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Optional Drug Therapies in Treating Osteoporosis

Posted on 03 Jun 2011 by admin | Filled under: health-and-safety

Deterioration of the bone is usually seen in the disease called osteoporosis. Osteoporosis managements have come a long way and up until now, some of these treatments are still used to treat osteoporosis. This includes different drug therapies and physical activities that aims to strengthen the bones and consequently decreases the likelihood for fracture.

People who are at risk for osteoporosis and even those who are already afflicted with this disease can choose from the different types of osteoporosis drug treatments.

Estrogen Replacement Therapy

Estrogen is one of the most common treatment given by doctors for women who are experiencing menopausal phase. Men rarely use this type of osteoporosis treatment since the estrogen production in men is scarce and unlike in women, the influx of estrogen does not affect much the male body compared to a female's body. This hormone helps prevent fracture by increasing bone's density through its antiresorptive qualities. Estrogen in combination with progesterone were seldom prescribed but doctors but when it was found that this form has the tendency to cause grave adverse effects such as ovarian and breast cancer, cerebrovascular accident (CVA which is commonly known as stroke), blood clots and myocardial infarction (MI also called heart attacks), this combined form is rarely prescribed by doctors at present.

Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators (SERMs)

SERMs also increases bone density and decreases risk for fracture the same as estrogen replacement therapy but this does not include any of the adverse effects of hormonal replacement. One of the usually prescribed SERM drugs us Raloxifene (Evista).

Estrogen and bisphosphonate may not be a healthy treatment for some patients afflicted with osteoporosis. These patients are advised to take calcitonin instead since it works the same way as the two conventional drugs.

PARATHYROID HORMONE/PTH (FORTEO)

Bone resorption due to parathyroid hormone activation leads to an increased level of calcium in the body. This is not used to treat children but men and women with increased likelihood for osteoporosis can be treated with this.

BISPHOSPHONATE for Osteoporosis

Doctors who specialize in osteoporosis cases usually prescribe their antiresorptive drug. Bisphosphonate drugs such as Alendronate Sodium (Fosamax), Ibandronate (Boniva), Risedronate (Actonel) and Zoledronic acid (Reclast) are some of the commonly prescribed ones. Bone density is increased and fracture incidence remarkably reduced, but increasing reports claim of some unusual adverse effects after prolonged use of bisphosphonate drugs, especially Fosamax use, such as sudden, low-impact femur fracture and osteonecrosis of the jaw.

The following drug therapies may serve as a useful source in choosing the right osteoporosis treatment for specific individuals. The reports are shocking, but if you know anyone who experienced this, or if you yourself had experienced any severe side effects caused by Fosamax use, you can talk to an adept Femur Fracture Lawyer if you want just compensation that is rightfully yours.