One thing for sure, there is no cure for Osteoporosis.
Though you can take steps to slow, prevent or stop its progress. Improving bone
density & reversing the disorder is also possible to some extent. Getting
enough of calcium & vitamin D is essential for bone health. Along with this
there are several medications which substantially reduce the risk of breaking
bones. Osteoporosis medications either slow or stop bone loss, or rebuild lost
bone matter to an extent.
Choosing
the Right Osteoporosis Medication
There are several things to consider while choosing
Osteoporosis medicine. Your healthcare professional will take into
consideration the following factors before giving a prescription.
Gender
is Important
This is because some medications
involving hormone therapies are approved only for women. Some others though are
approved for both men & women.
Age
Factor
Some medications are most appropriate
for young post-menopausal women while many others are better for older women.
Normally, most Osteoporosis medications are not recommended for treating
pre-menopausal women. However, certain medicines are approved for prevention
& treatment of Osteoporosis in pre-menopausal women resulting from
long-term overuse of steroids. Moreover, some healthcare professionals might
consider recommending Osteoporosis medicine if patients are having broken bones
due to lower bone density or experience bone loss from rare medical conditions.
Because Osteoporosis medications work in
many ways, the severity of the disease decides the type of medication you need
to take. Patients with severe bone loss or broken bones would require different
medications than patients with lesser bone loss. Some patients may have other
health problems for which they may be taking medicine. Your healthcare
professional will need to take all these factors into account before deciding
upon the right Osteoporosis medication for your problem.
Lastly, it is your personal preference how you would
prefer to take the medication. Do you prefer to take them as pills, liquids,
nasal sprays or as IV injects? Will it suit you to take medicine every day or
you prefer to take once a week, or even a month? All these factors influence
treatment decisions. Since no two people are alike, how well the medicine works
for you & the type of side-effects it will generate varies from patient to
patient.
Bone
Density – FRAX Results – Treatment
Bone density test is a perfect way to diagnose & determine
a treatment plan for Osteoporosis. T-score results fall into three categories
viz. low density, normal density & Osteoporosis. In case your DXA shows
that you are having low bone density, healthcare professional might ask you do
a FRAX test. FRAX also determines your risk of breaking bones in the coming ten
years. High risk patients are normally those who have previous records of
broken bones of the spine. However, patients having other types of fractures
may also require treatment.
