You'll also need to wait between 30 minutes and 2 hours before eating food or drinking any other fluids.īisphosphonates usually take 6 to 12 months to work, and you may need to take them for 5 years or longer. Stand or sit upright for 30 minutes after taking them. They're given as a tablet, a liquid that you swallow, or an injection.Īlways take bisphosphonates on an empty stomach with a full glass of water. There are a number of different bisphosphonates, including: This maintains bone density and reduces your risk of a broken bone.

Bisphosphonatesīisphosphonates slow the rate that bone is broken down in your body. Medicines for osteoporosisĪ number of different medicines are used to treat osteoporosis (and sometimes osteopenia). To achieve this, your healthcare team will ask you about your diet and may recommend that you make changes or take supplements.

However, make sure you're getting enough calcium and vitamin D. You may not need or want to take medicine to treat osteoporosis. If you've been diagnosed with osteoporosis because you've had a broken bone, you should still receive treatment to try to reduce your risk of further broken bones. Treating osteoporosis involves treating and preventing fractures, and using medicines to strengthen bones.Īlthough a diagnosis of osteoporosis is based on the results of your bone density scan, the decision about what treatment you need, if any, is based on a number of other factors including your:

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