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Some illnesses make it more likely that you will get osteoporosis. And some drugs can do this too. These can give you osteoporosis at any age.

Osteoporosis that is caused by an illness or drugs is known as secondary osteoporosis. It is more common in men than in women.¹

Here are some of the illnesses that can cause osteoporosis:

• Eating disorders (anorexia and bulimia are eating disorders where you get too thin and don't get enough nutrients)
• Losing lots of weight for any other reason
• Having diseases of your liver or lungs for a long time
• Celiac disease (this is a condition where your bowel can't digest food properly)
• Hyperparathyroidism (this is one where your body makes too much of a hormone that affects the amount of calcium in your bones)
• Inflammatory bowel disease (this is another condition where your bowel can't digest food properly)
• Having too low a level of a hormone called testosterone (in men only)
• Problems with your kidneys
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Having too low a level of vitamin D
• Anything that makes you sit or lie still for a long time, for example, if you are very ill and have to stay in bed for weeks.

Here are some of the drugs that can cause osteoporosis:²

• Drugs used to treat seizures, called anticonvulsants
• Certain medications used to treat cancer, called cytotoxic medications
• Drugs called corticosteroids, which are used to treat many illnesses, including rheumatoid arthritis and asthma
• Some medications given to men or women to help get pregnant
• Drugs that calm your immune system, used after organ transplantation and to treat conditions like rheumatoid arthritis
• A drug called lithium, which you may take for a condition known as manic depression
• A drug called heparin, which thins your blood
• An injection called Depo-Provera, which helps prevent pregnancy
• Thyroxine, a drug you may take if your thyroid gland isn't working properly
• A drug called anastrozole, which is used to treat breast cancer.

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 2008. All rights reserved.