For example, in the studies, people taking Prolia for up to 8 years didn't have significant side effects compared with people taking a placebo.

What is the monthly injection for osteoporosis?

Romosozumab is given as a monthly injection at your doctor's office. It is a new drug and less is known about long-term side effects, but it is not given to people who have recently had a stroke or heart attack.

What is the injection given for osteoporosis?

Denosumab injection (Prolia) is used treat osteoporosis that is caused by corticosteroid medications in men and women who will be taking corticosteroid medications for at least 6 months and have an increased risk for fractures or who cannot take or did not respond to other medication treatments for osteoporosis.

Which is better Fosamax or Actonel?

The result: After a year of treatment, women taking Actonel had 43% fewer hip fractures and 18% fewer non-spine fractures than women taking Fosamax. "This adds to the suggestion from clinical trials that Actonel works faster than Fosamax," Watts tells WebMD.Nov 27, 2006

What is the alternative to taking Prolia?

Are there alternatives to Reclast and Prolia for osteoporosis? There are several other medications that can be used to treat and/or prevent osteoporosis, such as: Other bisphosphonates besides Reclast: Examples of others include ibandronate (Boniva) and alendronate (Fosamax).Jan 11, 2021

Which Medications Are Commonly Used For Osteoporosis Treatment?

Bisphosphonates are the most common medications prescribed for osteoporosis treatment. These include: 1. Alendronate (Fosamax) 2. Risedronate (Acto...

How Do Most Osteoporosis Medications Work?

With the exception of teriparatide, osteoporosis medications slow bone breakdown. Healthy bones continuously break down and rebuild.As you age — es...

How Do You Know If You're Taking The Right bisphosphonate?

Drugs in the bisphosphonate class are more alike than they are different. They all help maintain bone density. And, all bisphosphonates have been s...

When Might Other Osteoporosis Medications Be used?

Drugs such as denosumab, teriparatide and abaloparatide can be used by anyone with osteoporosis, but are more likely to be recommended for people w...

What Are Common Side Effects of Bisphosphonate pills?

Bisphosphonate pills aren't absorbed well in the stomach. The main side effects of bisphosphonate pills are stomach upset and heartburn. Generic fo...

Do Intravenous Bisphosphonates Have Advantages Over The Pill form?

Infused forms of bisphosphonates don't cause stomach upset. And it may be easier for some women to schedule a quarterly or yearly infusion than to...

Can Bisphosphonates Hurt Your Bones?

Long-term bisphosphonate therapy has been linked to a rare problem in which the upper thighbone cracks and may break. This injury, known as atypica...

How Long Should You Take A Bisphosphonate For Osteoporosis Treatment?

There's some uncertainty about how long to take bisphosphonates because of a lack of long-term studies. Bisphosphonates have been shown to be safe...

What Happens If You Break A Bone While Taking An Osteoporosis medication?

Osteoporosis medications lower the chance of fracture, but they don't eliminate all risk of breaking a bone. If you have a fracture while on treatm...

Can Medication Alone Successfully Treat Osteoporosis?

Don't rely entirely on medication as the only treatment for your osteoporosis. These practices also are important: 1. Exercise. Weight-bearing phys...

Abstract

Approximately 10 million men and women in the U.S. have osteoporosis, 1 a metabolic bone disease characterized by low bone density and deterioration of bone architecture that increase the risk of fractures. 2 Osteoporosis-related fractures can increase pain, disability, nursing home placement, total health care costs, and mortality.

INTRODUCTION

Osteoporosis is a bone disorder that increases a person’s risk of fracture due to low bone mineral density (BMD), impaired bone microarchitecture/mineralization, and/or decreased bone strength.

PATHOPHYSIOLOGY

Bones provide structure for the body, protection for the organs, and storage for minerals, such as calcium and phosphorus, that are essential for bone development and stability. Individuals continue to build bone and will reach peak bone mass at about 30 years of age, after which they begin to lose bone mass steadily.

ETIOLOGY

Primary osteoporosis is often associated with age and sex hormone deficiency. Age-related osteoporosis results from the continuous deterioration of the trabeculae in bone. In addition, the reduction of estrogen production in post menopausal women causes a significant increase in bone loss.

SCREENING AND DIAGNOSIS

Published osteoporosis screening guidelines vary greatly. In general, most organizations recommend that all adults older than 50 years of age with a history of fracture receive BMD screening.

SELECT GUIDELINES AND RECOMMENDATIONS

In a systematic review, Solomon et al. looked at 18 osteoporosis guidelines, among them those of the NOF, the ACR, and the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists and American College of Endocrinology (AACE/ACE).

NONPHARMACOLOGICAL MANAGEMENT

Nonpharmacological management of osteoporosis includes adequate calcium and vitamin D intake, weight-bearing exercise, smoking cessation, limitation of alcohol/caffeine consumption, and fall-prevention techniques. 2 – 6, 9, 18, 34

What is the best treatment for osteoporosis?

If you can't tolerate the more common treatments for osteoporosis — or if they don't work well enough — your doctor might suggest trying: Teriparatide (Forteo). This powerful drug is similar to parathyroid hormone and stimulates new bone growth. It's given by daily injection under the skin.

How to reduce the risk of osteoporosis?

Smoking increases rates of bone loss and the chance of fracture. Avoid excessive alcohol. Consuming more than two alcoholic drinks a day might decrease bone formation.

What is the complication of bisphosphonates and denosumab?

A very rare complication of bisphosphonates and denosumab is a break or crack in the middle of the thighbone. A second rare complication is delayed healing of the jawbone (osteonecrosis of the jaw). This can occur after an invasive dental procedure such as removing a tooth.

How long can you take teriparatide for osteoporosis?

After two years of treatment with teriparatide, another osteoporosis drug is taken to maintain the new bone growth. Abaloparatide (Tymlos) is another drug similar to parathyroid hormone. You can take it for only two years, which will be followed by another osteoporosis medication. Romosozumab (Evenity).

What is the newest bone building medication?

Romosozumab (Evenity). This is the newest bone-building medication to treat osteoporosis. It is given as an injection every month at your doctor's office. It is limited to one year of treatment, followed by other osteoporosis medications.

How often is denosumab shot?

Denosumab is delivered via a shot under the skin every six months. If you take denosumab, you might have to continue to do so indefinitely.

What are the side effects of bisphosphonates?

Examples include: Side effects include nausea, abdominal pain and heartburn-like symptoms. These are less likely to occur if the medicine is taken properly.

What is the most common treatment for osteoporosis?

The most common class of osteoporosis drugs is bisphosphonates, which are antiresorptive chemicals designed to reduce bone loss. Essentially, bisphosphonate therapy slows the rate at which bone cells break down and speeds up the regeneration of new cells.

What is the most common type of osteoporosis medication?

The most common class of osteoporosis drugs is bisphosphonates, which are antiresorptive chemicals designed to reduce bone loss. Other, less common types of osteoporosis medication include the family of drugs called denosumab, teriparatide, and abaloparatide.

Why is osteoporosis a problem?

Essentially, osteoporosis is caused by your body failing to produce new bone tissue fast enough to replace the older bone cells as they break down. Low peak bone density as a young adult is one of the main causes of osteoporosis as an adult.

How to increase bone density?

Increasing your bone density through healthy lifestyle choices can reduce your risk of osteoporosis. Eating the right foods, especially those rich in calcium and the correct amounts of vitamin D, help create stronger, denser bones. If you have dietary restrictions such as a dairy intolerance that make it hard to get enough calcium, consider an over-the-counter supplement. Both men and women under 50 years old need 1,000 milligrams of calcium per day. Women over 50 and men over 70 need 1,200 milligrams per day. Use caution when supplementing your diet with calcium, however, as more than 2,000 milligrams per day can lead to kidney stones and heart disease.

Why is osteoporosis a progressive disease?

Osteoporosis results from too little calcium, leading to weakened bones. It’s a progressive disease and affects about 1 in 3 women aged 50 years and over.

How many women are affected by osteoporosis?

It’s a progressive disease and affects about 1 in 3 women aged 50 years and over. Bones require a significant amount of calcium to maintain their structural integrity. Osteoporosis results from too little calcium, leading to weakened bones. It’s a progressive disease and affects about 1 in 3 women aged 50 years and over.

What are the most common fracture spots for a woman with osteoporosis?

The most common fracture spots for a woman with osteoporosis are the hip, spine, and wrist. Doctors will diagnosis this by viewing the X-ray of your broken bones. They can see whether the loss of bone mass is more than expected for a woman of your age and health history.

What is the best treatment for bone breakdown?

David Slovik, associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and endocrinologist at Massachusetts General Hospital.

What is the new drug for osteoporosis?

A number of other osteoporosis drugs are in development, including a new monoclonal antibody (romosozumab) and drugs that block sclerostin, a protein that inhibits bone formation. However, Dr. Slovik doesn't think we're going to see any of these new drugs approved within the next year.

How does raloxifene work?

It works by binding with estrogen receptors around the body to produce estrogen-like effects, one of which is to decrease bone turnover. "For people with osteoporosis of the spine, raloxifene reduces the risk of vertebral fractures," Dr. Slovik says.

What is raloxifene used for?

Raloxifene (Evista), a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM), is perhaps best known for its role in breast cancer prevention and treatment, but it serves double duty in treating osteoporosis, too. It works by binding with estrogen receptors around the body to produce estrogen-like effects, one of which is to decrease bone turnover.

Which is better, alendronate or risedronate?

Alendronate, risedronate, and ibandronate have all been shown effective for reducing spine fractures. For women with a history of hip or nonspinal fractures, alendronate and risedronate are better options than ibandronate.

How to determine if you have osteoporosis?

Your doctor will determine whether you have osteoporosis by measuring your bone density —usually at the hip and spine—using dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA).

How long do women take bisphosphonates?

Doctors acknowledge that the risk of these side effects also increases with long-term use of bisphosphonates, so most women take these drugs for about five years. The good news is that the bone-protective benefits continue even after you stop taking bisphosphonates.

What is the best exercise for osteoporosis?

Weight-bearing Exercise. ​. The first thing that I recommend for all patients with osteoporosis is to participate in weight-bearing exercise on a regular basis. This includes walking, jogging, dancing, using an elliptical, stair climbing, gardening, etc.

How common is osteoporosis?

Unfortunately, osteoporosis is extremely common and is ​becoming more prevalent. 1 in 7 women over 50 have osteoporosis. About 25% of women over age 65 have osteoporosis of either the hip or lumbar spine. About 5% of men over age 65 have osteoporosis. About half all women ​and 1 out of every 4 men over 50 ​will have an osteoporosis-related fracture ...

What is the density of a bone measured using?

How to Diagnose Osteoporosis. The density of a bone is measured using a machine called a DEXA scan (dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry).

What hormones are involved in bone reabsorption?

Vitamin D. ​. Vitamin D has many functions in the body, including the regulation of calcium and phosphorous absorption. If vitamin D is low, parathyroid hormone (PTH) increases and triggers osteoclasts​ to release calcium into the blood via bone reabsorption. Over time, this can lead to bone loss and osteoporosis.

What does a T score of 2.4 mean?

If the T-score is -1.0 to -2.4, the diagnosis of osteopenia is made . While not considered to be as dangerous as osteoporosis, it still indicates that the person is losing bone mass, especially the lower the T-score.

What is the Z score for osteoporosis?

The diagnosis of osteoporosis is made when ​the T-score is less than or equal to -2.5, which is way over on the far left of the bell curve.

How to keep bones strong?

​If you ask your doctor what is the best way to keep your bones strong, he or she will most likely say something like this: “Eat good, healthy foods and exercise regularly.”

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Diagnosis

Treatment

Clinical Trials

Lifestyle and Home Remedies

Your provider will work with you to develop a care plan that may include one or more of these treatment options.
Treatment aims to slow or stop bone loss, and to improve bone density. Medications help improve bone density.
Medication

Bisphosphonates: This medication helps to prevent the bone loss. It may be taken orally or by injection.

Alendronate . Ibandronate . Zoledronic acid


Hormone therapy: Helps to prevent bone loss. Administered through injection every 6 months.

Denosumab


Hormone therapy: Helps to increase the bone density. This mimics the estrogen hormone. Usually given for women.

Raloxifene


Hormone therapy: In men this hormone therapy helps to increase the bone density.

Testosterone


Supplements: To improve bone health.

Vitamin D . Calcium supplements

Nutrition

Foods to eat:

  • Dairy products
  • Low fat and non fat milk
  • Cheese
  • Yogurt
  • Fish
  • Canned sardines and salmon
  • Fatty variety fishes like tuna, mackerel
  • Fruits and vegetables
  • Green beans, peas, spinach, tomato, dark green vegetables

Foods to avoid:

  • Alcohol

Specialist to consult

Orthopedician
Specializes in bones and their disorders.

Preparing For Your Appointment

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