You may not be aware how popular medicines can cause excessive bone loss — and even osteoporosis. One incredible example is that approximately 20% of osteoporosis in the U.S. is the result of corticosteroid use. That’s 4 million people who want relief from inflammatory conditions, allergies, arthritis or other conditions and end up with severe bone loss.
Of course, medication use may be necessary to treat a serious illness. If this is the case, it’s still important to discuss the risks with your healthcare practitioner as well as options for reducing the harm to your bones. Here’s a list of 4 of the many common medications that cause bone loss to help you get started with that conversation:
I recommend having the conversation about your medication and its effect on your bones frequently with your practitioner, especially after being on a medication for a great deal of time or knowing that entering menopause or other bone loss risk factors may be increasing. For a more complete list of medications that can be harmful to bone, as well as medical conditions that may also cause bone loss, see my articleRethinking “primary” osteoporosis: Isn’t all osteoporosis really just “secondary” osteoporosis?
References:
Hodgson, S.F., “Corticosteroid-induced osteoporosis,” Endocrinolo-Metab-Clin-North-Am 19.1 (199): 95-111.
Skolnick, A. “Public Health Experts Take Aim at a Moving Target: Foodborne Infections,” Journal of the American Medical Association 277.2 (January 1997): 98-100
Cutler, W., Hysterectomy: Before & After, (New York: Harper & Row, 1988).
Adler, A., et.al., “Aluminum absorption and intestinal vitamin D-dependent Ca binding protein,” Kidney Int 37 (1990).