Depending on the condition of the the person diagnosed with osteoporosis and the risk factors of the individual, a doctor may either choose to treat the sufferer by natural (nutrients, exercise) methods alone or by use of medicines. If you need medicines then there are two main forms of drugs that are available:
1. Antiresorptive: these inhibit bone resorption
2. Anabolic agents: these stimulate bone growth and the formation of bone tissue.
In the United states there are currently seven antiresorptive agents that have been approved by the FDA (2007), and one Anabolic agent.
1. Antiresorptive
1. Bisphosphonates: Alendronate; Risedronate; Ibandronate
2. Selected Estrogen Receptor Modulator (SERM) Raloxifene
3. Estrogen
4. Calcitonin
2. Anabolic
1. Teriparatide
In the united states of America the most widely prescribed drug for the treatment of osteoporosis are the antiresorptive bisphosphonates. Some of the common names of these products and of the other antiresorptive agents are as follows.
1. Fosamax: Alendronate - manufactured by Merck
2. Actonel: Risedronate - manufactured by Proctor & Gamble
3. Boniva: Ibandronate - manufactured by Roche
4. Evista: Selected Estrogen Receptor Modulator Raloxifene (SERM) - manufactured by Eli Lily
5. Prempo: Estrogen
6. Miacalcin: Calcitonin - manufactured by Novartis
The anabolic agent recombinant parathyroid hormone teriparatide is manufactured by Eli Lily as Forteo). It acts differently from the other drugs listed above as it stimulates the bone remodelling mechanisms into building more bone.
Other antiresorptive drugs that are not approved specifically for osteoporosis but are often used in the treatment of the osteoporosis condition due to there effects on bone mineral density include
1. Aredia: - Intravenous pamidronate - manufactured by Novartis, this is often used in the treatment of osteoporosis for people who cannot tolerate oral bisphosphonates.
2. Zometa: Zoledronic acid - manufactured by Novartis; this is approved by the FDA for treatment of malignamt hypercalcemia and of multiple myeloma; A single 4mg dose of Zometa has been shown to increase bone mineral density for up to a year.
It can be seen from the above that there are many medicinal treatments for osteoporosis, discussion with your doctor should help you to find the best osteoporosis treatment for you. Further information on all of these drugs is given in other parts of the osteoporosis advice site.
References
Mauck and Clarke (2006). Diagnosis, screening, prevention, and of osteoporosis. Clin Proc. :662 to 672.
Mayes (2007) Review of post menopausal osteoporosis pharmacology. Nutr. Clin. Prac. 22:3: 276 to 285