Osteoporosis Medications without Side Effects

Bones losing density is characteristic of osteoporosis disorder. Due to bone loss, the bones of osteoporosis patients become fragile and brittle. Weak bones increase your susceptibility to fractures. Bone density refers to calcified bone tissue that is contained in the bones.

Osteoporosis patients have to take medicines when:

• They undergo a bone density test and the diagnosis confirms  osteoporosis.
• They suffer a bone fracture and their bone density test suggests their bones are thinner than normal.
• They fracture your bone without any injury.

What medications are advised for Osteoporosis patients?

Bisphosphonates

Healthcare providers prescribe Bisphosphonates to osteoporosis patients at first. Among Bisphosphonates are included:

• Risedronate (Actonel) is administered every week or month.
• Alendronate (Fosamax) has to be taken weekly.
• Zoledronic acid (Reclast) is given via a vein (IV) every year.
• Ibandronate (Boniva) is dispensed via intravenous (IV) infusion every month or 3 months.
• Denosumab (Xgeva, Prolia) is another medicine for osteoporosis patients. In cases of patients having kidney problems, Denosumab is the common line of treatment, not Bisphosphonates.

For administering Denosumab, the doctors use shallow injections beneath the skin once in 6 months. If you start taking Denosumab, you have to continue with it unless your doctor suggests another line of treatment. If you stop taking this drug, your risk of spinal fractures increases.

Which side effects do bisphosphonates give birth to?

Heartburn and stomach upset are the main side effects of bisphosphonate pills. As a precaution, you should not lie or bend down for 30 to 60 minutes after consuming bisphosphonate pills. Doing so is important to prevent the medicine from returning to the esophagus. In turn, you will not suffer from any side effects.

The stomach does not digest bisphosphonate pills properly. So, you should drink water when taking such medicines on an empty stomach. Avoid consuming anything for 30 to 60 minutes after taking these drugs.

Are intravenous bisphosphonates more beneficial than pills?

Bisphosphonates like zoledronic acid and ibandronate are administered intravenously. Also, they do not cause stomach upset. Some people may find it easier to make quarterly or yearly intravenous doses as compared to consuming pills every week or month.

In some cases, people complain of mild flu-like symptoms after they are administered the first dose of intravenous bisphosphonates. However, to reduce these ill effects, you can take acetaminophen (Tylenol) before and after the infusion.

How are osteoporosis medications effective?

The breakdown and rebuilding of bones are part of the body’s normal functioning. Now, in cases of women, their bones tend to break easily during their menopausal years.

Furthermore, as you age, your bones start to weaken and deteriorate. This is because of disparities between the rate at which old bones break down and new bones are formed.

While some osteoporosis medicines help to reduce the rate at which your bones break down, others help to quicken the bone-building rate.

In all, osteoporosis drugs help in treating osteoporosis by strengthening your bones and lowering your risk of fractures.

Which medicines can hasten the bone-building process?

Among bone-building drugs are Romosozumab (Evenity), Abaloparatide (Tymlos), and Teriparatide (Forteo).

Doctors prescribe these drugs to people who have extremely low bone density. More so, if you have suffered fractures or contracted osteoporosis because of taking steroids, you’re advised to take such drugs.

Abaloparatide and Teriparatide are injected daily. Romosozumab is administered every month at the doctor’s clinic. Your doctor will administer bone-building drugs for only 1-2 years.

After you stop taking these drugs, you cannot enjoy their related benefits. Moreover, you have to take bone-stabilizing medications (like bisphosphonates) to conserve the bones that have developed.