What are osteoporosis treatment methods?

Osteoporosis treatment methods aim to slow the loss of bone density that characterizes the disease. In some cases, the treatment can actually help rebuild the bones, reversing their deterioration. These treatments can be a real help for people with osteoporosis, who fracture bones easily and suffer bone pain and tenderness, among other symptoms. According to the National Institute of Health, 10 million people in the United States alone suffer from osteoporosis. While there is no cure for osteoporosis, it can be treated. Take a look at some common osteoporosis treatment methods below.

Treating Osteoporosis with Diet and Exercise

Eating a diet rich in calcium and vitamin D can help slow bone loss. Bones are largely built from calcium, so it makes sense that getting enough calcium can help maintain bone density. Vitamin D, which can be obtained through exposure to sunlight, food and supplements, helps the body absorb calcium. Along with diet, getting a moderate amount of weight-bearing exercise can also slow bone loss and improve balance (which is important for people with osteoporosis, in whom a fall can easily cause a broken bone).

Forteo (teriparatide) was approved by the FDA to treat osteoporosis in November 2002. This hormone, which is injected daily for up to 24 months, can not only slow bone density loss but can actually promote the formation of new bone growth, improving bone density and helping protect against accidental fracture. However, the Food and Drug Administration warns that people who take Forteo run an increased risk of developing osteosarcoma, a type of bone cancer, based on pre-approval studies of lab rats. This is one of the reasons it's very important to consult a doctor to find out the best treatment options.

Bisphosphonate Osteoporosis Treatment

Unlike parathyroid hormone, bisphosphonates are a class of drugs that don't spur new bone growth but instead help treat osteoporosis by slowing bone loss. These drugs are usually taken orally and include Fossamax (alendronate) and Actonel (risedronate); they work by inhibiting the cells that dissolve bone. The main side effect of bisphosphonates, chiefly Fossamax, is that damage to the esophagus can occur if the directions for use are not followed precisely.

Bisphosphonates should be taken on an empty stomach, first thing in the morning, at a time when the user can remain upright and abstain from eating and drinking for 30 minutes.

Evista (raloxifene) is a drug that has properties similar to estrogen, which is important since loss of estrogen after the onset of menopause is one of the chief indicators for osteoporosis. Evista has been shown to reduce spine fractures by up to 50 percent.

Treating Osteoporosis with Hormone Therapy

Calcitonin is one hormone that slows bone density loss. Previously available only in an injection, calcitonin is now available in a nasal spray. Calcitonin has also been reported to help ease bone pain in post-menopausal women.

Estrogen therapy replaces the hormone estrogen, which the body loses after menopause, and which contributes significantly to osteoporosis. Estrogen therapy has serious side effects, however, including cardiovascular disease and breast and other cancers. For this reason, the FDA recommends that only women at the highest risk be given estrogen therapy at the lowest possible dosage.

Find out More About Osteoporosis

The National Osteoporosis Foundation provides information and help to those suffering from Osteoporosis and their families, as does the International Osteoporosis Foundation.