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Osteoporosis treatment: Medications can help
Which medications are commonly used for osteoporosis treatment?
How do most osteoporosis medications work?
How do you know if you're taking the right bisphosphonate?
When might other osteoporosis medications be used?
Can bisphosphonates hurt your bones?
How long should you take a bisphosphonate for osteoporosis treatment?
What happens if you break a bone while taking an osteoporosis medication?
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Which osteoporosis medications are usually tried first?
What are common side effects of bisphosphonate pills?
Do intravenous bisphosphonates have advantages over the pill form?
Can osteoporosis medications hurt your bones?
Should I take a drug holiday from bisphosphonates?
Are hormones used to treat osteoporosis?
How do osteoporosis medications work?
Which drugs help speed up the bone-building process?
Can medication alone successfully treat osteoporosis?
Should I take a drug holiday from bisphosphonates?
The risk of developing atypical femoral fracture or osteonecrosis of the jaw tends to increase the longer you take bisphosphonates. So your doctor might suggest that you temporarily stop taking this type of drug. This practice is known as a drug holiday.
However, even if you stop taking the medication, its positive effects can persist. That's because after taking a bisphosphonate for several years, the medicine remains in your bone.
Because of this lingering effect, most experts believe that it's reasonable for people who are doing well during treatment — those who have not broken any bones and are maintaining bone density — to consider taking a holiday from their bisphosphonate after taking it for five years.
