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Pharmacy Care provides information about self-care, that is how to treat minor medical conditions with products available at the pharmacy. Find out how your pharmacist can help you to manage minor conditions yourself.
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Osteoporosis, which means ‘porous bones’, is a condition where your bones become thinner or less dense, and more likely to break. Osteoporosis affects more than 50% of women and about 30% of men over the age of 60 years.
To build and maintain healthy bones your body needs calcium, other minerals and enough hormones, including oestrogen in women and testosterone in men. Vitamin D is also needed so you can absorb calcium from food and incorporate it into your bones.
Osteoporosis develops slowly over many years, often without any symptoms. The first sign that someone has osteoporosis can be when they have a fall, which causes a bone to break (fracture).
Fractures of the hip, spine and wrist are commonly seen in people with osteoporosis. These types of fractures can be serious and lead to chronic pain, problems with mobility and may mean people can no longer live independently.
Some people are more at risk of osteoporosis than others.
Risk factors
being female
being past menopause
reaching menopause or having your ovaries removed before the age of 45
being aged 50 years or older
having a family history of osteoporosis
being tall and thin
having white (Caucasian) or Asian ancestry
having a diet low in calcium and/or vitamin D
weight disorders such as anorexia nervosa
smoking
excessive alcohol intake
having a sedentary lifestyle (not being active)
not spending enough time outdoors in sunlight
taking medicines such as steroids or anticonvulsants
See Your Pharmacist or Medical Professional
Assessing risk
your doctor or pharmacist can help you assess your risk for osteoporosis and may suggest you have a bone density scan (a type of X-ray)
bone mineral density (BMD) is used to measure your osteoporosis risk. The lower your BMD, the higher your fracture risk
also see your healthcare professional if you have:
fractured a bone already; you may need medicines to reduce the risk of further fractures
had frequent falls, as this increases your risk of fractures. Find out if there are ways of reducing your falls (see Treatment Tips below)
a visual impairment or problems with your balance
Treatment Tips
There is no cure for osteoporosis, but medicines and lifestyle changes can help:
make lifestyle changes as early as possible to avoid osteoporosis developing
tai chi (a form of martial art) exercises have been shown to prevent falls
stop smoking
reduce your alcohol intake
eat a healthy diet with plenty of calcium-containing foods, such as dairy products
try to do 30 minutes of weight-bearing exercise, such as walking, every day
have moderate exposure to sunlight (but avoid sunburn); sunlight encourages your body’s natural production of vitamin D
reduce your risk of falling:
ask for a review of your medicines; some can cause dizziness or drowsiness and make falls more likely
have your eyesight checked; you need good sight to avoid tripping over or bumping into objects
avoid high heels and wear non-slip soles
a walking stick or frame can help your balance if you are unsteady when walking
hip protectors will decrease the risk of fractures after falling
an occupational therapist can assess for any household risks
if you live alone, and are at risk of falling, consider having an alert system (preferably one that can be worn around your neck or wrist) that can be activated if you have fallen and cannot move
bisphosphonates slow the rate of bone loss and have been shown to reduce the risk of fractures in people with osteoporosis
oral tablets should be taken on an empty stomach because food can reduce their absorption. Please check the product information or speak to your pharmacist before taking bisphosphonates as instructions on how to take each bisphosphonate correctly varies
oral tablets can stick in the oesophagus (gullet) and cause irritation so they should be taken with plenty of water; stay upright for 30 minutes after taking to help the tablet go down
zoledronic acid infusions need only be given once a year for osteoporosis
it is important to tell your dentist you are using a bisphosphonate prior to any dental work
tell your doctor if you experience any pains in your bones, joints or muscles or experience any new or worsening heartburn while using these medicines
hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is treatment for osteoporosis in women with low oestrogen levels, usually due to menopause
HRT is available as a pill, patch, implant, pessary and cream
HRT increases bone density and reduces fracture rates. However, HRT also increases the risks of blood clots, certain types of cancer, heart attacks and stroke, and is no longer widely recommended. It is sometimes used in post-menopausal women for whom bisphosphonates are not suitable, but the benefits of fracture reduction do not outweigh the risks associated with HRT use
men with low testosterone levels may benefit from testosterone replacement
Other medicines
[PRESCRIPTION ONLY]
e.g. raloxifene (Evista), strontium ranelate (Protos), teriparatide (Forteo)
used in the treatment of osteoporosis in post-menopausal women
teriparatide can also be used to treat osteoporosis in men when there is a high risk of fractures and other medicines are unsuitable
More Information
For more information on supports for the home, visit the Independent Living Centres website at www.ilcaustralia.org
Availability of medicines
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PHARMACY ONLY available for sale through pharmacies only.
PHARMACIST ONLY may only be sold by a pharmacist.
PRESCRIPTION ONLY available only with a prescription from your doctor or other health professional.
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