Nondrug therapies can help with osteoporosis effectively. My article states that physical activity for four times a week can help tremendously. Another nondrug therapy that may help is removing harmful lifestyle factors such as smoking, drinking, and caffeine intake. Other nondrug therapies patients that may have osteoporosis can use are physical …show more content…
There are two common types of drug therapies; one that helps bone loss, and one that stimulates bone formation. Drug therapies that help prevent bone loss include calcium, vitamin D, estrogen, calcitonin, and bisphosphonates. Calcium can reduce bone loss by three to six years. Most of the time lifelong supplements are required. Two types of calcium were stated in the article calcium citrate which is better absorbed and most beneficial and calcium citrate which is absorbed well when taken with meals and cost less. Vitamin D can improve calcium absorption. Low vitamin D may impair bone mineralization. Estrogen is another drug therapy that can be used. It is effective in halting bone loss. This is becoming more popular. Calcitonin is used for patients who can’t take estrogen. This decreases bone re-sorption by stopping osteoclast activity. Calcitonin has many side effects; flushing, nausea, vomiting, and irritation at the injection site. Another drug therapy recently denied by the FDA, bisphosphonates. It is supposed to adsorb to bone crystals and stop bone resorption. Drug therapies that help stimulate bone formation are fluoride. Fluoride stimulate osteoblastic bone formation. If given too much of a dose mineralization may not occur properly. Although it does have side effects of GI distress and lower extremity