Treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis
Chapurlat, R.; Delmas, P.D.
La Revue du Praticien 54(19): 2120-2126
2004
ISSN/ISBN: 0035-2640 PMID: 15724589 Document Number: 573984
The treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis relies on management of some risk factors for fracture, e.g., risk factors for falls, improvement of calcium and vitamin D intake, and on various medications. All elderly women with calcium and vitamin D deficiency should receive calcium and vitamin D supplements. Estrogen replacement therapy should not longer be used to prevent or treat postmenopausal osteoporosis, owing to its poor long-term risk/benefit ratio. Raloxifene, biphosphonates (alendronate, risedronate) are well tolerated compounds with proven anti-fracture efficacy. Teriparatide is a new bone forming agent to treat severe osteoporosis. Strontium ranelate is a new drug also reducing the risk of fractures that should be available soon.