Treatment of osteoporosis is aimed at preventing fractures. Drugs for osteoporosis can have different effects: they stop the progressive bone degradation or resorption (anti-resorptive drugs), modify bone formation (anabolic drugs), or regulate both. What medications are given to patients with osteoporosis and which of them are reimbursed?
Treatment of osteoporosisis more effective the sooner it is started. In Poland,drugs for osteoporosisfrom the group of bisphosphonates - alendronate and risedronate as well as calcitonin are reimbursed, and since last year also the newest drug against ostoeporosis - denosumab. Check what medications can be used to treat osteoporosis.
Treatment of osteoporosis: bisphosphonates
Bisphosphonates - known for over 30 years and the most commonly used, they have anti-resorptive properties. Studies show that taking them regularly reduces the risk of vertebral fractures by about 40-60 percent. The problem is that they are often poorly tolerated by patients. After a year, only about 30-40 percent of bisphosphonate therapy was continued. sick. Available forms of bisphosphonates:
- weekly (taken once a week) oral: alendronate, risedronate
- monthly oral: ibandronate
- quarterly administered intravenously: ibandronate
- annual intravenous: zolendronate
Treatment of osteoporosis: denosumab
Denosumab is the newest biological drug (fully human, monoclonal antibody) that significantly influences the bone remodeling system. It does not cause any side effects on the gastrointestinal tract, because it is administered subcutaneously once every 6 months. Denosumab can also be used in renal failure, which is a common contraindication to pharmacotherapy of osteoporosis. Studies have shown that this drug reduces the risk of vertebral fractures by 68 percent and the risk of hip fractures by 40 percent. Since it is taken rarely, patients are more likely to use it and use it regularly, the therapy is not interrupted.
Treatment of osteoporosis: calcitonin
Calcitonin is rarely used in the treatment of osteoporosis today because it does not prevent non-vertebral fractures. However, it has a beneficial effect on the spine, including pain relief. It is not recommended for the long-term treatment of osteoporosis.it is only given for a short period of time.
Treatment of osteoporosis: parathyroid hormone and ranelate
- Parathyroid hormone - PTH promotes bone restoration, administered subcutaneously every day is one of the most effective drugs in severe osteoporosis, but it cannot be taken for more than 18 months.
- Strontium ranelate is a drug that inhibits bone resorption and stimulates bone formation.
Treatment of osteoporosis: raloxifene
A drug from the SERM group (Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators), which is the newest group of drugs in the pharmacotherapy of osteoporosis. They significantly reduce the risk of vertebral fractures, but do not affect the risk of other osteoporotic fractures.
Treatment of osteoporosis: hormone replacement therapy (HRT)
Due to the risk of complications, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is not used today in postmenopausal osteoporosis to prevent fractures, although it does so by supplementing hormonal deficiencies.
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