What alternative treatments are there for osteoporosis?
HRT is no longer typically used as a first line treatment for osteoporosis or for the prevention of osteoporosis in high-risk patients. The bisphosonates (marketed under names like Fosamax, Boniva, and Actonel) are generally recognized as more effective in this regard. Whether these medications would be a better option than HRT for young people with low sex hormones is not clear. One of these medicines, alendronate, is known to be safe and effective over a ten year period, but the long-term safety and effectiveness of other medicines and longer treatment courses are less certain.
