Pharmacologic approaches to prevention and treatment

Pharmacological approaches to prevention and treatment may be divided as follows:

• antiresorptive therapy (inhibits osteoclast activity)
  • bisphosphonates (eg alendronate, risedronate, zoledronate/zoledronic acid)
  • denosumab
  • menopausal hormone therapy (eg oestrogen, tibolone)
  • selective oestrogen receptor modulators (SERMs; eg raloxifene)

• osteoanabolic therapy (predominant stimulatory effect on osteoblasts)
  • teriparatide
  • romosozumab (also inhibits osteoclast activity).