Certain medicines are known to cause bone loss, which may
lead to
osteoporosis. These include:
- Oral or high-dose inhaled corticosteroids-such as
prednisone and beclomethasone (QVAR)-used for more than 6 months to treat
conditions such as
asthma, arthritis, and
lupus.
- Thyroid replacement medicine, if
the dose is more than the body needs. This should be monitored by checking the
level of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) every year.
- Medicines
used to treat seizures, such as phenytoin.
- Medicines used to treat
endometriosis, such as leuprolide (Lupron Depot) and
nafarelin acetate (Synarel).
- Certain cancer treatments, including
aromatase inhibitors used to treat breast cancer, such as anastrozole
(Arimidex), letrozole (Femara), and exemestane (Aromasin).
- Hormone therapy to treat prostate cancer.
- Some
antidepressant medicines called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
(SSRIs).
- Heparin, a blood thinner, if used for a long
time.
- Depo-Provera, a birth control medicine given by injection, if
used for a long time.
- Anticonvulsant medicines such as
carbamazepine.
