Common Medications Prescribed

Osteoporosis does not have a cure. However, drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the disorder can preserve or increase bone density. If you stop your medication, bones continue to lose density.

Note that hormone replacement therapy (HRT) was once recommended as a treatment to prevent osteoporosis, but that is no longer advised due to risks now known about taking HRT.

More study is needed to find out the best way to treat men with osteoporosis. If a man has low testosterone levels, a doctor may prescribe testosterone replacement to help prevent more bone loss. Doctors aren't sure if this medication can reverse bone loss. Drug therapy has not been as well studied in men as extensively as in women, but bisphosphonates can help slow bone loss.

Teriparatide (Forteo®), a synthetic form of a natural human hormone called parathyroid hormone, is the first osteoporosis medication to increase the rate of bone formation in the bone remodeling cycle. The drug forms new bone, increases bone mineral density and bone strength. Teriparatide can be taken by men or postmenopausal women with osteoporosis. The drug can be used by people who have had an osteoporosis-related fracture or who cannot use other osteoporosis treatments. Side effects include nausea, leg cramps and dizziness.

Medications that help slow the resorptive phase of the bone-remodeling cycle are:

Bisphosphonates

Alendronate (Fosamax) and risedronate (Actonel) and other drugs in this class prevent and treat postmenopausal women by reducing bone loss, increasing bone density and reducing the risk of fractures. Side effects are not common but may include abdominal pain, nausea, heartburn or irritation of the esophagus, the tube leading to your stomach. The FDA warns that people taking these drugs may have severe muscle and bone pain that can occur within days, months, or years after starting the medication. Tell your doctor about pain or other side effects.

Calcitonin

This is a naturally occurring hormone. Miacalcin® and Calcimar® are two synthetic forms of calcitonin that help slows bone loss, increase spinal bone density and may relieve pain from bone fractures. Calcitonin reduces the risk of spinal fractures but may not decrease the risk of other fractures. Calcitonin can be taken as an injection or nasal spray. The injectable form may cause an allergic reaction and side effects including flushing of the face and hands, urinating more often, nausea, and a skin rash. Side effects for the nasal version are not common but may include nasal irritation, back pain, bloody nose and headaches.

Selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs)

Raloxifene (Evista®) prevents and treats postmenopausal osteoporosis. SERMs have the helpful effects of estrogen therapy without the potential disadvantages. Raloxifene increases bone mass and reduces the risk of spine fractures. Side effects are not common but may include hot flashes and deep vein thrombosis (a blood clot starting in the legs).

More on Osteoporosis

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This article was reviewed and updated June 2007.