Osteoporosis Medications
Type of
Medication
Brand Name/
How It Works
Bisphosphonates Fosamax®
(alendronate
sodium) or
Fosamax Plus D®
(alendronate
sodium/
cholecalciferol)
Availability
Tablet or
liquid
 Alters the cycle
of bone
formation and
breakdown
 Slows bone loss
and increases
bone mass
Bisphosphonates Boniva®
(ibandronate
sodium)
 Alters the cycle
of bone
formation and
breakdown
 Slows bone loss
and increases
bone mass
Tablet or
intravenous
Dosage/Who
Can Use It
Side Effects*
 Daily or
weekly
 Take first thing
in the morning
30 minutes
before eating or
drinking
anything other
than water or
taking any
other
medications
 Take with a full
glass of water
 You must stay upright
for 30 minutes after
taking Fosamax
 People taking similar
medications have
reported bone loss of
the jaw
 Tablets are
taken either
once per day or
once per month
 IVs are given
once every 3
months
 Must take 60
minutes before
eating, drinking
anything other
than water, or
taking any
other
medications
 Take with a full
glass of water
 You must stay upright
for 60 minutes after
taking Boniva
 People taking similar
medications have
reported bone loss of
the jaw
Other side effects may
include:
 Mild heartburn,
bloating
 Mild nausea,
vomiting, or stomach
pain
 Taste changes
 Diarrhea, gas, or
constipation
 Mild joint pain or
swelling or back pain
 Swelling of the hands
or feet
 Dizziness, eye pain,
and headache
Other side effects may
include:
 Diarrhea
 Dizziness
 Headache
 Heartburn
 Mild muscle or joint
pain
 Mild flu-like
symptoms
 Nausea
 Pain, swelling or
redness at the
injection site
Bisphosphonates Actonel® with
Calcium (calcium
carbonate and
risedronate)
 Alters the cycle
of bone
formation and
breakdown
 Slows bone loss
and increases
bone mass
Bisphosphonates Reclast®
(zoledronic acid)
 Inhibits the
release of
calcium from
the bones
Tablet—
 Take Actonel
packaged as
once a week on
four Actonel
the same day
tablets and
 Take the
24 calcium
calcium daily
tablets
for the 6 days
between
Actonel doses
 Must take
Actonel 30
minutes before
eating, drinking
anything other
than water, or
taking any
other
medications
 Take with a full
glass of water
 Take calcium
with food
 People taking similar
medications have
reported bone loss of
the jaw
 Once per year
 Administration
takes about 15
minutes
 Drink at least
two glasses of
water 1 hour
before
administration
 People taking similar
medications have
reported bone loss of
the jaw
Intravenous
Side effects may
include:
 Constipation or
diarrhea
 Dizziness
 Gas
 Mild back, joint, or
muscle pain
 Mild flu-like
symptoms
 Mild stomach pain
 Nausea
Other side effects that
may occur include:
 Diarrhea
 Dizziness or vertigo
 Headache
 Mild back, joint, or
muscle pain
 Mild flu-like
symptoms
 Mild itching, pain, or
redness at the
injection site
 Nausea and stomach
pain
 Tiredness and
weakness
CalcitoninSalmon
Miacalcin® or
Fortical®
(calcitoninsalmon)
Nasal spray
or injection
 Are man-made
forms of a
hormone that
occurs naturally
in the thyroid
gland
 Regulates
calcium in the
blood and bone
Selective
Estrogen
Receptor
Modulators
Evista®
(raloxifene)
 Affects the
cycle of bone
breakdown
 Reduces loss of
bone tissue
Tablet
 One spray each
day, alternating
nostrils
 Store unopened
medication in
the refrigerator,
and bring to
room
temperature
before using
 Discard any
medication
after 35 days
 Do not blow
your nose for
several minutes
after
administering
 Used for
women who
have had
menopause for
at least 5 years
 Runny nose, nasal
crusting, nosebleed,
nasal ulceration, and
nasal congestion
 Daily—take at
the same time
each day
Side effects may
include:
 Hot flashes
 Joint pain
 Increased sweating
 Leg cramps
 Infection
 Mild flu symptoms
 Nausea, vomiting,
heartburn, and
stomach pain
 Reports of vaginal
bleeding and vaginitis
Other side effects
include:
 Diarrhea
 Flushing of the face
or hands
 Increased frequency
of urination
 Loss of appetite
 Metallic taste in the
mouth
 Nausea and vomiting
 Stomach pain
 Shivering and chills
 Evista can cause
serious cardiovascular
effects, increasing the
risk of blood clots
 Do not take if you
cannot remain in an
upright position for at
least 30 minutes after
taking the medication
Teriparatide
or
Parathyroid
Hormone
Monoclonal
Antibody
Forteo®
(teriparatide)
Injection
 Used for severe
osteoporosis
 Man-made
version of
parathyroid
hormone
 Increases bone
density and
strength
Prolia®
(denosumab)
 Targets and
destroys only
certain cells in
the body
 May help to
protect healthy
cells from
damage
 Slows bone
thinning
Injection
 Daily for up to
24 months
 Store pen in the
refrigerator
 Discard pen
after 28 days
 Given under
the skin of the
thigh or
stomach
 Can cause
dizziness and
lightheadedness
 May help to sit
or lie down for
a while after
administering
 In animal studies, this
medication has
increased the risk of
developing bone
cancer
 Usually given
every 6 months
 Injected into
the stomach,
thigh, or upper
arm
 People taking Prolia
have reported bone
loss of the jaw
Other side effects
include:
 Impaired thinking or
reaction time
 Constipation or
diarrhea
 Headache
 Increased cough
 Indigestion
 Joint pain; leg or back
cramps
 Dizziness
 Fast heartbeat
 Minor bruising,
itching, pain, redness,
and swelling at the
injection site
 Nausea
 Runny nose
 Sore throat
 Weakness
Other side effects
include:
 Back pain
 Constipation
 Mild skin
inflammation
 Muscle pain
 Pain in the arms or
legs
 Note: This is not a complete list of all of the possible side effects. If you have any questions
about a medication, please contact your doctor and/or pharmacist.
When to call you doctor
With any medication, call your physician immediately if you experience:
 Chest pain
 Difficulty breathing
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Difficulty swallowing
Pain when swallowing
Pain or burning under the ribs or in the back
Severe heartburn
Burning pain in your upper stomach
Coughing up blood
New or worsening heartburn
Fever
Body aches
Flu symptoms
Severe joint, bone, or muscle pain
New or unusual pain in your thigh or hip
Symptoms of low blood calcium (eg, spasms, twitches, muscle cramps, or numbness or
tingling of your fingers or toes or around the mouth)
Red, swollen, burning, and blistering skin
Black or tarry stools
Painful or difficult urination
Bloody emesis
Vision changes
Jaw pain, numbness, or swelling
All information adapted from www.drugs.com.
Review Date 7/11
G-1695