MD explains why osteoporosis drugs can make your bones weak and brittle

According to Dr. Susan Lark, MD, osteoporosis drugs called bisphosphonates (Fosomax, Actonel, Boniva) work by disabling osteoclasts. Bone is always renewing itself by osteoclasts breaking down old bone and osteoblasts building new bone. If the drugs block the osteoclasts from breaking down old bone, the osteoblasts do not build new bone. So one is left with dense bone, but it is old, weak, and brittle. This is not what one wants as one ages.

Recent research has shown that these drugs cause necrosis (death) of the jaw bone. Why the jaw? It regenerates itself faster than any other bone in the body. So it makes sense that adverse bone changes would show there first. It has been ten years since the introduction of osteoporosis drugs, so it would not be surprise us if necrosis shows up in places other than the jaw over the next ten years.

Dr. Lark goes onto to mention a successful therapy that she has used for brittle bones. It is called Electromagnetic Therapy (EMT) and is commonly used in hospitals to heal broken bones. It involves sending a mild electrical current to weakened bones. When applied, it creates the same electrical impulses that are created in your bones when you are doing high intensity, weight-bearing exercise.