Medications to treat osteoporosis

Can osteoporosis be treated?  Yes, two types of medications have been developed for treatment of osteoporosis.  One type of drug called antiresorptive slows down the normal bone breakdown.  This class of drugs includes bisphosphonates, calcitonin, denosumab (Prolia), and estrogen agonists/antagonists. 

The second category of osteoporosis medication is called anabolic drugs.  Teriparatide is currently the one FDA-approved drug for accelerating bone building.  Which osteoporosis drug should you be considering, if any?  Talk with your doctor about your bone health.  You may need a bone density study if you haven't had one recently.  Then your doctor will determine if you need treatment and which medication is appropriate for you.  More information can be found at http://www.nof.org/articles/21 and http://www.nof.org/articles/22