Medication for osteoporosis

Get some Food Supplements

Get enough calcium. It takes 3.5 cups (0.83 L) of milk or 2.5 cups (0.59 L) of yoghurt to get 1,000 mg of calcium each day. Women who do not get this amount of calcium each day should take calcium supplements.

Get enough vitamin D. You can get your daily requirement of vitamin D from atleast a glass of milk or other dairy products that are fortified with vitamin D. You will also get the amount of vitamin D you need if you are outside in sunlight for at least 15 minutes each day without sunscreen. People who stay indoors like older adults and people who do not drink at least one glass of milk every day may be deficient in vitamin D. They may need to take vitamin D supplements.

Currently Available Medications

Estrogen Replacement Therapy (ERT) and Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT).

ERT is approved for both the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis. ERT has been shown to reduce bone loss, increase bone density in both the spine and hip, and reduce the risk of hip and spinal fractures in post-menopausal women. ERT is administered most commonly in the form of a pill or skin patch. ERT is effective even when started after age 70. When estrogen is taken alone, it can increase a woman's risk of developing cancer of the uterine lining (endometrial cancer). To eliminate this risk, physicians prescribe the hormone progestin in combination with estrogen (hormone replacement therapy or HRT) for women who have an intact uterus.

Channels

Doctors and hospitals

Environment and hygiene

Eye care

Health Tips for Women

Heart attack

Home & herbal remedies

ERT/HRT relieves menopause symptoms and has been shown to have beneficial effects on both bone health and cardiovascular health. Side effects may include nausea, bloating, breast tenderness and high blood pressure. Some studies indicate a relationship between estrogen use and breast cancer, while other studies indicate no relationship at all. The issue of a relationship between breast cancer and estrogen use is still to be determined. As individual circumstances differ, you must discuss the pros and cons of ERT with your doctor.

The latest pain killer for osteoporosis

In the West, the Food and Drug Administration approved a new painkiller to treat osteoporosis. The generic name of the drug is meloxicam and will be marketed by Boehringer Ingelheim and Abbott Laboratories. This drug, while being tested, appears to cause comparatively lower incidence of gastrointestinal side effects.

Viewers who read this article also read
Medication for osteoporosis >> Some facts about osteoporosis >> Osteoporosis is better prevented then treated >> Are you vulnerable to osteoporosis >>