What treatments are there for osteoporosis?

If you’re diagnosed with osteoporosis following a low-impact fracture, the first priority will be to treat the fracture. The next step is to begin treatment to reduce your risk of further fractures.

Treatment of fractures

Unless you have a vertebral fracture (a fracture of the backbone) you’ll usually need to see a specialist for an orthopaedic assessment. They can decide whether the fracture needs to be fixed.

You may need pain relief, especially if you have a vertebral fracture. This can include:

• painkillers, such as paracetamol, codeine and occasionally morphine
• non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen or naproxen
• calcitonin, which has been shown to reduce pain from fractures of the pelvis and vertebrae

Prevention of fractures

Self-help measures, such as eating a healthy diet and exercising, can help to reduce your risk of fractures, but a number of specific treatments are also available. Your treatment will depend on your individual circumstances, and you should discuss this with your doctor. Types of treatment include:

• calcium and vitamin D
• bisphosphonates (alendronate, risedronate, ibandronate, etidronate, ibandronate, zolendronate)
• strontium ranelate
• teriparatide
• hormone replacement therapy (HRT)
• raloxifene
• calcitonin
• denosumab

Read more about drugs for osteoporosis.