Treatments
Did you know?
Osteoporosis leads to fragility fractures. These are broken bones that happen from a minor injury but that have major consequences such as pain, disability and sometimes death. Therefore, Osteoporosis Canada supports the use of medications that have been proven, in good clinical trials, to significantly reduce a person’s risk of fracture.
The primary goal of treatment is to prevent or slow bone loss and reduce the risk of fracture.
For those living with osteoporosis, there are a variety of treatment options available. Everyone is different – some people respond better to one drug than another, while some experience side effects that others don’t. You may need to explore several treatment options before you find one that works for you.
It’s important to speak to your doctor to assess the benefits and risks of each treatment, and determine which is best for you.
Fewer than 20% of fracture patients in Canada currently undergo diagnosis or adequate treatment for osteoporosis.
Osteoporosis Treatments
Specific drug treatments to treat osteoporosis include:
Bisphosphonates
Bisphosphonates are the most common family of drugs used to treat osteoporosis. They are part of the group of osteoporosis medications known as anti-resorptives. There are four bisphosphonates currently approved for use in Canada: alendronate (Fosamax ®), etidronate (Didrocal ®), risedronate (Actonel ®) and zoledronic acid (Aclasta®). Also available are: Actonel DR™, Fosavance® (Fosamax® with vitamin D) and several generic versions.
Denosumab
Denosumab is a new class of osteoporosis treatment called a human monoclonal antibody that prevents RANKL-RANK interaction and thereby inhibits osteoclast formation. Denosumab (Prolia™) is the first treatment approved by Health Canada in this class.
Parathyroid Hormone (PTH)
Parathyroid hormone analogues belong to a class of osteoporosis medications which can promote bone growth. In Canada, there are currently three commercially available products in this class. The generic name of these medications is teriparatide.
Hormone Therapy (HT)
Hormone Therapy (HT) or estrogen/progesterone, is commonly used to relieve the symptoms of menopause. However, because estrogen plays such an important role in maintaining bone, HT is another option to consider to treat osteoporosis if you are also seeking relief from symptoms of menopause.
Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators (SERMs)
Raloxifene (Evista®) is from a family of drugs called SERMs (Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators).
Romosozumab
Romosozumab is a new class of osteoporosis treatment, a sclerostin inhibitor that both increases bone formation and decreases bone resorption. Romosozumab (Evenity™) is the first treatment approved by Health Canada in this class.
No matter which treatment you choose, it’s always important to have a diet rich in calcium and vitamin D to maintain healthy bones. Learn more here.
Provincial Drug Coverage for Osteoporosis Treatment
Provincial drug plans may cover certain treatments only for certain patients.
Learn more about provincial drug coverage.