Which Medication is Right for You?

If your doctor decides you could benefit from taking an osteoporosis medication, here are seven factors you should consider:
- The severity of your osteoporosis. Osteoporosis treatments work in different ways. If you have already broken or fractured a bone, you may take a different medicine than someone whose disease has not progressed as far.
- Medications you’ve already tried. If you’ve been taking one type of osteoporosis medication for a while, your doctor may want to try a different one to get better results.
- Your lifestyle. Osteoporosis medications come in many different forms and can be taken at different intervals. Let your doctor know if taking a medication every day, once a week or even as seldom as once or twice a year works for you. Depending on frequency, your medication may be a pill, liquid, IV medicine or one that is given as a nasal spray or an injection. Keep in mind that how well a medicine works, or what side effects it will have, can vary from one person to the next.
- Your other health issues. Having other health problems or taking other medications may limit which osteoporosis medications are right for you.
- Your gender. Some osteoporosis medications are made only for women. Others can benefit both men and women.
- Your menopause status. Generally speaking, osteoporosis medication most benefits postmenopausal women (women who are no longer getting their monthly periods). There are exceptions; for example, younger women who’ve been taking steroids for a long time or who’ve already broken a bone due to low bone density may need medication.
- Your age. Some medications may be more appropriate for older postmenopausal women, while different ones may be suitable for someone younger.
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