Osteoporosis is a disease that impacts the quality and density of bones in the body, making them porous. With more fragile and porous bones, the risk of breaking and getting fractures becomes higher. There are some symptoms of osteoporosis like stooped posture, loss of height, back pain, and bones that break more easily. After realizing you have osteoporosis, how will you treat the condition? Below are some treatment options you can consider:

1. Prolia (Denosumab)
Antibody medications that fall under the category of denosumab like Prolia reduce fractures’ risks and have more extraordinary bone density results. Denosumab is administered every six months through a shot beneath the skin. Once an individual starts taking Prolia denosumab, they might have to continue taking the medication for an unknown period. According to research, people who stop using the drug are likely to get fractures on the spinal column.

Despite improving bone density significantly, denosumab as a medication can cause cracks or breaks in the thigh bone’s middle. Another effect of the drug is a condition known as osteonecrosis of the jaw- the jawbone takes a long period to heal.

2. Bisphosphonates
Women and men with increased risks of getting fractures and bone breaks can use Bisphosphonates to treat the condition. There are different examples of Bisphosphonates, like Boniva and Zometa. There are side effects of using Bisphosphonates like having heartburns, pain in the abdomen, and nausea. If an individual uses Bisphosphonates well, the symptoms might not occur. Bisphosphonates have intravenous forms that do not cause stomach aches but can cause muscle aches, headache, and fever that can last up to three days. Scheduling a yearly or quarterly injection to take the medication can be easier than planning to take a monthly or weekly pill. However, injections are more costly than drugs.

3. Hormone-related therapy
Various therapies use hormones to treat osteoporosis. Estrogen, for instance, can help maintain the density of bones after menopause. However, using estrogen to treat osteoporosis can lead to severe complications like heart diseases, breast cancer, endometrial cancer, and blood clots.
To avoid such risks, estrogen is used to treat osteoporosis in women who require treatment for their menopausal symptoms or younger women.
Evista is a drug that mimics the benefits that estrogen has in the bone density of women who are past menopause but avoids some of the risks associated with using estrogen. Using Evista instead of estrogen to treat osteoporosis helps in preventing the risk of breast cancer.
However, using the medication leaves users at risk of getting blood clots and hot flashes.
In men, hormones are used to treat osteoporosis by considering the decrease in testosterone as age increases.

4. Bone building medications
Some people might not work well with the standard treatment options for osteoporosis, and doctors might recommend other treatment forms. The use of teriparatide to treat osteoporosis is among the opportunities that the doctor might give.  Teriparatide (Forteo) is the most common medication under this category. Fortea works like the parathyroid hormone and stimulates the growth of new bones and collagen for osteoporosis. Fortea is administered daily through an injection beneath the skin. After using Fortea or any other teriparatide medication to treat osteoporosis for two years, it is advisable to use another osteoporosis drug to maintain new bones’ growth. Other medications that can be given include tymlos, which can also be taken for two years and evenity, which can only be used for one year.