How do different osteoporosis treatments work in your bones? Watch to learn more. Continue on this page to learn more about treatments and to download the doctor discussion guide.
Talking Osteoporosis Treatments
Prescription osteoporosis treatments come in several forms, such as liquids, pills, injections and infusions. Your doctor can help you decide which form is best for you. Regardless of how you take prescription treatments, they typically work in one of two ways:
Antiresorptive—
Osteoporosis Treatments That Slow Bone Loss
Your body naturally removes old bone and replaces it with new bone. When you have osteoporosis, more bone is being removed than being replaced. An antiresorptive treatment slows down the process of bone loss, maintaining the bone you have. The goal of an antiresorptive treatment is to preserve bone strength to reduce the risk of fracture.
Anabolic—
Osteoporosis Treatments That Build New Bone
Anabolics osteoporosis treatments build new bone by stimulating your body’s natural bone-building cells. The goal of anabolic treatment is to build new bone — not just maintain the bone you already have — and to reduce the risk of fracture.
Talking to a Bone Expert
Of course, an osteoporosis plan that’s right for one person may not be right for another. Always talk to your doctor about treatment choices and remember, the doctor who treats your osteoporosis-related fracture — like a surgeon or emergency room doctor — may not be the same doctor who treats and provides ongoing care for your osteoporosis. Make sure all of your doctors know that you’ve had a fracture, and make sure to discuss treatment plans for osteoporosis that may be right for you.
Postmenopausal women who have had a low-impact fracture are 6 times more likely to have another fracture within 1 year, which is why having and maintaining an osteoporosis treatment plan should be a top priority.