Osteoporosis is a disease of the bone. It occurs as a result of the body losing too much bone or making too little bone. The bones become weak and are more susceptible to fractures, as a result.
As of today, there is no cure for osteoporosis. But there are ways to prevent it, slow it down or stop its progress. In rare instances, one can not only improve bone density but also reverse the disorder to some extent. One can also take medication to decrease the risk of broken bones. These medications help slow down or stop the loss of bone and can rebuild the bone.
When choosing between osteoporosis treatment options, a number of factors go into play.
One is gender. Some medications like Calcitonin, estrogen therapies, hormone therapies, estrogen agonists and estrogen antagonists are for women. Men cannot take them. Bisphosphonates like Actonel, Fosamax, Atelvia, and Denosumab as well as teriparatide can be used to treat both men and women.
Another factor is age. Some medicines are more suitable for younger women. Others are suitable for women post menopause. Generally, osteoporosis medication is not recommended for women who haven’t reached menopause. Premenopausal women who have used steroids over a long period of time can use a few osteoporosis medications. In rare cases, when a woman who has not yet reached menopause have broken bones due to low bone density or have bone loss resulting from rare medical conditions, doctors may recommend osteoporosis medication.
The third factor is the severity of the osteoporosis. Each osteoporosis medication works in a different way. For a person with a broken bone or for someone with severe bone loss, the kind of medication recommended is different from a person who has a less severe bone loss. The doctor also needs to take into consideration any other health problem that you may have before recommending medication for osteoporosis. People who have had or have breast cancer and blood clots cannot take estrogen.
The final factor is your personal preference. Depending on whether you like your medication in the form of pills, IV medicines, liquids, injections or nasal sprays, whether you have side effects as opposed to another patient, all determine the kind of medication you receive. So, before you look for osteoporosis treatment options it is necessary to understand the problem first and then go for the specific treatment.