Treatment for osteoporosis actually begins in the teen years using an ounce of prevention. This is definitely one case where that ounce of prevention before the age of Tony is truly worth a pound of cure at 55 years.
Although prevention is the safest option the Federal drug administration does have several medication options which are available for treatment which currently appear to have a low side effect threshold.
Many of us would like to be able to take a quick hello and how the problem fixed. But, if all that is done is to take a pill and the results will be much less than satisfactory. Treatment for a complex condition requires more than a pill and requires a bit of complexity. Aside from the medications that are approved for treatment of osteoporosis there are other measures which should be instituted to receive the full benefits.
By getting the correct amount of calcium, vitamin D, vitamin K2, magnesium and weight bearing exercise in the teen years individuals will increase the amount of bone mass density between the ages of 25 and 35. Although the most benefit from exercise in the treatment is in the early adult years it also has benefits in older adults to decrease the bone thinning process.
Weight-bearing exercises are important, however they do not need to be Olympian efforts. 30 minutes of weight-bearing such as weight lifting, jogging, soccer, tennis, rowing or racquetball a day is enough to see results in an individual of any age. The exercises should place stress on the bones so that although walking and swimming are great cardiovascular exercises they are not appropriate in the treatment of osteoporosis.
By changing lifestyle choices in individuals who are at risk for low trauma structures, individuals can also decrease their risk. Doctors and researchers know that cigarette smoking, excessive alcohol intake and the long-term use of corticosteroids all place in individual at greater risk for osteoporosis and the resulting fractures. By decreasing oral laminating these risk factors individuals can also help to improve the use of the medications are therapies that may be instituted in the treatment plan.
One new drug used in the treatment of osteoporosis is Forteo, one of the first treatments used to stimulate the growth of new bone as opposed to delay the thinning process. The drawing is a chemical part of human parathyroid hormones which works to regulate the use of calcium and phosphate in the bones. The medication is administered through daily injection and there have been strong cautions issued since the preapproval studies there was an increased incidence of osteosarcoma in laboratory rats. While the osteosarcoma is a rare but deadly cancer of the bone, researchers have found that the use of this medication in individuals who suffer from Paget’s disease will place them at greater risk for developing this cancer.
Other medications used in the treatment act to slow the thinning of the bones. In mid-19 90s the FDA approved the nonhormonal treatment of osteoporosis called alendronate and marketed as Fosamax. Fosamax falls into a class of drugs called bisphosphonates, which also includes Actonel. Both of these medications work by slowing the thinning of the bones and not by increasing the in amounts of bone lay down.
Evista is another drug use in the process of treatment for osteoporosis and is in a class of drugs known as selective estrogen receptor modulator’s. This class of drugs is believed to work by allowing the medication to act on certain tissues as estrogen does but not on other tissue. So although it acts as estrogen on bone tissue it does not on soft tissue. Both Evista and Actonel have been shown in studies to reduce the risk of fracture in the spine.
Calcitonin is a hormone that has a role in calcium metabolism and improving the use of calcium in the building of new bone tissue. In the past it was available as injection only but recently the Federal drug administration approved it as a nasal spray.
Interestingly, studies have also found that the use of fluoride, long known for fighting dental cavities, also stimulates building new bone. However, the bone that is built is usually abnormal and weaker than normal bone in patients with osteoporosis. Unfortunately, many of the other drugs also known for building bone in individuals with osteoporosis does not build bone in the same manner in which the body normally lays it down. In other words, the microstructure continues to be abnormal and the bone is not as strong.
In some studies individuals have found using estrogen in women also taking the class of drug bisphosphonates has had good results. However, since hormone replacement guidelines changed in 2003 because of the increased risk of breast, ovarian and uterine cancer there are many less women taking hormone replacement therapy.
Most importantly however, is the integration of calcium, vitamin D and vitamin K2 in to the treatment plan for anyone who has osteoporosis. These vitamins and minerals are necessary for the body to either slow the process of osteoporosis or lay down new bone-whether instigated by exercise or her medication. It is possible to take an excessive amount of calcium so while it may be necessary for the treatment of osteoporosis in excess of amount will also cause painful kidney stones.
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