Osteoporosis Glossary

 

 

Alendronate is a medication that both men and women can take to treat and prevent osteoporosis. It belongs to a class of medications known as bisphosphonates. It is taken as an oral tablet and marketed as Fosamax.

 

 

Anabolic medications promote bone growth. Teriparatide is the only approved anabolic osteoporosis drug.

The largest category of osteoporosis medications, antiresorptive medications slow bone absorption. Bisphosphonates, calcitonin, estrogen replacement therapy, and estrogen agonist/antagonists all fall under the umbrella of antiresorptive medications.

 

 

Bisphosphonate medications are a class of antiresorptives medications. Alendronate, ibandronate, risedronate, and zoledronic acid are all bisphosphonates.

 

 

Bone density is the amount of minerals in your bones. The higher your bone density, the stronger your bones are.

Bone mass is the total amount of bone tissue in your body.

 

 

A bone mineral density test helps determine how strong your bones are, and in turn, your risk for fracture. It uses a special machine to measure your bone density. Your doctor will then give you a T-score based on your bone density.

 

Calcitonin is an antiresorptive medication for women at least five years past menopause. It is a hormone that regulates calcium in the body. It is available as a nasal spray or injection. It is marketed as Fortical and Miacalcin.

Calcium is a nutrient known as the building block of bone. Eating foods rich in calcium, or taking a supplement, helps build and maintain strong, healthy bones.

Corticosteroids (often referred to as steroids) are medications that relieve inflammation. If taken too long and at very high doses, corticosteroids can cause bone loss and lead to osteoporosis.

Estrogen is the primary female sex hormone released by the ovaries. In addition to promoting the healthy development of female sex characteristics during puberty and ensuring fertility, estrogen also helps protect bones in women. After menopause, estrogen levels steeply decline.

Also known as a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM), this medication mimics the benefits of estrogen replacement therapy but without the risks. There is one approved estrogen agonist/antagonist used to treat osteoporosis—raloxifene, which is marketed as Evista.

Estrogen replacement therapy is for women only. In most cases, you will also take progesterone hormones along with estrogen. This is because taking estrogen alone increases your risk for uterine cancer, and the combination of estrogen and progesterone greatly reduces this risk.

However, if your uterus has been surgically removed or if you were born without one, you may take estrogen alone, as you have no risk of developing uterine cancer.

 

 

 

 

A fracture is a broken bone—and that is often the first indication of osteoporosis. The most common osteoporosis-related fractures occur in the hip, wrist, and spine.

Ibandronate is a medication that women can take to treat and prevent osteoporosis if they are high risk of developing the disease. It belongs to a class of medications known as bisphosphonates. It can be taken as an oral tablet or by intravenous (IV) infusion. It is marketed as Boniva.

 

Also known as balloon kyphoplasty, this surgical treatment for spinal compression fractures involves a tube that is inserted into the fractured vertebra. The tube is connected to a small balloon that creates space when inflated. It is then filled with the orthopaedic bone cement. The extra space restores vertebral height, which is often lost if you’ve experienced a spinal fracture.

 

 

Kyphosis is an abnormal forward curvature of the spine. It is sometimes caused by spinal compression fractures that can occur as a result of weakened bones from osteoporosis..

 

Menopause is a point in a woman’s life when she stops having menstrual cycles and her estrogen levels steeply decline. For many women, this drop in estrogen affects bone density levels.

Osteoblasts are bone-forming cells.

Osteoclasts are bone-absorbing cells.

 

Osteopenia describes bone mass that is lower than normal, but not low enough to be considered osteoporosis.

 

Osteoporosis is a condition of decreased bone mass. This leads to fragile bones that are at an increased risk for fractures.

Peak bone mass is when your body has the most bone it will ever have. This usually occurs between the ages of 18 and 25.

This estrogen agonists/antagonists medication is approved for women only. It is taken as an oral tablet and marketed as Evista.

Remodeling is the continual process of bone building (formation) and resorption (loss).

Resorption is the process of bone loss.

 

Risedronate is a medication that both men and women can take to treat and prevent osteoporosis. It belongs to a class of medications known as bisphosphonates. It is taken as an oral pill and marketed as Actonel.

Teriparatide is the only approved anabolic medication. It is a synthetic version of parathyroid hormone. It is taken via injection and marketed as Forteo.

A T-score is the numerical indication of your bone health versus that of a healthy young adult. You can obtain your T-score if you get a bone mineral density test.

Testosterone is the primary male sex hormone produced by the testes. It helps protect bones in men.

Vertebrae are the bones that form the spine.

Compression fractures are one of the three most common osteoporosis-related fractures, in addition to hip and wrist. A compression fracture is a fracture of the spinal vertebrae.

In this surgical treatment for spinal compression fractures, your surgeon will inject the bone cement directly into the weakened vertebrae via a thin tube. The cement dries very quickly to secure the fracture.

Vitamin D keeps bones healthy by helping your body effectively absorb calcium. You can get vitamin D by eating certain foods or you can take a supplement.

 

Zoledronic acid is a medication that women can take to treat and prevent osteoporosis. It belongs to a class of medications known as bisphosphonates. It is given via intravenous (IV) infusion and marketed as Reclast.