drugs used to treat osteoporosis

Background:-
Osteoporosis literally translate as porous bones.
Osteoporosis occurs when holes between bone become bigger making bone fragile and liable to break easily.
Osteoporosis results from an unhealthy imbalance between two normal activities of bone: bone resorption and bone formation
These activities rely on two major types of cells: osteoclasts for bone resorption and osteoblasts for bone formation. The combined processes of bone resorption and bone formation allow the healthy skeleton to be maintained continually by the removal of old bone and its replacement with new bone.
It occurs in the elderly of both sexes but is most pronounced in postmenopausal women. Osteoporosis is characterized by frequent bone fractures, which are a major cause of disability among the elderly.
Osteoporosis is called the "silent disease" because bone is lost with no signs. You may not know that you have osteoporosis until a strain, bump, or fall causes a bone to break.
Risk factors for osteoporosis:
• Unchangeable risk factors:-
• Sex, age, Race, family history, Body frame size.
• Hormone levels:-
• Sex hormones:- Low estrogen levels due to missing menstrual periods or to menopause can cause osteoporosis in women. Low testosterone levels can bring on osteoporosis in men.
• Thyroid conditions - over active thyroid or parathyroid.
• Dietary factors:- Low calcium intake, Low vitamin D levels.
• Medication use:- Corticosteroids, Anticoagulants (heparin) and Some medicines for breast cancer, prostate cancer, epilepsy and some antidepressants
• Lifestyle factors:- Sedentary lifestyle, Excessive alcohol consumption, smoking.