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Conditions We Treat
Should You Be On Fosamax?A ‘reality check’ on bone-building drugs for osteoporosis prevention
How Bone Breaks Down and RebuildsWhen your body needs the calcium stored in bone, cells called osteoclasts retrieve it by breaking down bone. Then, cells called osteoblasts stimulate bone growth to refill the gaps, and eventually become osteocytes, or part of the new bone. When breakdown outpaces rebuilding, bones become fragile (osteoporosis). Drugs like Fosamax slow the breakdown phase to help maintain bone mass. prescription? Don’t rush to the pharmacy just yet. “Fosamax is a good drug, but before any drug therapy you need to assess the ‘global picture’ of your health,” says reproductive endocrinologist Albert Peters, D.O., of Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network. “Discuss your diet, exercise and lifestyle habits with your physician. Age, medical conditions and other factors also play a role.” Our bones constantly are being broken down (for the calcium stored there) and rebuilt. With age, this turnover process takes away more bone than it replaces. Drugs that slow the destructive phase, such as alendronate and raloxifene (Evista), benefit the 10 million Americans diagnosed with osteoporosis, Peters says. However, at the pre-osteoporosis stage (called osteopenia), the drugs may or may not be beneficial. It depends, he says, on your bone mass and ability to regenerate bone tissue. To find out what’s appropriate for your bones, a bone density test is vital. “All women should have a baseline test around menopause, when they begin to lose bone mass more rapidly, and then every two years,” says gynecologist Gregory Radio, M.D., of Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network. Men also should be tested at their doctor’s recommendation. The test measures your bone density against that of a healthy young adult. A score between 0 and –1 means your density is normal. A score between –1 and –2.5 indicates osteopenia, and below –2.5, osteoporosis. It’s best to build up bone mass while you’re young. Encourage the girls you care about to eat calcium-rich foods, exercise regularly and avoid “bone robbers” such as caffeine, smoking and excess alcohol. These healthy lifestyle choices remain important after menopause. Make sure you do regular strength training (such as lifting light weights) and consume 1,200-1,500 milligrams of calcium and 400-800 international units (IU) of vitamin D daily.
Want to Know More about osteoporosis risk, bone density testing, men and osteoporosis, or how to get enough calcium? Click here or call 610-402-CARE. This page last updated 3/31/08 02:08 PM
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