Osteoporosis refers to a condition of weak and brittle bones, according to the Mayo Clinic. Symptoms of osteoporosis include back pain (especially if you fractured the bones in your back), loss of height, curved posture, and fractures of your hips, wrist or other bones. In order to prevent osteoporosis, you must exercise regularly and add calcium to your diet. In the event osteoporosis is already present, call your doctor as she can recommend certain medications to treat this debilitating bone condition.
Bisphosphonates
According to MedlinePlus, bisphosphonates, such as alendronate, work to treat and prevent osteoporosis. This medication is available as a pill and can be given once a week or once a month. A bishosphosphonate is also available as an injection and this is taken less often than the pill. According to the Mayo Clinic, this drug specifically works to prevent bone breakdown and increase your bone mass. Its side effects include nausea, stomach pain or, in rare instances, osteonecrosis of the jaw (bone destruction of your jaw).
Raloxifene
Raloxifene is a medication that also treats and prevents osteoporosis. According to MedlinePlus, it can prevent spinal fractures by approximately 50 percent. Deep vein thrombosis (blood clots in your leg) and pulmonary embolism (blood clots in your lungs) are raloxifene's harmful side effects.
Calcitonin
Calcitonin is a nasal spray or injection used to slow bone destruction and loss, according to the Mayo Clinic. Calcitonin may decrease the incidence of spinal fractures and even soothe your pain when you suffer from a compression fracture (broken back bones).
Tamoxifen
According to MedlinePlus, hormone replacement therapy is intended to prevent bone loss. The Mayo Clinic states that tamoxifen is a synthetic hormone that works like estrogen (a female natural chemical in the body) to prevent bone loss in women more than 50 years old. Tamoxifen is not without risks, and it may lead to vaginal dryness, hot flashes or stomach pain.
