Medications that can cause osteoporosis
Certain medications are known to cause bone loss, leading 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 medication, if the dose is more than the body needs. This should be monitored by checking the level of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) every year.
- Medications used to treat seizures, such as phenytoin.
- Medications 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).
- Heparin, a blood thinner, if used for a long time.
- Depo-Provera, a birth control medication given by injection, if used for a long time.
- Anticonvulsant medications such as carbamazepine.
| Author: | Robin Parks, MS | Last Updated: December 1, 2006 |
| Medical Review: | Joy Melnikow, MD, MPH - Family Medicine Carla J. Herman, MD, MPH - Internal Medicine | |
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