Table of Contents
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) was formerly used to prevent osteoporosis, but is rarely used for this purpose today. Studies have shown that estrogen increases the risk for breast cancer, blood clots, strokes, and heart attacks. For this reason, women need to balance the benefits that HRT has on bone-loss protection, with the risks it carries for other serious health conditions. The FDA recommends that women first try other medications for prevention of osteoporosis.
[For more information on HRT, see In-Depth Report #40: Menopause.]
Investigational Drugs
New SERMs. Bazedoxifene (Viviant) and lasofoxifene (Fablyn) are two new selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) that are currently being considered for approval by the FDA. The FDA is weighing the potential benefits of these drugs against their risks, which include stroke. If approved, the FDA may limit these drugs to certain groups of women, such as those at significantly high risk for fractures.
Review Date: 10/21/2010
Reviewed By: Harvey Simon, MD, Editor-in-Chief, Associate Professor of Medicine,
Harvard Medical School; Physician, Massachusetts General Hospital.
Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M.,
Inc.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)
