What medicines increase my risk for osteoporosis and fractures?

Certain medications can be major causes of osteoporosis when used over the long term, particularly corticosteroid drugs and cortisone derivatives like prednisone. These drugs often are prescribed for conditions such as acute bronchitis, allergies, asthma, COPD, rheumatoid arthritis, and ulcerative colitis. If taken for a few days or weeks, there is usually not a major risk. There also does not appear to be an increased risk with cortisone injections for bursitis or tendonitis, or with steroid inhalers. However, when these drugs are taken orally for more than one year, the risk of fractures increases greatly. Other medications known to affect bone loss include heparin, thyroid hormones, some cholesterol-lowering drugs, some drugs prescribed for epilepsy and seizures, large amounts of antacids containing aluminum, and certain medications used for treating prostate cancer, endometriosis, and as an adjunct to some fertility treatments. If you take any of these medications, speak with your doctor about your risk of osteoporosis, and consider undergoing a bone-density test to measure your bone strength.