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Osteoporosis Health Centre
Treatment |
Osteoporosis
and Drug Therapy
Drug therapy is only one aspect
of treatment for osteoporosis. Other factors to prevent further bone loss,
increase bone mass and prevent fractures include:
Each aspect of managing osteoporosis
plays a role. A combined approach gives the best results.
In Canada, several drug therapies
have been officially approved for the prevention and/or treatment of osteoporosis.
These include:
Hormone
Replacement Therapy (HRT)
Approved for Prevention
- estrogen with or without
progesterone
Bisphosphonates
Approved for both Prevention and Treatment
- etidronate, available as
Didronel® or with calcium supplements as Didrocal®
- alendronate, available
as Fosamax®
- risedronate, available as
ActonelŽ
Selective
Estrogen Receptor Modulators (SERM)
Approved for both Prevention and Treatment
- raloxifene, available as
Evista®
Calcitonin
Approved for Treatment
- calcitonin nasal spray available
as Miacalcin®
Other
medications are prescribed only for certain groups of people with
osteoporosis:
- calcitriol
- low-dose oral contraceptives
- testosterone
- sodium fluoride
Research
studies are looking into the effectiveness of other conventional medicines.
These include:
- other bisphosphonates
- other SERMS
- growth hormones
- nitrates
- vitamin K
Parathyroid
Hormone (PTH) Injections
- has recently been approved
in the United States and is under review by the Canadian Health Protection
Branch as a medication for the treatment of osteoporosis
There is also growing patient
interest in the possible effectiveness of alternative and naturopathic
remedies such as:
- natural progesterone cream
- compounded estrogen formulations
(eg. BI-EST, TRI-EST)
- phytoestrogens
- ipriflavone
Scientific studies have not yet
proven the effectiveness of alternate and naturopathic remedies.
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