Understanding Osteoporosis Medications (cont.)
IN THIS ARTICLE
- What Is Osteoporosis?
- What Causes Osteoporosis?
- What Are the Risks of Osteoporosis?
- Medical Treatment
- Calcium and Vitamin D Supplements
- Estrogen Therapy
- Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators
- Bisphosphonates
- Calcitonins
- Parathyroid Hormone Derivatives
- Investigational Drugs
- For More Information
- Web Links
- Multimedia
- Synonyms and Keywords
- Authors and Editors
What Causes Osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis occurs when the body fails to form enough new bone, when too much old bone is reabsorbed by the body, or both. Women are at a greater risk than men, especially women who are elderly, thin, or small. Other risk factors include the following:
- Inadequate calcium and vitamin D ingestion
- Lack of weight-bearing exercises
- Excessive corticosteroid (for example, prednisone [Deltasone, Meticorten]) use
- Thyroid problems
- Bone cancer
- Postmenopause
- White or Asian race
- Cigarette smoking
- Eating disorders
- Alcoholism
Next: What Are the Risks of Osteoporosis? »
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Osteoporosis: Treatment & Medication »
Osteoporosis is typically asymptomatic until a fracture occurs.
