Medicines that increase your risk
Some medicines may increase your risk of osteoporosis and broken bones.
Risk factors are things that increase your chance of developing a condition or outcome. This information looks at some of the risk factors that can lead to osteoporosis or broken bones. Osteoporosis is a condition where your bones lose strength, making you more likely to break a bone. The terms ‘broken bone’ and ‘fracture’ mean the same thing.
The more risk factors you have for osteoporosis, the greater your chance of developing it. But having one or more risk factors does not mean you will definitely develop osteoporosis. And having osteoporosis does not necessarily mean you will break a bone.
Many medicines have been linked with osteoporosis and a higher chance of breaking a bone. On this page, we look at some common medicines where there is good evidence of a link.
This information is not a full list of all the medicines linked to osteoporosis and broken bones. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you have any concerns about your medicine. You can also find information about side effects in the patient information leaflet that comes with your medicine.
Some medicines can increase your chance of osteoporosis and broken bones. But the benefit of the medicine for you may outweigh any increased chance of breaking a bone. Speak to a healthcare professional before you stop any medicine. This could be your GP, pharmacist or osteoporosis specialist.
If medication you are taking means that you have an increased chance of osteoporosis and broken bones, your doctor may prescribe you an osteoporosis medicine.
Steroids
People who take steroids, such as prednisolone, have a higher chance of osteoporosis and broken bones than those who do not.
Find out more in our information about steroids and bone health.
Anti-diabetic medicines
Having diabetes can increase your chance of osteoporosis and breaking a bone. Some diabetes medicines may also increase this chance.
If you have type 2 diabetes, you may take a medicine called pioglitazone. Pioglitazone is part of a group of medicines called glitazones. Research shows that people who take a glitazone have lower bone strength and a higher chance of breaking a bone. They are also more likely to break a bone than people who take other diabetes medicines.
If you are over 50 and taking a glitazone, talk to your doctor about a fracture risk assessment.
Find out more about diabetes and its management from Diabetes UK (www.diabetes.org.uk).
Breast cancer treatments
Some treatments for breast cancer can make your bones weaker and more likely to break.
Find out more in our information about breast cancer treatments
Prostate cancer treatments
The hormone testosterone is important for bone health in men. Prostate cancer usually depends on testosterone to grow. Treatment for prostate cancer may block or lower the amount of testosterone in the body. This can increase the chance of osteoporosis and broken bones.
Prostate cancer is more common in older men. Older men are already more likely to develop osteoporosis.
If you are having treatment for prostate cancer and have not had your bones checked, ask your specialist about a fracture risk assessment.
If you have osteoporosis and are being treated for prostate cancer, your doctor may recommend that you take an osteoporosis medicine.
Prostate Cancer UK (www.prostatecancer.org) has more information about the causes and treatments for prostate cancer.
Watch: Prostate cancer treatments and osteoporosis
In this video, Specialist Nurse, Deborah, and Dr Sunil Nedungayil discuss treatments for prostate cancer that can weaken bones and increase the risk of broken bones.
Anti-seizure medicines
Some anti-seizure medicines can increase your chance of osteoporosis and breaking a bone.
Find out more in our information on anti-seizure medicines.
Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs)
Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), such as lansoprazole and omeprazole, reduce the amount of acid in the stomach. Acid in the stomach can cause indigestion, acid reflux and stomach ulcers. You may also be taking a PPI to protect your stomach against other medicines you take.
Taking a PPI may increase your chance of breaking a bone, especially in the hip, spine or wrist. This risk is small for most people, but may be higher in:
people taking a PPI for longer than a year
people taking higher doses of a PPI older people
people with other risk factors.
If you are over 50, take a PPI long term and have other risk factors for osteoporosis, talk to your doctor about a fracture risk assessment.
Antidepressants
The chance of breaking a bone may be slightly higher in people taking an antidepressant. And particularly in those taking a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). We do not know if this is because of changes in bone strength, an increase in falls, or both. SSRIs include sertraline, citalopram, escitalopram, fluoxetine, and paroxetine.
If you are over 50, taking a long-term antidepressant and have other risk factors for osteoporosis, talk to your doctor about a fracture risk assessment.
Depo-Provera
Studies have shown that bone strength decreases by a small amount in people using Depo-Provera.
Find out more in our information on Depo-Provera.
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