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:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. Your other health issues. Having other health problems or taking other medications may limit which osteoporosis medications are right for you.
5. Your gender. Some osteoporosis medications are made only for women. Others can benefit both men and women.
6. 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.
7. Your age. Some medications may be more appropriate for older postmenopausal women, while different ones may be suitable for someone younger.