[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/betterbones.com\/osteoporosis\/why-bone-drugs-should-be-last-resort\/#Article","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/betterbones.com\/osteoporosis\/why-bone-drugs-should-be-last-resort\/","headline":"5 reasons why bone drugs should be your last resort","name":"5 reasons why bone drugs should be your last resort","description":"Print PDF eBook Facebook Twitter Gmail LinkedIn Pinterest Table of Contents Toggle   4 Minutes ReadRethinking osteoporosis1. You\u2019ll put your bones at long-term risk.2. You\u2019ll also face risks to your whole body.3. Bone drugs produce few lasting results.4. The U.S. Surgeon General recommends natural approaches first.5. Your doctor may not truly understand what\u2019s best for you.Common […]","datePublished":"2014-10-02","dateModified":"2026-04-22","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/betterbones.com\/author\/brownbetterbonesgmail-com\/#Person","name":"Dr. Susan E. Brown, PhD","url":"https:\/\/betterbones.com\/author\/brownbetterbonesgmail-com\/","identifier":72,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8e08d87bd45250c6616e1752933a6576aba077f335d97ee337a0cde5e435cbd3?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8e08d87bd45250c6616e1752933a6576aba077f335d97ee337a0cde5e435cbd3?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Center for Better Bones","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/betterbones.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Better-Bones-AMP.png","url":"https:\/\/betterbones.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Better-Bones-AMP.png","width":150,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/betterbones.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/Bone-Drugs-Last-Option-blog-header.jpg","url":"https:\/\/betterbones.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/Bone-Drugs-Last-Option-blog-header.jpg","height":1109,"width":2120},"url":"https:\/\/betterbones.com\/osteoporosis\/why-bone-drugs-should-be-last-resort\/","about":["Osteoporosis"],"wordCount":949,"keywords":["bone drugs","bone building nutrients"],"articleBody":" Print PDF eBook\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFacebook\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTwitter\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGmail\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLinkedIn\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPinterest\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTable of ContentsToggle     4 Minutes ReadRethinking osteoporosis1. You\u2019ll put your bones at long-term risk.2. You\u2019ll also face risks to your whole body.3. Bone drugs produce few lasting results.4. The U.S. Surgeon General recommends natural approaches first.5. Your doctor may not truly understand what\u2019s best for you.Common causes of bone loss \u2013 how to address them naturallyCause of osteoporosis and bone lossHow the natural approach worksWhat\u2019s causing your bone loss?Rethinking osteoporosisI know how scary a diagnosis of osteoporosis or osteopenia can be \u2014 especially when you\u2019re told your only option is to take a bone drug \u2013 possibly for the rest of your life. I work with women every day who are facing this fear and frustration.Most women aren\u2019t aware they have other choices \u2014 because their doctors don\u2019t know what those options are, and the big drug companies certainly aren\u2019t going to tell them!The first thing you should consider before filling that prescription is that you have a right to know all of your options \u2014 as well as the whole story about that drug you\u2019re being asked to take. As someone who has studied the effectiveness of a natural approach to bone health for more than 20 years, here are five crucial reasons why\u00a0bone drugs should be your last resort for osteoporosis, osteopenia or fear of bone loss.1. You\u2019ll put your bones at long-term risk.Bone drugs have troubling side effects that can significantly affect your bone health, especially when used over time. One troubling side effect is seen with bisphosphonate drugs. While they may halt bone breakdown in the short term, after about a year, these bone drugs also halt bone building \u2014 leading to brittle bones that may bemore susceptible to fracture, not less. How\u2019s that for irony?2. You\u2019ll also face risks to your whole body.Serious consequences like stomach irritation, heighten risk of esophageal cancer, blood clots, leg cramps, vision changes, nausea, vomiting, constipation\u2026 for a complete look at thedangerous side effects of using bone drugs long-term, I\u2019ve developed this chart. These side effects are critically important to consider, especially if you\u2019re being asked by your doctor to take bone drugs for may be likely normal bone loss or even as prevention.3. Bone drugs produce few lasting results.Popular bisphosphonate bone drugs \u201cwork\u201d by temporarily creating bone mass from drug molecules, but they don\u2019t offer lasting results. Based on my experience, I\u2019ve learned that just because bones may look denser on a bone scan it doesn\u2019t necessarily mean they are measurably stronger. What\u2019s more, the recommended limit for taking bone drugs safely is just five years, at which time any \u201cbenefits\u201d of bisphosphonates disappear.4. The U.S. Surgeon General recommends natural approaches first.When it comes to treating patients with osteoporosis and osteopenia, guidelines from the Surgeon General of the United States state that improvements to dietary and exercise habits are the first steps your physician should recommend, followed by investigation of potential underlying causes of bone loss. The report goes to say the final step \u2014 the last resort \u2014 is to use bone drugs \u2013 and only in cases of osteoporosis. I couldn\u2019t agree more!5. Your doctor may not truly understand what\u2019s best for you.Unfortunately, I don\u2019t see many conventional physicians following the Surgeon General\u2019s guidelines. They try to \u201cfix\u201d the problem immediately, and as a result, too many women are automatically prescribed bone drugs rather than being offered natural and effective options. You have a right, and even the obligation, to decide what is best for you and your body!Common causes of bone loss \u2013 how to address them naturallyI\u2019ve found that for many women, the underlying cause of their bone loss can be effectively addressed by working with Nature and the body\u2019s own healing capabilities. Here are a few of the most common causes for you to consider:Cause of osteoporosis and bone lossHow the natural approach worksInadequate nutrients can cause your body to steal the minerals you need from your bones\u2019 reserves.Even a perfect diet may not provide your bones with enough nutrients, so considersupplementation for optimal bone health.For example, getting adequate vitamin D can reduce fractures as much as \u2013 or even more than \u2013 drug therapies.An acid-forming diet causes your body to release buffering mineral compounds from your bones that should instead be safeguarded for your future bone health.An alkaline-forming diet with fresh vegetables, nuts, fruits and adequate protein helps keep buffering minerals in your bones where they belong.Chronic stress increases your production of the stress hormone cortisol, which is extremely damaging to your bones.Minimize your stressors \u2014 both physical and emotional \u2014 through self-care activities such as exercise, meditation or relaxation, to support your health and to feel calmer.Lack of weight-bearing exercise leads to muscle and bone loss.Exercise halts bone loss because bones strengthen in response to the strain put upon them. Doing something as simple as walking 20 minutes per day can reduce your fracture risk.What\u2019s causing your bone loss?There\u2019s a lot of fear and anxiety around an osteoporosis or osteopenia diagnosis. To help you understand more about your true risk for bone loss and how a natural approach can help without the risks and side effects of drugs, take our exclusiveFracture Risk Assessment. Remember, you have a right to explore all your options, and to do what is right for you.Read our complete guide to bone density testing explained.To build bone through movement, explore the Better Bones Exercise for Osteoporosis program."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Osteoporosis","item":"https:\/\/betterbones.com\/osteoporosis\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"5 reasons why bone drugs should be your last resort","item":"https:\/\/betterbones.com\/osteoporosis\/why-bone-drugs-should-be-last-resort\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]