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Getting the best from your osteoporosis medication
Taking the time to read the instructions carefully and adjust your routine and lifestyle can help your bones get maximum benefit – and help to prevent unwanted side effects.
Here are some suggestions to help you succeed.
1. Read the instructions
And follow them carefully for every dose.
Each medication comes with instructions for how to take it. Following them correctly helps your treatment work effectively and minimises unwanted side effects.
You can find the instructions for your particular medication in our osteoporosis treatment information, or in the patient information leaflet that comes with the drug.
2. Get into a routine
Doing this limits the chances of missing a dose. Missing the odd dose is unlikely to affect your overall bone health, but do try to avoid this.
If you take a weekly tablet, choose a day that you’ll remember every week, such as the day your bins are emptied.
If you often forget to take your medication, speak to your doctor about different treatment options.
3. Eat well for your bones
By doing your best to eat a well-balanced, calcium-rich diet, you're helping your bones get the best nutrition possible – and stay stronger for longer.
Your doctor may prescribe calcium and vitamin D supplements alongside your osteoporosis medication, if they think your levels of these nutrients may be low.
Unlike taking an osteoporosis medication, eating a bone-healthy diet and taking supplements won't directly reduce your risk of breaking a bone. But it will help to maintain your bone strength.
4. Keep active
Keeping up with exercise as you age is important. It strengthens your muscles and keeps your bones strong – making them less likely to break.
5. Be confident your treatment is working
Because the treatment itself won't relieve any pain or other symptoms, you won't actually 'notice' it working. But all licensed osteoporosis medications are clinically tested, with research showing they do reduce the risk of broken bones. So you can be confident that you are helping your bones.
You may be offered a bone density scan during your treatment, to assess your bone strength again. If your bone density hasn't increased, you might worry that your medication isn't working. But this test doesn’t give a full picture of bone strength. Even if your bone density doesn't increase, the treatment may still be helping to protect your bones.
Remember: If you break a bone while you're on treatment, this doesn’t necessarily mean your medication isn't working. No drug is 100% effective. Do your best to keep taking your treatment and be confident it is having a positive effect.
If you continue to break more bones, speak to your doctor. They can consider a different treatment for you, or suggest other ways to help reduce your risk.
Read next:
Watch our webinar on osteoporosis drug treatments:
If you're thinking about taking a drug treatment for osteoporosis, you may be interested in watching a conversation between osteoporosis experts Dr Nicola Peel, Dr Zoe Paskins and Professor David Armstrong, who discussed drug treatments in May 2022 as part of our #BoneMatters series of events.
