Osteoporosis treatment options

Osteoporosis treatment is built around two goals: slowing bone breakdown and, when needed, supporting new bone formation. Antiresorptive drugs like bisphosphonates (alendronate, risedronate, zoledronic acid) and denosumab reduce the activity of osteoclasts, the cells that remove old bone, which helps preserve existing bone mineral density. Anabolic agents such as teriparatide, abaloparatide, and romosozumab work differently, helping to stimulate new bone formation, and are often considered for people at higher fracture risk.

Hormone-related options exist too. Hormone replacement therapy or estrogen can help some postmenopausal women, and in men, testosterone therapy may affect bone density in some cases, but hormone therapy is not considered a standalone osteoporosis treatment — any hormone therapy decision belongs to your doctor, who will weigh your full health history. Raloxifene is another option sometimes used in postmenopausal women.

Beyond medication, doctors usually recommend adequate calcium and vitamin D intake, weight-bearing and resistance exercise, fall-prevention strategies, and addressing other risk factors like smoking or excess alcohol. These measures support overall bone health but are not a substitute for medical treatment. Choosing among these options depends on your fracture risk, bone density results, other health conditions, and personal preferences — this is always a conversation to have with your prescriber, not a decision to make alone or based on general information.