Your doctor may prescribe you a medicine that will help increase your bone strength.
Osteoporosis is a disease that makes your bones weak and more likely to break during day-to-day activities. If you have osteoporosis, improving your diet, increasing your physical activity, and taking vitamins are all important for your overall health.
But if you have already suffered a fracture, these changes are likely not enough. If you don’t treat your osteoporosis after a fracture, your bones will continue to weaken, putting you at even greater risk of another potentially debilitating fracture. Women who experience a fracture are up to five times more likely to suffer another fracture within a year.1
Osteoporosis medications help to strengthen your bones and reduce the risk of future fractures. Treatments can reduce the risk of hip fractures by up to 40%, vertebral fractures by 30–70% and non-vertebral fractures by 15–20%.2
Other simple steps to support your bone health include a healthy diet with plenty of calcium and vitamin D, and regular weight bearing exercise.
Bone is a living, growing tissue and is always being ‘turned over’. This means that new bone is formed while older bone is broken down by the body. But if you have osteoporosis, bone rebuilding cannot work at the same speed, and more bone is lost than is made. This makes your bones deteriorate, become weaker and more likely to break.3
Osteoporosis medicines work by making osteoclasts (the cells that break down bone) less active, while allowing osteoblasts (the cells that form new bone) to be more active. Some osteoporosis medicines primarily work by slowing down the rate at which your bones break down. Others work by speeding up the bone building process. Both types of medicines strengthen bone and reduce your risk of fractures.2
Talk to your doctor to find out which type of treatment is best for you.
It is important to take your prescription osteoporosis medication as directed by your doctor.
Side effects from osteoporosis medicines are rare.
Osteoporosis treatments can only work if they are taken correctly.
Remember, it is important to keep taking your medication. If you have any concerns, don’t stop your osteoporosis medication without talking to your doctor.
Stopping your medication may increase your chances of further fractures which can impact your lifestyle and independence.
Answer the quick poll and then visit your doctor for a complete osteoporosis assessment.
You answered YES to one or more risk factors for osteoporosis.
Talk to your doctor to today to prevent more broken bones.
Click the link below to learn more.
You answered YES to one or more risk factors for osteoporosis.
Talk to your doctor to learn how to protect your bones.
Click the link below to learn more.
These are risk factors for osteoporosis.
Talk to your doctor to learn how osteoporosis could affect you.
Click the link below to learn more.
References – Osteoporosis treatments explained
1 van Geel TA, et al. Ann Rheum Dis 2009;68:99–102.
2 International Osteoporosis Foundation. Treatment. osteoporosis.foundation/patients/treatment.
3 Bone Health & Osteoporosis. Healthy bones for life - Patient’s guide. 2014. bonehealthandosteoporosis.org/healthy-bones-for-life.