Pharmacologic therapies in osteoporosis treatment

Dr Wan Aizad Wan Mahmood and Dr Malachi J. McKenna look at the treatments for patients with osteoporosis in the second article of our two-part series. Approved therapies for the prevention or treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis include bisphosphonates, calcitonin, oestrogen, selective oestrogen receptor antagonist, parathyroid hormone and strontium. {openx:269} The benefit of these drugs has been studied mostly in women with postmenopausal osteoporosis. There are limited fracture data in glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis and no fracture data in men. These approved treatments have been shown to decrease fracture risk in patients who have had fragility fractures or osteoporosis by DXA. These treatments…