| Osteoporosis | ||||||||||
| Risk Factors | ||||||||||
| Race (caucasian has greater risk than African American/Asian), family history, small stature/weight, anorexia, decreased estrogen levels (I.e. post-menopausal), increased age, female, smoking, decreased physical activity, low calcium intake, high phosphate diet (i.e. cola), caffeine use, hyperthyroidism, Cushing's syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, medications (aluminum antacids, corticosteroids, furosemide, phenytoin, synthroid) | ||||||||||
| Diagnosis of Osteoporosis | ||||||||||
| Done by DEXA (bone) scan: 1-2.5 standard deviations from average - osteopenia | ||||||||||
| 2.5 or greater standard deviations from average - osteoporosis | ||||||||||
| Prevention Guidelines | ||||||||||
| 1. Maintain adequate intake of dietary calcium (from daiy products, etc.) | ||||||||||
| 2. Increase intake of vitamin D (from fortified daily products, cod, or fatty fish) | ||||||||||
| 3. Weight-bearing exercise (walking, etc.) three-five times per week | ||||||||||
| 4. Calcium supplementation: 1000-1500mg elemental calcium daily (divided into 500mg per dose). Amount of calcium needed based on patient demographics: adults over 51 - 1200mg/day, post-menopausal women on estrogen - 1000mg/day, post-menopausal women or men over 55 - 1500mg/day | ||||||||||
| 5. Bisphosphonates (alendronate 5mg/day or 35mg/week; risidronate 5mg/day or 35mg/week) | ||||||||||
| 6. Selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) - can be used in patients where hormone replacement therapy is contraindicated (ex. Evista 60mg daily) | ||||||||||
| 7. Estrogens - not considered first line therapy for prevention of osteoporosis because of increased risk of breast cancer, heart disease, stroke, and DVT (premarin 0.625mg/day +/- provera 2.5mg/day (only use provera if patient has intact uterus)) | ||||||||||
| 8. Vitamin D supplementation if dietary intake inaqequate: 400-800 units/day and/or 15 minutes exposure to direct sunlight | ||||||||||
| Treatment Guidelines | ||||||||||
| 1. Calcium, vitamin D, and exercise as listed in prevention guidelines above | ||||||||||
| 2. Estrogen therapy as listed above if tolerated | ||||||||||
| 3. Bisphosphonates are considered first line agents in the treatment of osteoporosis (alendronate 10mg/day or 70mg/week; risidronate 5mg/day or 35mg/week) | ||||||||||
| 3. Calcitonin is often used as an adjunct treatment for hypercalcemia or in cases where estrogens or bisphosphonates are contraindicated (100u/day IM or 200u/day intranasal for osteoporosis; 4-8u/kg every 12 hours for hypercalcemia). Adequate vitamin D intake is essential. | ||||||||||
| 4. Selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) can be used in patients who cannot tolerate estrogen therapy or it is contraindicated (ex. Evista 60mg daily) | ||||||||||
| 5. Fall prevention - BP monitoring for orthostasis, diuretics given in the morning, minimization of sedating medications (I.e. benadryl) | ||||||||||
| Types of calcium and percent of elemental calcium contained | ||||||||||
| Type of calcium | Percent elemental Ca | |||||||||
| Acetate | 25% | |||||||||
| Carbonate | 40% | |||||||||
| Citrate | 21% | |||||||||
| Glubionate | 6.50% | |||||||||
| Gluconate | 9% | |||||||||
| Lactate | 13% | |||||||||
| Phosphate tribasic | 39% | |||||||||
| Return to Main Index | ||||||||||