Which medicines help speed up the bone-building process?

Bone-building medicines include:

• Teriparatide (Forteo).
• Abaloparatide (Tymlos).
• Romosozumab (Evenity).

These types of medicine are typically reserved for people who have very low bone density, who have had fractures or whose osteoporosis is caused by steroids. They also may be used when other medicines are not tolerated, or bone density worsens despite other medications. They are not usually used in combination or along with the other medicines.

Teriparatide and abaloparatide require daily injections. Studies in laboratory rats found an increase in the risk of bone cancer, so these medicines are not used in people at high risk of bone cancer. But these medicines have been in use for more than 10 years and so far an increase in bone cancer has not been found in people who have taken these medicines.

Romosozumab is given as a monthly injection at your healthcare professional's office. It is a new drug and less is known about long-term side effects. It is not given to people who have recently had a stroke or heart attack. Treatment stops after 12 monthly doses.

These bone-building medicines can be taken for only one or two years and the benefits begin disappearing quickly after you stop. To protect the bone that's been built up, you'll need to start taking a bone-stabilizing medicine such as a bisphosphonate.