Can medicine help to strengthen my bones and prevent fractures?
There are several medicines for people who either have osteoporosis or are known to be at high risk of breaking bones. Talk to your doctor about whether or not medicine is right for you. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) slows bone loss and prevents fractures. However, recent studies have shown that the most common form of hormone replacement—estrogen and progesterone pills—can increase your risk for heart attack, stroke, breast cancer, and blood clots. For many women, these risks outweigh the benefits of taking HRT. Talk with your doctor about your situation. Bisphosphonates such as alendronate (Fosamax) build bone mass in people who have osteoporosis and lower their risk of breaking bones. Calcitonin helps heal fractures in the spine and lessen the pain, but it has not been shown to reduce hip fractures. Calcitonin increases bone mass, but not as much as HRT or alendronate. Raloxifene is an estrogen-like drug that helps protect against bone loss and spine fractures, but has not yet b
Related Questions
- I am about to begin zoledronic acid to help with bone pain and to strengthen my bones. Is there anything I can do to prevent any side effects?
- I am about to begin receiving zoledronic acid to help with bone pain and to strengthen my bones. What are its side effects?
- What kind of foods will help strengthen the immune system?
