Skip to main content

Medications for Osteoporosis

Other names: Bone Thinning

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Last updated on Feb 29, 2024.

Osteoporosis treatments include bisphosphonates (such as Actonel, Atelvia, Boniva, Binosto, Fosamax, Aclasta, Reclast, or Zometa), hormone therapies (such as Duavee, Evista, Femhrt, or Premarin), denosumab (Prolia), teriparatide (Forteo), abaloparatide (Tymlos), romosozumab (Evenity), calcitonin (Miacalcin), and supplements (such as calcium, vitamin D, or calcium/vitamin D).

Bisphosphonates include:

Other treatments include:

 

Drugs used to treat Osteoporosis

The following list of medications are in some way related to or used in the treatment of this condition.

Filter
Drug name Rating Reviews Activity ? Rx/OTC Pregnancy CSA Alcohol
alendronate 2.9 122 reviews for alendronate to treat Osteoporosis
Rx C N
Generic name:
alendronate systemic
Brand names:
Fosamax, Binosto
Drug class:
bisphosphonates
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information
Fosamax 2.6 59 reviews for Fosamax to treat Osteoporosis
Rx C N
Generic name:
alendronate systemic
Drug class:
bisphosphonates
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
calcium / vitamin d 9.0 5 reviews for calcium / vitamin d to treat Osteoporosis
OTC C N
Generic name:
calcium / vitamin d systemic
Brand names:
Calcium 600 D, Caltrate 600+D, Citracal + D, Citracal Maximum, Citracal Petites, Oyster Shell Calcium with Vitamin D, Calcitrate with D, Os-Cal Calcium+D3, Calcet, Calcet Petites, Caltrate Colon Health, Caltrate Gummy Bites, Citracal Regular, Citrus Calcium with Vitamin D, Os-Cal 500 Chewable, Os-Cal Extra D3, Oysco 500 with D, Oyster-D, Oystercal-D, UPCal D
Drug class:
vitamin and mineral combinations
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
Prolia 2.7 360 reviews for Prolia to treat Osteoporosis
Rx X N
Generic name:
denosumab systemic
Drug class:
miscellaneous bone resorption inhibitors
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
Calcium 600 D Rate Add review
OTC C N
Generic name:
calcium / vitamin d systemic
Drug class:
vitamin and mineral combinations
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
calcium carbonate 8.0 2 reviews for calcium carbonate to treat Osteoporosis
OTC N N
Generic name:
calcium carbonate systemic
Brand names:
Caltrate, Calcium Oyster Shell, Cal-Gest, Calci-Chew, Oyster Cal, Oyster Calcium, Oyster Shell, Oyster Shell Calcium 500
Drug class:
antacids, minerals and electrolytes
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
Evenity 5.3 41 reviews for Evenity to treat Osteoporosis
Rx N
Generic name:
romosozumab systemic
Drug class:
miscellaneous bone resorption inhibitors
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
Boniva 3.3 79 reviews for Boniva to treat Osteoporosis
Rx C N
Generic name:
ibandronate systemic
Drug class:
bisphosphonates
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
romosozumab 5.5 43 reviews for romosozumab to treat Osteoporosis
Rx N
Generic name:
romosozumab systemic
Brand name:
Evenity
Drug class:
miscellaneous bone resorption inhibitors
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph
Actonel 3.2 22 reviews for Actonel to treat Osteoporosis
Rx C N
Generic name:
risedronate systemic
Drug class:
bisphosphonates
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
Forteo 5.3 153 reviews for Forteo to treat Osteoporosis
Rx C N
Generic name:
teriparatide systemic
Drug class:
parathyroid hormone and analogs
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
Reclast 5.1 203 reviews for Reclast to treat Osteoporosis
Rx D N
Generic name:
zoledronic acid systemic
Drug class:
bisphosphonates
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
Evista 7.4 8 reviews for Evista to treat Osteoporosis
Rx X N
Generic name:
raloxifene systemic
Drug class:
hormones/antineoplastics, selective estrogen receptor modulators
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
Caltrate 600+D 9.0 2 reviews for Caltrate 600+D to treat Osteoporosis
OTC C N
Generic name:
calcium / vitamin d systemic
Drug class:
vitamin and mineral combinations
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
Citracal + D Rate Add review
OTC C N
Generic name:
calcium / vitamin d systemic
Drug class:
vitamin and mineral combinations
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
risedronate 2.8 63 reviews for risedronate to treat Osteoporosis
Rx C N
Generic name:
risedronate systemic
Brand names:
Actonel, Atelvia
Drug class:
bisphosphonates
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information
calcium citrate Rate Add review
Rx/OTC C N
Generic name:
calcium citrate systemic
Brand name:
Calcitrate
Drug class:
minerals and electrolytes
For consumers:
interactions, side effects
Caltrate Rate Add review
OTC N N
Generic name:
calcium carbonate systemic
Drug class:
antacids, minerals and electrolytes
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
raloxifene 5.7 12 reviews for raloxifene to treat Osteoporosis
Rx X N
Generic name:
raloxifene systemic
Brand name:
Evista
Drug class:
hormones/antineoplastics, selective estrogen receptor modulators
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information
denosumab 2.8 368 reviews for denosumab to treat Osteoporosis
Rx X N
Generic name:
denosumab systemic
Brand names:
Prolia, Jubbonti
Drug class:
miscellaneous bone resorption inhibitors
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph
ibandronate 3.2 95 reviews for ibandronate to treat Osteoporosis
Rx C N
Generic name:
ibandronate systemic
Brand name:
Boniva
Drug class:
bisphosphonates
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information
Premarin 10 4 reviews for Premarin to treat Osteoporosis
Rx X N
Generic name:
conjugated estrogens systemic
Drug class:
estrogens
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
Atelvia 4.7 3 reviews for Atelvia to treat Osteoporosis
Rx C N
Generic name:
risedronate systemic
Drug class:
bisphosphonates
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
calcitonin 4.1 9 reviews for calcitonin to treat Osteoporosis
Rx C N
Generic name:
calcitonin systemic
Brand name:
Miacalcin
Drug class:
calcitonin
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information
Zometa 3.3 13 reviews for Zometa to treat Osteoporosis
Rx D N
Generic name:
zoledronic acid systemic
Drug class:
bisphosphonates
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information

Frequently asked questions

View more FAQ

Topics under Osteoporosis

Learn more about Osteoporosis

Care guides

Symptoms and treatments

Legend

Rating For ratings, users were asked how effective they found the medicine while considering positive/adverse effects and ease of use (1 = not effective, 10 = most effective).
Activity Activity is based on recent site visitor activity relative to other medications in the list.
Rx Prescription only.
OTC Over-the-counter.
Rx/OTC Prescription or Over-the-counter.
Off-label This medication may not be approved by the FDA for the treatment of this condition.
EUA An Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) allows the FDA to authorize unapproved medical products or unapproved uses of approved medical products to be used in a declared public health emergency when there are no adequate, approved, and available alternatives.
Expanded Access Expanded Access is a potential pathway for a patient with a serious or immediately life-threatening disease or condition to gain access to an investigational medical product (drug, biologic, or medical device) for treatment outside of clinical trials when no comparable or satisfactory alternative therapy options are available.
Pregnancy Category
A Adequate and well-controlled studies have failed to demonstrate a risk to the fetus in the first trimester of pregnancy (and there is no evidence of risk in later trimesters).
B Animal reproduction studies have failed to demonstrate a risk to the fetus and there are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women.
C Animal reproduction studies have shown an adverse effect on the fetus and there are no adequate and well-controlled studies in humans, but potential benefits may warrant use in pregnant women despite potential risks.
D There is positive evidence of human fetal risk based on adverse reaction data from investigational or marketing experience or studies in humans, but potential benefits may warrant use in pregnant women despite potential risks.
X Studies in animals or humans have demonstrated fetal abnormalities and/or there is positive evidence of human fetal risk based on adverse reaction data from investigational or marketing experience, and the risks involved in use in pregnant women clearly outweigh potential benefits.
N FDA has not classified the drug.
Controlled Substances Act (CSA) Schedule
M The drug has multiple schedules. The schedule may depend on the exact dosage form or strength of the medication.
U CSA Schedule is unknown.
N Is not subject to the Controlled Substances Act.
1 Has a high potential for abuse. Has no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. There is a lack of accepted safety for use under medical supervision.
2 Has a high potential for abuse. Has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States or a currently accepted medical use with severe restrictions. Abuse may lead to severe psychological or physical dependence.
3 Has a potential for abuse less than those in schedules 1 and 2. Has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. Abuse may lead to moderate or low physical dependence or high psychological dependence.
4 Has a low potential for abuse relative to those in schedule 3. It has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. Abuse may lead to limited physical dependence or psychological dependence relative to those in schedule 3.
5 Has a low potential for abuse relative to those in schedule 4. Has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. Abuse may lead to limited physical dependence or psychological dependence relative to those in schedule 4.
Alcohol
X Interacts with Alcohol.

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.