Read up on Osteoporosis treatment options at Consumer Reports Health.

Osteoporosis

Key points about treatments

If you have osteoporosis, your bones are weak and can break easily. But you can get good treatments to slow down this disease and make it less likely that you will break a bone.

Osteoporosis can have serious effects on your health and your life. But there are some good treatments that may stop your bones getting weaker and help you avoid broken bones. There are also things you can do on your own to prevent broken bones.

Most of the studies into these treatments look at how well they work for women who have been through menopause. Men and younger women with osteoporosis may also be offered the same treatments. But there isn't as much evidence to show how well they work for these people.

Key points about preventing and treating osteoporosis

Drugs called alendronate and risedronate work well for osteoporosis. They belong to a group called bisphosphonates.
A new drug from the same group is called ibandronate. You take it only once a month.
Bisphosphonate drugs can have side effects. To avoid these, you need to take them as your doctor tells you.
If these drugs don't work or you can't take them, other drugs can help. They include raloxifene, teriparatide, strontium ranelate and calcitonin.
We don't know what happens to your bones when you stop taking any of these drugs. There haven't been any studies on this.
Pills of calcium and vitamin D are likely to help keep your bones strong. But you need to take them together.
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT for short) probably helps keep your bones strong too. But it has side effects. So doctors don't usually choose it first for osteoporosis.

This information was last updated on Apr 21, 2009

This information is for educational use only, and is not a substitute for prompt professional medical advice. Readers should always consult a physician or other professional for advice and treatment.
© BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2009. All rights reserved.

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