Do Your Medications Affect Bones?

Some medications may have side effects that can affect bone health. These include:

- Glucocorticoids (such as prednisone) can inhibit the absorption of calcium and stimulate calcium loss, leading to decreased bone mass.

- Anticonvulsants (such as phenytoin and carbamazepine) can interfere with the metabolism of vitamin D and decrease calcium absorption, resulting in decreased bone mass.

- Methotrexate, a drug used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and certain types of cancer, can inhibit the activity of osteoblasts (bone-forming cells), leading to decreased bone mass.

- Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), a class of drugs used to reduce stomach acid, can interfere with the absorption of calcium, potentially leading to decreased bone mass.

- Bisphosphonates (such as alendronate and risedronate), used to treat osteoporosis, can cause rare side effects such as osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ), a condition in which the jaw bone fails to heal properly.

- Aromatase inhibitors, used to treat breast cancer, can reduce estrogen levels, which may lead to decreased bone mass.

- Androgen deprivation therapy, used to treat prostate cancer, can reduce testosterone levels, which may lead to decreased bone mass.

- Thyroid hormone replacement therapy, used to treat hypothyroidism, may increase bone resorption (bone breakdown), leading to decreased bone mass.

If you are taking any of the above medications, talk to your doctor about their potential effects on bone health and what you can do to minimize these effects.