Faye N. Hant, DO, MSCR

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Drugs that may harm bone: Mitigating the risk

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Faye N. Hant, DO, MSCR

Marcy B. Bolster, MD

Drug-induced osteoporosis is common, and the list of drugs that can harm bone continues to grow. As part of routine health maintenance, practitioners should recognize the drugs that increase bone loss and take measures to mitigate these effects to help avoid osteopenia and osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis, a silent systemic disease defined by low bone mineral density and changes in skeletal microstructure, leads to a higher risk of fragility fractures. Some of the risk factors are well described, but less well known is the role of pharmacologic therapy. The implicated drugs (Table 1) have important therapeutic roles, so the benefits of using them must be weighed against their risks, including their potential effects on bone.

This review focuses on a few drugs known to increase fracture risk, their mechanisms of bone loss, and management considerations (Table 2).

GLUCOCORTICOIDS

Glucocorticoids are used to treat many medical conditions, including allergic, rheumatic, and other inflammatory diseases, and as immunosuppressive therapy after solid organ and bone marrow transplant. They are the most common cause of drug-induced bone loss and related secondary osteoporosis.

Multiple effects on bone

Glucocorticoids both increase bone resorption and decrease bone formation by a variety of mechanisms.¹ They reduce intestinal calcium absorption, increase urinary excretion of calcium, and enhance osteocyte apoptosis, leading to deterioration of the bone microarchitecture and bone mineral density.² They also affect sex hormones, decreasing testosterone production in men and estrogen in women, leading to increased bone resorption, altered bone architecture, and poorer bone quality.^3,4 The bone loss is greater in trabecular bone (eg, the femoral neck and vertebral bodies) than in cortical bone (eg, the forearm).⁵

Glucocorticoids have other systemic effects that increase fracture risk. For example, they cause muscle weakness and atrophy, increasing the risk of falls.⁴ Additionally, many of the inflammatory conditions for which they are prescribed (eg, rheumatoid arthritis) also increase the risk of osteoporosis by means of proinflammatory cytokine production, which may contribute to systemic and local effects on bone.^4,6

Bone mineral density declines quickly

Bone mineral density declines within the first 3 months after starting oral glucocorticoids, with the rate of bone loss peaking at 6 months. Up to 12% of bone mass is lost in the first year. In subsequent years of continued use, bone loss progresses at a slower, steadier rate, averaging 2% to 3% annually.^5,7,8

Oral therapy increases fracture risk

Kanis et al⁹ performed a meta-analysis of seven prospective cohort studies in 40,000 patients and found that the current or previous use of an oral glucocorticoid increased the risk of fragility fractures, and that men and women were affected about equally.⁹

Van Staa et al^10,11 reported that daily doses of glucocorticoids equivalent to more than 2.5 mg of prednisone were associated with an increased risk of vertebral and hip fractures; fracture risk was related mainly to daily dosage rather than cumulative dose.

Van Staa et al,¹² in a retrospective cohort study, compared nearly 250,000 adult users of oral glucocorticoids from general medical practice settings with the same number of controls matched for sex, age, and medical practice. The relative risks for fractures and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) during oral glucocorticoid treatment were as follows:

Forearm fracture 1.09 (1.01–1.17)
Nonvertebral fracture 1.33 (1.29–1.38)
Hip fracture 1.61 (1.47–1.76)
Vertebral fracture 2.60 (2.31–2.92).

The risk was dose-dependent. For a low daily dose (< 2.5 mg/day of prednisolone), the relative risks were:

Hip fracture 0.99 (0.82–1.20)
Vertebral fracture 1.55 (1.20–2.01) .

For a medium daily dose (2.5–7.5 mg/day), the relative risks were:

Hip fracture 1.77 (1.55–2.02)
Vertebral fracture 2.59 (2.16–3.10) .

For a high daily dose (> 7.5 mg/day), the relative risks were:

Hip fracture 2.27 (1.94–2.66)
Vertebral fracture 5.18 (4.25–6.31).

Fracture risk rapidly declined toward baseline after the patients stopped taking oral glucocorticoids but did not return to baseline levels. The lessening of excess fracture risk occurred mainly within the first year after stopping therapy.

Other studies^5,9,13 have suggested that the increased fracture risk is mostly independent of bone mineral density, and that other mechanisms are at play. One study¹⁴ found that oral glucocorticoid users with a prevalent vertebral fracture actually had higher bone mineral density than patients with a fracture not taking glucocorticoids, although this finding was not confirmed in a subsequent study.¹⁵

Inhaled glucocorticoids have less effect on bone

Inhaled glucocorticoids are commonly used to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma. They do not have the same systemic bioavailability as oral glucocorticoids, so the risk of adverse effects is lower.

Data are inconsistent among several studies that evaluated the relationship between inhaled glucocorticoids, bone mineral density, osteoporosis, and fragility fracture. The inconsistencies may be due to heterogeneity of the study populations, self-reporting of fractures, and different methods of assessing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease severity.¹⁶

A Cochrane review¹⁷ in 2002 evaluated seven randomized controlled trials that compared the use of inhaled glucocorticoids vs placebo in nearly 2,000 patients with mild asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and found no evidence for decreased bone mineral density, increased bone turnover, or increased vertebral fracture incidence in the glucocorticoid users at 2 to 3 years of follow-up (odds ratio for fracture 1.87, 95% CI 0.5–7.0).

The Evaluation of Obstructive Lung Disease and Osteoporosis study,¹⁶ a multicenter Italian observational epidemiologic study, reported that patients taking the highest daily doses of inhaled glucocorticoids (> 1,500 μg of beclomethasone or its equivalent) had a significantly higher risk of vertebral fracture (odds ratio 1.4, 95% CI 1.04–1.89).¹⁶

A meta-analysis¹⁸ of five case-control studies (43,783 cases and 259,936 controls) identified a possible dose-dependent relationship, with a relative risk for nonvertebral fracture of 1.12 (95% CI 1.0–1.26) for each 1,000-μg increase in beclomethasone-equivalent inhaled glucocorticoid per day.

In summary, the effects of inhaled glucocorticoids in adults are uncertain, although trends toward increased fracture risk and decreased bone mineral density are evident with chronic therapy at moderate to high dosages. The risks and benefits of treatment should be carefully considered in patients with osteoporosis and baseline elevated fracture risk.¹⁹

Managing the risk of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis

In 2010, the American College of Rheumatology published recommendations for preventing and treating glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis, which were endorsed by the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.²⁰ To lessen the risk of osteoporosis, the recommendations are as follows:

Limit exposure. Patients receiving glucocorticoids should be given the smallest dosage for the shortest duration possible.

Advise lifestyle changes. Patients should be counseled to limit their alcohol intake to no more than two drinks per day, to quit smoking, to engage in weight-bearing exercise, and to ingest enough calcium (1,200–1,500 mg/day, through diet and supplements) and vitamin D.

Monitor bone mineral density. Patients starting glucocorticoids at any dosage for an expected duration of at least 3 months should have their bone mineral density measured at baseline. The frequency of subsequent measurements should be based on the presence of other risk factors for fracture, results of previous bone density testing, glucocorticoid dosage, whether therapy for bone health has been initiated, and the rate of change in bone mineral density. If warranted and if the results would lead to a change in management, patients can undergo dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry more often than usual, ie, more often than every 2 years. Prevalent and incident fragility fractures, height measurements, fall risk assessments, laboratory measurements of 25-hydroxyvitamin D, and consideration of vertebral fracture assessment or other imaging of the spine, as necessary, should be part of counseling and monitoring.

Osteoporosis treatment. For patients who will be taking glucocorticoids for at least 3 months, alendronate, risedronate, zoledronic acid, or teriparatide can be initiated to prevent or treat osteoporosis in the following groups:

Postmenopausal women and men over age 50 if the daily glucocorticoid dosage is at least 7.5 mg/day or if the World Health Organization Fracture Risk Assessment Tool (FRAX) score is more than 10% (the threshold for medium fracture risk)
Premenopausal women and men younger than 50 if they have a history of fragility fracture, the FRAX score is more than 20% (the threshold for high fracture risk), or the T score is less than –2.5.

Certain clinical factors can also put a patient into a higher-risk category. These include current tobacco use, low body mass index, parental history of hip fracture, consuming more than three alcoholic drinks daily, higher daily or cumulative glucocorticoid dosage, intravenous pulse glucocorticoid usage, or a decline in central bone mineral density that exceeds the least significant change according to the scanner used.²⁰

The FRAX tool accounts for bone density only at the femoral neck, and while useful, it cannot replace clinical judgment in stratifying risk. Moreover, it does not apply to premenopausal women or men under age 40.

The implicated medications have important roles, so weigh their risks and benefits

The long-term risks of medications to treat glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis are not well defined for premenopausal women (or their unborn children) or in men younger than 40, so treatment is recommended in those groups only for those with prevalent fragility fractures who are clearly at higher risk of additional fractures.²⁰

PROTON PUMP INHIBITORS

Proton pump inhibitors are available by prescription and over the counter for gastric acid-related conditions. Concerns have been raised that these highly effective drugs are overused.²¹ Several of their adverse effects are self-limited and minor, but long-term use may entail serious risks, including propensity to bone fracture.²²

Low acid leads to poor calcium absorption

Why fracture risk increases with proton pump inhibitors is controversial and may relate to their desired effect of suppressing gastric acid production: calcium salts, including carbonate and chloride, are poorly soluble and require an acidic environment to increase calcium ionization and thus absorption.²³ For this reason, if patients taking a proton pump inhibitor take a calcium supplement, it should be calcium citrate, which unlike calcium carbonate does not require an acid environment for absorption.

Higher risk in older patients, with longer use, and with higher dosage

Since the first reports on proton pump inhibitors and fracture risk were published in 2006,^24,25 a number of studies have reported this association, including several systematic reviews.

In 2011, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) updated a 2010 safety communication based on seven epidemiologic studies reporting an increased risk of fractures of the spine, hip, and wrist with proton pump inhibitors.^24–31 Time of exposure to a proton pump inhibitor in these studies varied from 1 to 12 years. Fracture risk was higher in older patients,²⁶ with higher doses,^24,29 and with longer duration of drug use.^24,27 On the other hand, one study that included only patients without other major fracture risk factors failed to find an association between the use of proton pump inhibitors and fractures.²⁸

Is evidence sufficient for changing use?

The FDA report included a disclaimer that they had no access to study data or protocols and so could not verify the findings.²⁶ Moreover, the studies used claims data from computerized databases to evaluate the risk of fractures in patients treated with proton pump inhibitors compared with those not using these drugs.^24–31 Information was often incomplete regarding potentially important factors (eg, falls, family history of osteoporosis, calcium and vitamin D intake, smoking, alcohol use, reason for medication use), as well as the timing of drug use related to the onset or worsening of osteoporosis.²⁶

Although 34 published studies evaluated the association of fracture risk and proton pump inhibitors, Leontiadis and Moayyedi³² argued that insufficient evidence exists to change our prescribing habits for these drugs based on fracture risk, as the studies varied considerably in their designs and results, a clear dose-response relationship is lacking, and the modest association is likely related to multiple confounders.

Bottom line: Use with caution

Although the increased fracture risk associated with proton pump inhibitors is likely multifactorial and is not fully delineated, it appears to be real. These drugs should be used only if there is a clear indication for them and if their benefits likely outweigh their risks. The lowest effective dose should be used, and the need for continuing use should be frequently reassessed.

SELECTIVE SEROTONIN REUPTAKE INHIBITORS

Depression affects 1 in 10 people in the United States, is especially common in the elderly, and leads to significant morbidity and reduced quality of life.³³ Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are often prescribed and are generally considered first-line agents for treating depression.

Complex bone effects

Use proton pump inhibitors only if there is a clear indication for them and their benefits likely outweigh the risks

SSRIs antagonize the serotonin transporter, which normally assists serotonin uptake from the extracellular space. The serotonin transporter is found in all main types of bone cells, including osteoclasts, osteoblasts, and osteocytes.³³ Serotonin is made by different genes in the brain than in the periphery, causing opposing effects on bone biology: when generated peripherally, it acts as a hormone to inhibit bone formation, while when generated in the brain, it acts as a neurotransmitter to create a major and positive effect on bone mass accrual by enhancing bone formation and limiting bone resorption.^34,35

Potential confounders complicate the effect of SSRIs on bone health, as depression itself may be a risk factor for fracture. Patients with depression tend to have increased inflammation and cortisol, decreased gonadal steroids, more behavioral risk factors such as tobacco and increased alcohol use, and less physical activity, all of which can contribute to low bone density and risk of falls and fractures.³³

Daily use of SSRIs increases fracture risk

A 2012 meta-analysis³⁶ of 12 studies (seven case-control and five cohort), showed that SSRI users had a higher overall risk of fracture (adjusted odds ratio 1.69, 95% CI 1.51–1.90). By anatomic site, pooled odds ratios and 95% CIs were:

Vertebral fractures 1.34 (1.13–1.59)
Wrist or forearm fractures 1.51 (1.26–1.82)
Hip or femur fractures 2.06 (1.84–2.30).

A 2013 meta-analysis³⁷of 34 studies with more than 1 million patients found that the random-effects pooled relative risk of all fracture types in users of antidepressants (including but not limited to SSRIs) was 1.39 (95% CI 1.32–1.47) compared with nonusers. Relative risks and 95% CIs in antidepressant users were:

Vertebral fractures 1.38 (1.19–1.61)
Nonvertebral fractures 1.42 (1.34–1.51)
Hip fractures 1.47 (1.36–1.58).

A population-based, prospective cohort study³⁸of 5,008 community-dwelling adults age 50 and older, followed for 5 years, found that the daily use of SSRIs was associated with a twofold increased risk of clinical fragility fractures (defined as minimal trauma fractures that were clinically reported and radiographically confirmed) after adjusting for potential covariates. Daily SSRI use was also associated with an increased risk of falling (odds ratio 2.2, 95% CI 1.4–3.5), lower bone mineral density at the hip, and a trend toward lower bone mineral density at the spine. These effects were dose-dependent and were similar for those who reported taking SSRIs at baseline and at 5 years.

Bottom line: Counsel bone health

Although no guidelines exist for preventing or treating SSRI-induced bone loss, providers should discuss with patients the potential effect of these medications on bone health, taking into account patient age, severity of depression, sex, duration of use, length of SSRI treatment, and other clinical risk factors for osteoporosis.³⁴ Given the widespread use of these medications for treating depression, more study into this association is needed to further guide providers.

ANTIEPILEPTIC DRUGS

Antiepileptic drugs are used to treat not only seizure disorders but also migraine headaches, neuropathy, and psychiatric and pain disorders. Many studies have linked their use to an increased risk of fractures.

The mechanism of this effect remains controversial. Early studies reported that inducers of cytochrome P450 enzymes (eg, phenobarbital, phenytoin) lead to increased vitamin D degradation, causing osteomalacia.³⁹ Another study suggested that changes in calcium metabolism and reduced bone mineral density occur without vitamin D deficiency and that drugs such as valproate that do not induce cytochrome P450 enzymes may also affect bone health.⁴⁰ Other bone effects may include direct inhibition of intestinal calcium absorption (seen in animal studies) and the induction of a high remodeling state leading to osteomalacia.^41,42

Epilepsy itself increases risk of fractures

Patients with seizure disorders may also have an increased risk of fractures because of falls, trauma, impaired balance, use of glucocorticoids and benzodiazepines, and comorbid conditions (eg, mental retardation, cerebral palsy, and brain neoplasm).⁴³

A 2005 meta-analysis⁴³of 11 studies of epilepsy and fracture risk and 12 studies of epilepsy and bone mineral density found that the risks of fractures were increased. The following relative risks and 95% CIs were noted:

The benefit of preventing seizures outweighs the risks of fractures

Any fracture 2.2 (1.9–2.5), in five studies
Forearm 1.7 (1.2–2.3), in six studies
Hip 5.3 (3.2–8.8), six studies
Spine 6.2 (2.5–15.5), in three studies.

A large proportion of fractures (35%) seemed related to seizures.

Certain drugs increase risk

A large 2004 population-based, case-control, study⁴⁴ (124,655 fracture cases and 373,962 controls) found an association between the use of antiepileptic drugs and increased fracture risk. After adjusting for current or prior use of glucocorticoids, prior fracture, social variables, comorbid conditions, and epilepsy diagnosis, excess fracture risk was found to be associated with the following drugs (odds ratios and 95% CIs):

Oxcarbazepine 1.14 (1.03–1.26)
Valproate 1.15 (1.05–1.26)
Carbamazepine 1.18 (1.10-1.26)
Phenobarbital 1.79 (1.64–1.95).

The risk was higher with higher doses. Fracture risk was higher with cytochrome P450 enzyme-inducing drugs (carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine, phenobarbital, phenytoin, and primidone; odds ratio 1.38, 95% CI 1.31–1.45) than for noninducing drugs (clonazepam, ethosuximide, lamotrigine, tiagabine, topiramate, valproate, and vigabatrin; odds ratio 1.19, 95% CI 1.11–1.27). No significant increased risk of fracture was found with use of phenytoin, tiagabine, topiramate, ethosuximide, lamotrigine, vigabatrin, or primidone after adjusting for confounders.

Bottom line: Monitor bone health

With antiepileptic drugs, the benefit of preventing seizures outweighs the risks of fractures. Patients on long-term antiepileptic drug therapy should be monitored for bone mineral density and vitamin D levels and receive counseling on lifestyle measures including tobacco cessation, alcohol moderation, and fall prevention.⁴⁵ As there are no evidence-based guidelines for bone health in patients on antiepileptic drugs, management should be based on current guidelines for treating osteoporosis.

AROMATASE INHIBITORS

Depression itself may be a risk factor for fracture

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women and is the second-leading cause of cancer-associated deaths in women after lung cancer. Aromatase inhibitors, such as anastrozole, letrozole, and exemestane, are the standard of care in adjuvant treatment for hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer, leading to longer disease-free survival.

However, aromatase inhibitors increase bone loss and fracture risk, and only partial recovery of bone mineral density occurs after treatment is stopped. The drugs deter the aromatization of androgens and their conversion to estrogens in peripheral tissue, leading to reduced estrogen levels and resulting bone loss.⁴⁶ Anastrozole and letrozole have been found to reduce bone mineral density, increase bone turnover, and increase the relative risk for nonvertebral and vertebral fractures in postmenopausal women by 40% compared with tamoxifen.^47,48

Base osteoporosis treatment on risk

Several groups have issued guidelines for preventing and treating bone loss in postmenopausal women being treated with an aromatase inhibitor. When initiating treatment, women should be counseled about modifiable risk factors, exercise, and calcium and vitamin D supplementation.

Baseline bone mineral testing should also be obtained when starting treatment. Hadji et al,⁴⁹in a review article, recommend starting bone-directed therapy if the patient’s T score is less than –2.0 (using the lowest score from three sites) or if she has any of at least two of the following fracture risk factors:

T score less than –1.5
Age over 65
Family history of hip fracture
Personal history of fragility fracture after age 50
Low body mass index (< 20 kg/m²)
Current or prior history of tobacco use
Oral glucocorticoid use for longer than 6 months.

Patients with a T score at or above –2.0 and no risk factors should have bone mineral density reassessed after 1 to 2 years. Antiresorptive therapy with intravenous zoledronic acid and evaluation for other secondary causes of bone loss should be initiated for either:

An annual decrease of at least 10% or
An annual decrease of at least 4% in patients with osteopenia at baseline.⁴⁹

In 2003, the American Society of Clinical Oncology updated its recommendations on the role of bisphosphonates and bone health in women with breast cancer.⁵⁰ They recommend the following:

If the T score is –2.5 or less, prescribe a bisphosphonate (alendronate, risedronate, or zoledronic acid)
If the T score is –1.0 to –2.5, tailor treatment individually and monitor bone mineral density annually
If the T score is greater than –1.0, monitor bone mineral density annually.

All patients should receive lifestyle counseling, calcium and vitamin D supplementation, and monitoring of additional risk factors for osteoporosis as appropriate.⁵⁰

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Author and Disclosure Information

Faye N. Hant, DO, MSCR
Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology and Immunology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC

Marcy B. Bolster, MD
Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Division of Rheumatology, Allergy, and Immunology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA

Address: Faye N. Hant, DO, MSCR, Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology and Immunology, Medical University of South Carolina, 96 Jonathan Lucas Street, Suite 816, Charleston, SC 29425; hant@musc.edu

Dr. Bolster has disclosed performing a clinical research study for Eli Lilly and owning stock or stock options in Johnson & Johnson.

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Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine - 83(4)

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Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine

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Bone, osteoporosis, osteopenia, glucocorticoids, corticosteroids, steroids, prednisone, prednisolone, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, SSRIs, antiepileptic drugs, aromatase inhibitors, Faye Hant, Marcy Bolster

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Faye N. Hant, DO, MSCR
Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology and Immunology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC

Marcy B. Bolster, MD
Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Division of Rheumatology, Allergy, and Immunology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA

Address: Faye N. Hant, DO, MSCR, Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology and Immunology, Medical University of South Carolina, 96 Jonathan Lucas Street, Suite 816, Charleston, SC 29425; hant@musc.edu

Dr. Bolster has disclosed performing a clinical research study for Eli Lilly and owning stock or stock options in Johnson & Johnson.

Author and Disclosure Information

Faye N. Hant, DO, MSCR
Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology and Immunology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC

Marcy B. Bolster, MD
Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Division of Rheumatology, Allergy, and Immunology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA

Address: Faye N. Hant, DO, MSCR, Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology and Immunology, Medical University of South Carolina, 96 Jonathan Lucas Street, Suite 816, Charleston, SC 29425; hant@musc.edu

Dr. Bolster has disclosed performing a clinical research study for Eli Lilly and owning stock or stock options in Johnson & Johnson.

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Hant_DrugsandBoneHealth.pdf

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Hant_DrugsandBoneHealth.pdf

Drug-induced osteoporosis is common, and the list of drugs that can harm bone continues to grow. As part of routine health maintenance, practitioners should recognize the drugs that increase bone loss and take measures to mitigate these effects to help avoid osteopenia and osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis, a silent systemic disease defined by low bone mineral density and changes in skeletal microstructure, leads to a higher risk of fragility fractures. Some of the risk factors are well described, but less well known is the role of pharmacologic therapy. The implicated drugs (Table 1) have important therapeutic roles, so the benefits of using them must be weighed against their risks, including their potential effects on bone.

This review focuses on a few drugs known to increase fracture risk, their mechanisms of bone loss, and management considerations (Table 2).

GLUCOCORTICOIDS

Glucocorticoids are used to treat many medical conditions, including allergic, rheumatic, and other inflammatory diseases, and as immunosuppressive therapy after solid organ and bone marrow transplant. They are the most common cause of drug-induced bone loss and related secondary osteoporosis.

Multiple effects on bone

Glucocorticoids both increase bone resorption and decrease bone formation by a variety of mechanisms.¹ They reduce intestinal calcium absorption, increase urinary excretion of calcium, and enhance osteocyte apoptosis, leading to deterioration of the bone microarchitecture and bone mineral density.² They also affect sex hormones, decreasing testosterone production in men and estrogen in women, leading to increased bone resorption, altered bone architecture, and poorer bone quality.^3,4 The bone loss is greater in trabecular bone (eg, the femoral neck and vertebral bodies) than in cortical bone (eg, the forearm).⁵

Glucocorticoids have other systemic effects that increase fracture risk. For example, they cause muscle weakness and atrophy, increasing the risk of falls.⁴ Additionally, many of the inflammatory conditions for which they are prescribed (eg, rheumatoid arthritis) also increase the risk of osteoporosis by means of proinflammatory cytokine production, which may contribute to systemic and local effects on bone.^4,6

Bone mineral density declines quickly

Bone mineral density declines within the first 3 months after starting oral glucocorticoids, with the rate of bone loss peaking at 6 months. Up to 12% of bone mass is lost in the first year. In subsequent years of continued use, bone loss progresses at a slower, steadier rate, averaging 2% to 3% annually.^5,7,8

Oral therapy increases fracture risk

Kanis et al⁹ performed a meta-analysis of seven prospective cohort studies in 40,000 patients and found that the current or previous use of an oral glucocorticoid increased the risk of fragility fractures, and that men and women were affected about equally.⁹

Van Staa et al^10,11 reported that daily doses of glucocorticoids equivalent to more than 2.5 mg of prednisone were associated with an increased risk of vertebral and hip fractures; fracture risk was related mainly to daily dosage rather than cumulative dose.

Van Staa et al,¹² in a retrospective cohort study, compared nearly 250,000 adult users of oral glucocorticoids from general medical practice settings with the same number of controls matched for sex, age, and medical practice. The relative risks for fractures and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) during oral glucocorticoid treatment were as follows:

Forearm fracture 1.09 (1.01–1.17)
Nonvertebral fracture 1.33 (1.29–1.38)
Hip fracture 1.61 (1.47–1.76)
Vertebral fracture 2.60 (2.31–2.92).

The risk was dose-dependent. For a low daily dose (< 2.5 mg/day of prednisolone), the relative risks were:

Hip fracture 0.99 (0.82–1.20)
Vertebral fracture 1.55 (1.20–2.01) .

For a medium daily dose (2.5–7.5 mg/day), the relative risks were:

Hip fracture 1.77 (1.55–2.02)
Vertebral fracture 2.59 (2.16–3.10) .

For a high daily dose (> 7.5 mg/day), the relative risks were:

Hip fracture 2.27 (1.94–2.66)
Vertebral fracture 5.18 (4.25–6.31).

Fracture risk rapidly declined toward baseline after the patients stopped taking oral glucocorticoids but did not return to baseline levels. The lessening of excess fracture risk occurred mainly within the first year after stopping therapy.

Other studies^5,9,13 have suggested that the increased fracture risk is mostly independent of bone mineral density, and that other mechanisms are at play. One study¹⁴ found that oral glucocorticoid users with a prevalent vertebral fracture actually had higher bone mineral density than patients with a fracture not taking glucocorticoids, although this finding was not confirmed in a subsequent study.¹⁵

Inhaled glucocorticoids have less effect on bone

Inhaled glucocorticoids are commonly used to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma. They do not have the same systemic bioavailability as oral glucocorticoids, so the risk of adverse effects is lower.

Data are inconsistent among several studies that evaluated the relationship between inhaled glucocorticoids, bone mineral density, osteoporosis, and fragility fracture. The inconsistencies may be due to heterogeneity of the study populations, self-reporting of fractures, and different methods of assessing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease severity.¹⁶

A Cochrane review¹⁷ in 2002 evaluated seven randomized controlled trials that compared the use of inhaled glucocorticoids vs placebo in nearly 2,000 patients with mild asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and found no evidence for decreased bone mineral density, increased bone turnover, or increased vertebral fracture incidence in the glucocorticoid users at 2 to 3 years of follow-up (odds ratio for fracture 1.87, 95% CI 0.5–7.0).

The Evaluation of Obstructive Lung Disease and Osteoporosis study,¹⁶ a multicenter Italian observational epidemiologic study, reported that patients taking the highest daily doses of inhaled glucocorticoids (> 1,500 μg of beclomethasone or its equivalent) had a significantly higher risk of vertebral fracture (odds ratio 1.4, 95% CI 1.04–1.89).¹⁶

A meta-analysis¹⁸ of five case-control studies (43,783 cases and 259,936 controls) identified a possible dose-dependent relationship, with a relative risk for nonvertebral fracture of 1.12 (95% CI 1.0–1.26) for each 1,000-μg increase in beclomethasone-equivalent inhaled glucocorticoid per day.

In summary, the effects of inhaled glucocorticoids in adults are uncertain, although trends toward increased fracture risk and decreased bone mineral density are evident with chronic therapy at moderate to high dosages. The risks and benefits of treatment should be carefully considered in patients with osteoporosis and baseline elevated fracture risk.¹⁹

Managing the risk of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis

In 2010, the American College of Rheumatology published recommendations for preventing and treating glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis, which were endorsed by the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.²⁰ To lessen the risk of osteoporosis, the recommendations are as follows:

Limit exposure. Patients receiving glucocorticoids should be given the smallest dosage for the shortest duration possible.

Advise lifestyle changes. Patients should be counseled to limit their alcohol intake to no more than two drinks per day, to quit smoking, to engage in weight-bearing exercise, and to ingest enough calcium (1,200–1,500 mg/day, through diet and supplements) and vitamin D.

Monitor bone mineral density. Patients starting glucocorticoids at any dosage for an expected duration of at least 3 months should have their bone mineral density measured at baseline. The frequency of subsequent measurements should be based on the presence of other risk factors for fracture, results of previous bone density testing, glucocorticoid dosage, whether therapy for bone health has been initiated, and the rate of change in bone mineral density. If warranted and if the results would lead to a change in management, patients can undergo dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry more often than usual, ie, more often than every 2 years. Prevalent and incident fragility fractures, height measurements, fall risk assessments, laboratory measurements of 25-hydroxyvitamin D, and consideration of vertebral fracture assessment or other imaging of the spine, as necessary, should be part of counseling and monitoring.

Osteoporosis treatment. For patients who will be taking glucocorticoids for at least 3 months, alendronate, risedronate, zoledronic acid, or teriparatide can be initiated to prevent or treat osteoporosis in the following groups:

Postmenopausal women and men over age 50 if the daily glucocorticoid dosage is at least 7.5 mg/day or if the World Health Organization Fracture Risk Assessment Tool (FRAX) score is more than 10% (the threshold for medium fracture risk)
Premenopausal women and men younger than 50 if they have a history of fragility fracture, the FRAX score is more than 20% (the threshold for high fracture risk), or the T score is less than –2.5.

Certain clinical factors can also put a patient into a higher-risk category. These include current tobacco use, low body mass index, parental history of hip fracture, consuming more than three alcoholic drinks daily, higher daily or cumulative glucocorticoid dosage, intravenous pulse glucocorticoid usage, or a decline in central bone mineral density that exceeds the least significant change according to the scanner used.²⁰

The FRAX tool accounts for bone density only at the femoral neck, and while useful, it cannot replace clinical judgment in stratifying risk. Moreover, it does not apply to premenopausal women or men under age 40.

The implicated medications have important roles, so weigh their risks and benefits

The long-term risks of medications to treat glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis are not well defined for premenopausal women (or their unborn children) or in men younger than 40, so treatment is recommended in those groups only for those with prevalent fragility fractures who are clearly at higher risk of additional fractures.²⁰

PROTON PUMP INHIBITORS

Proton pump inhibitors are available by prescription and over the counter for gastric acid-related conditions. Concerns have been raised that these highly effective drugs are overused.²¹ Several of their adverse effects are self-limited and minor, but long-term use may entail serious risks, including propensity to bone fracture.²²

Low acid leads to poor calcium absorption

Why fracture risk increases with proton pump inhibitors is controversial and may relate to their desired effect of suppressing gastric acid production: calcium salts, including carbonate and chloride, are poorly soluble and require an acidic environment to increase calcium ionization and thus absorption.²³ For this reason, if patients taking a proton pump inhibitor take a calcium supplement, it should be calcium citrate, which unlike calcium carbonate does not require an acid environment for absorption.

Higher risk in older patients, with longer use, and with higher dosage

Since the first reports on proton pump inhibitors and fracture risk were published in 2006,^24,25 a number of studies have reported this association, including several systematic reviews.

In 2011, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) updated a 2010 safety communication based on seven epidemiologic studies reporting an increased risk of fractures of the spine, hip, and wrist with proton pump inhibitors.^24–31 Time of exposure to a proton pump inhibitor in these studies varied from 1 to 12 years. Fracture risk was higher in older patients,²⁶ with higher doses,^24,29 and with longer duration of drug use.^24,27 On the other hand, one study that included only patients without other major fracture risk factors failed to find an association between the use of proton pump inhibitors and fractures.²⁸

Is evidence sufficient for changing use?

The FDA report included a disclaimer that they had no access to study data or protocols and so could not verify the findings.²⁶ Moreover, the studies used claims data from computerized databases to evaluate the risk of fractures in patients treated with proton pump inhibitors compared with those not using these drugs.^24–31 Information was often incomplete regarding potentially important factors (eg, falls, family history of osteoporosis, calcium and vitamin D intake, smoking, alcohol use, reason for medication use), as well as the timing of drug use related to the onset or worsening of osteoporosis.²⁶

Although 34 published studies evaluated the association of fracture risk and proton pump inhibitors, Leontiadis and Moayyedi³² argued that insufficient evidence exists to change our prescribing habits for these drugs based on fracture risk, as the studies varied considerably in their designs and results, a clear dose-response relationship is lacking, and the modest association is likely related to multiple confounders.

Bottom line: Use with caution

Although the increased fracture risk associated with proton pump inhibitors is likely multifactorial and is not fully delineated, it appears to be real. These drugs should be used only if there is a clear indication for them and if their benefits likely outweigh their risks. The lowest effective dose should be used, and the need for continuing use should be frequently reassessed.

SELECTIVE SEROTONIN REUPTAKE INHIBITORS

Depression affects 1 in 10 people in the United States, is especially common in the elderly, and leads to significant morbidity and reduced quality of life.³³ Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are often prescribed and are generally considered first-line agents for treating depression.

Complex bone effects

Use proton pump inhibitors only if there is a clear indication for them and their benefits likely outweigh the risks

SSRIs antagonize the serotonin transporter, which normally assists serotonin uptake from the extracellular space. The serotonin transporter is found in all main types of bone cells, including osteoclasts, osteoblasts, and osteocytes.³³ Serotonin is made by different genes in the brain than in the periphery, causing opposing effects on bone biology: when generated peripherally, it acts as a hormone to inhibit bone formation, while when generated in the brain, it acts as a neurotransmitter to create a major and positive effect on bone mass accrual by enhancing bone formation and limiting bone resorption.^34,35

Potential confounders complicate the effect of SSRIs on bone health, as depression itself may be a risk factor for fracture. Patients with depression tend to have increased inflammation and cortisol, decreased gonadal steroids, more behavioral risk factors such as tobacco and increased alcohol use, and less physical activity, all of which can contribute to low bone density and risk of falls and fractures.³³

Daily use of SSRIs increases fracture risk

A 2012 meta-analysis³⁶ of 12 studies (seven case-control and five cohort), showed that SSRI users had a higher overall risk of fracture (adjusted odds ratio 1.69, 95% CI 1.51–1.90). By anatomic site, pooled odds ratios and 95% CIs were:

Vertebral fractures 1.34 (1.13–1.59)
Wrist or forearm fractures 1.51 (1.26–1.82)
Hip or femur fractures 2.06 (1.84–2.30).

A 2013 meta-analysis³⁷of 34 studies with more than 1 million patients found that the random-effects pooled relative risk of all fracture types in users of antidepressants (including but not limited to SSRIs) was 1.39 (95% CI 1.32–1.47) compared with nonusers. Relative risks and 95% CIs in antidepressant users were:

Vertebral fractures 1.38 (1.19–1.61)
Nonvertebral fractures 1.42 (1.34–1.51)
Hip fractures 1.47 (1.36–1.58).

A population-based, prospective cohort study³⁸of 5,008 community-dwelling adults age 50 and older, followed for 5 years, found that the daily use of SSRIs was associated with a twofold increased risk of clinical fragility fractures (defined as minimal trauma fractures that were clinically reported and radiographically confirmed) after adjusting for potential covariates. Daily SSRI use was also associated with an increased risk of falling (odds ratio 2.2, 95% CI 1.4–3.5), lower bone mineral density at the hip, and a trend toward lower bone mineral density at the spine. These effects were dose-dependent and were similar for those who reported taking SSRIs at baseline and at 5 years.

Bottom line: Counsel bone health

Although no guidelines exist for preventing or treating SSRI-induced bone loss, providers should discuss with patients the potential effect of these medications on bone health, taking into account patient age, severity of depression, sex, duration of use, length of SSRI treatment, and other clinical risk factors for osteoporosis.³⁴ Given the widespread use of these medications for treating depression, more study into this association is needed to further guide providers.

ANTIEPILEPTIC DRUGS

Antiepileptic drugs are used to treat not only seizure disorders but also migraine headaches, neuropathy, and psychiatric and pain disorders. Many studies have linked their use to an increased risk of fractures.

The mechanism of this effect remains controversial. Early studies reported that inducers of cytochrome P450 enzymes (eg, phenobarbital, phenytoin) lead to increased vitamin D degradation, causing osteomalacia.³⁹ Another study suggested that changes in calcium metabolism and reduced bone mineral density occur without vitamin D deficiency and that drugs such as valproate that do not induce cytochrome P450 enzymes may also affect bone health.⁴⁰ Other bone effects may include direct inhibition of intestinal calcium absorption (seen in animal studies) and the induction of a high remodeling state leading to osteomalacia.^41,42

Epilepsy itself increases risk of fractures

Patients with seizure disorders may also have an increased risk of fractures because of falls, trauma, impaired balance, use of glucocorticoids and benzodiazepines, and comorbid conditions (eg, mental retardation, cerebral palsy, and brain neoplasm).⁴³

A 2005 meta-analysis⁴³of 11 studies of epilepsy and fracture risk and 12 studies of epilepsy and bone mineral density found that the risks of fractures were increased. The following relative risks and 95% CIs were noted:

The benefit of preventing seizures outweighs the risks of fractures

Any fracture 2.2 (1.9–2.5), in five studies
Forearm 1.7 (1.2–2.3), in six studies
Hip 5.3 (3.2–8.8), six studies
Spine 6.2 (2.5–15.5), in three studies.

A large proportion of fractures (35%) seemed related to seizures.

Certain drugs increase risk

A large 2004 population-based, case-control, study⁴⁴ (124,655 fracture cases and 373,962 controls) found an association between the use of antiepileptic drugs and increased fracture risk. After adjusting for current or prior use of glucocorticoids, prior fracture, social variables, comorbid conditions, and epilepsy diagnosis, excess fracture risk was found to be associated with the following drugs (odds ratios and 95% CIs):

Oxcarbazepine 1.14 (1.03–1.26)
Valproate 1.15 (1.05–1.26)
Carbamazepine 1.18 (1.10-1.26)
Phenobarbital 1.79 (1.64–1.95).

The risk was higher with higher doses. Fracture risk was higher with cytochrome P450 enzyme-inducing drugs (carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine, phenobarbital, phenytoin, and primidone; odds ratio 1.38, 95% CI 1.31–1.45) than for noninducing drugs (clonazepam, ethosuximide, lamotrigine, tiagabine, topiramate, valproate, and vigabatrin; odds ratio 1.19, 95% CI 1.11–1.27). No significant increased risk of fracture was found with use of phenytoin, tiagabine, topiramate, ethosuximide, lamotrigine, vigabatrin, or primidone after adjusting for confounders.

Bottom line: Monitor bone health

With antiepileptic drugs, the benefit of preventing seizures outweighs the risks of fractures. Patients on long-term antiepileptic drug therapy should be monitored for bone mineral density and vitamin D levels and receive counseling on lifestyle measures including tobacco cessation, alcohol moderation, and fall prevention.⁴⁵ As there are no evidence-based guidelines for bone health in patients on antiepileptic drugs, management should be based on current guidelines for treating osteoporosis.

AROMATASE INHIBITORS

Depression itself may be a risk factor for fracture

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women and is the second-leading cause of cancer-associated deaths in women after lung cancer. Aromatase inhibitors, such as anastrozole, letrozole, and exemestane, are the standard of care in adjuvant treatment for hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer, leading to longer disease-free survival.

However, aromatase inhibitors increase bone loss and fracture risk, and only partial recovery of bone mineral density occurs after treatment is stopped. The drugs deter the aromatization of androgens and their conversion to estrogens in peripheral tissue, leading to reduced estrogen levels and resulting bone loss.⁴⁶ Anastrozole and letrozole have been found to reduce bone mineral density, increase bone turnover, and increase the relative risk for nonvertebral and vertebral fractures in postmenopausal women by 40% compared with tamoxifen.^47,48

Base osteoporosis treatment on risk

Several groups have issued guidelines for preventing and treating bone loss in postmenopausal women being treated with an aromatase inhibitor. When initiating treatment, women should be counseled about modifiable risk factors, exercise, and calcium and vitamin D supplementation.

Baseline bone mineral testing should also be obtained when starting treatment. Hadji et al,⁴⁹in a review article, recommend starting bone-directed therapy if the patient’s T score is less than –2.0 (using the lowest score from three sites) or if she has any of at least two of the following fracture risk factors:

T score less than –1.5
Age over 65
Family history of hip fracture
Personal history of fragility fracture after age 50
Low body mass index (< 20 kg/m²)
Current or prior history of tobacco use
Oral glucocorticoid use for longer than 6 months.

Patients with a T score at or above –2.0 and no risk factors should have bone mineral density reassessed after 1 to 2 years. Antiresorptive therapy with intravenous zoledronic acid and evaluation for other secondary causes of bone loss should be initiated for either:

An annual decrease of at least 10% or
An annual decrease of at least 4% in patients with osteopenia at baseline.⁴⁹

In 2003, the American Society of Clinical Oncology updated its recommendations on the role of bisphosphonates and bone health in women with breast cancer.⁵⁰ They recommend the following:

If the T score is –2.5 or less, prescribe a bisphosphonate (alendronate, risedronate, or zoledronic acid)
If the T score is –1.0 to –2.5, tailor treatment individually and monitor bone mineral density annually
If the T score is greater than –1.0, monitor bone mineral density annually.

All patients should receive lifestyle counseling, calcium and vitamin D supplementation, and monitoring of additional risk factors for osteoporosis as appropriate.⁵⁰

Drug-induced osteoporosis is common, and the list of drugs that can harm bone continues to grow. As part of routine health maintenance, practitioners should recognize the drugs that increase bone loss and take measures to mitigate these effects to help avoid osteopenia and osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis, a silent systemic disease defined by low bone mineral density and changes in skeletal microstructure, leads to a higher risk of fragility fractures. Some of the risk factors are well described, but less well known is the role of pharmacologic therapy. The implicated drugs (Table 1) have important therapeutic roles, so the benefits of using them must be weighed against their risks, including their potential effects on bone.

This review focuses on a few drugs known to increase fracture risk, their mechanisms of bone loss, and management considerations (Table 2).

GLUCOCORTICOIDS

Glucocorticoids are used to treat many medical conditions, including allergic, rheumatic, and other inflammatory diseases, and as immunosuppressive therapy after solid organ and bone marrow transplant. They are the most common cause of drug-induced bone loss and related secondary osteoporosis.

Multiple effects on bone

Glucocorticoids both increase bone resorption and decrease bone formation by a variety of mechanisms.¹ They reduce intestinal calcium absorption, increase urinary excretion of calcium, and enhance osteocyte apoptosis, leading to deterioration of the bone microarchitecture and bone mineral density.² They also affect sex hormones, decreasing testosterone production in men and estrogen in women, leading to increased bone resorption, altered bone architecture, and poorer bone quality.^3,4 The bone loss is greater in trabecular bone (eg, the femoral neck and vertebral bodies) than in cortical bone (eg, the forearm).⁵

Glucocorticoids have other systemic effects that increase fracture risk. For example, they cause muscle weakness and atrophy, increasing the risk of falls.⁴ Additionally, many of the inflammatory conditions for which they are prescribed (eg, rheumatoid arthritis) also increase the risk of osteoporosis by means of proinflammatory cytokine production, which may contribute to systemic and local effects on bone.^4,6

Bone mineral density declines quickly

Bone mineral density declines within the first 3 months after starting oral glucocorticoids, with the rate of bone loss peaking at 6 months. Up to 12% of bone mass is lost in the first year. In subsequent years of continued use, bone loss progresses at a slower, steadier rate, averaging 2% to 3% annually.^5,7,8

Oral therapy increases fracture risk

Kanis et al⁹ performed a meta-analysis of seven prospective cohort studies in 40,000 patients and found that the current or previous use of an oral glucocorticoid increased the risk of fragility fractures, and that men and women were affected about equally.⁹

Van Staa et al^10,11 reported that daily doses of glucocorticoids equivalent to more than 2.5 mg of prednisone were associated with an increased risk of vertebral and hip fractures; fracture risk was related mainly to daily dosage rather than cumulative dose.

Van Staa et al,¹² in a retrospective cohort study, compared nearly 250,000 adult users of oral glucocorticoids from general medical practice settings with the same number of controls matched for sex, age, and medical practice. The relative risks for fractures and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) during oral glucocorticoid treatment were as follows:

Forearm fracture 1.09 (1.01–1.17)
Nonvertebral fracture 1.33 (1.29–1.38)
Hip fracture 1.61 (1.47–1.76)
Vertebral fracture 2.60 (2.31–2.92).

The risk was dose-dependent. For a low daily dose (< 2.5 mg/day of prednisolone), the relative risks were:

Hip fracture 0.99 (0.82–1.20)
Vertebral fracture 1.55 (1.20–2.01) .

For a medium daily dose (2.5–7.5 mg/day), the relative risks were:

Hip fracture 1.77 (1.55–2.02)
Vertebral fracture 2.59 (2.16–3.10) .

For a high daily dose (> 7.5 mg/day), the relative risks were:

Hip fracture 2.27 (1.94–2.66)
Vertebral fracture 5.18 (4.25–6.31).

Fracture risk rapidly declined toward baseline after the patients stopped taking oral glucocorticoids but did not return to baseline levels. The lessening of excess fracture risk occurred mainly within the first year after stopping therapy.

Other studies^5,9,13 have suggested that the increased fracture risk is mostly independent of bone mineral density, and that other mechanisms are at play. One study¹⁴ found that oral glucocorticoid users with a prevalent vertebral fracture actually had higher bone mineral density than patients with a fracture not taking glucocorticoids, although this finding was not confirmed in a subsequent study.¹⁵

Inhaled glucocorticoids have less effect on bone

Inhaled glucocorticoids are commonly used to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma. They do not have the same systemic bioavailability as oral glucocorticoids, so the risk of adverse effects is lower.

Data are inconsistent among several studies that evaluated the relationship between inhaled glucocorticoids, bone mineral density, osteoporosis, and fragility fracture. The inconsistencies may be due to heterogeneity of the study populations, self-reporting of fractures, and different methods of assessing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease severity.¹⁶

A Cochrane review¹⁷ in 2002 evaluated seven randomized controlled trials that compared the use of inhaled glucocorticoids vs placebo in nearly 2,000 patients with mild asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and found no evidence for decreased bone mineral density, increased bone turnover, or increased vertebral fracture incidence in the glucocorticoid users at 2 to 3 years of follow-up (odds ratio for fracture 1.87, 95% CI 0.5–7.0).

The Evaluation of Obstructive Lung Disease and Osteoporosis study,¹⁶ a multicenter Italian observational epidemiologic study, reported that patients taking the highest daily doses of inhaled glucocorticoids (> 1,500 μg of beclomethasone or its equivalent) had a significantly higher risk of vertebral fracture (odds ratio 1.4, 95% CI 1.04–1.89).¹⁶

A meta-analysis¹⁸ of five case-control studies (43,783 cases and 259,936 controls) identified a possible dose-dependent relationship, with a relative risk for nonvertebral fracture of 1.12 (95% CI 1.0–1.26) for each 1,000-μg increase in beclomethasone-equivalent inhaled glucocorticoid per day.

In summary, the effects of inhaled glucocorticoids in adults are uncertain, although trends toward increased fracture risk and decreased bone mineral density are evident with chronic therapy at moderate to high dosages. The risks and benefits of treatment should be carefully considered in patients with osteoporosis and baseline elevated fracture risk.¹⁹

Managing the risk of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis

In 2010, the American College of Rheumatology published recommendations for preventing and treating glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis, which were endorsed by the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.²⁰ To lessen the risk of osteoporosis, the recommendations are as follows:

Limit exposure. Patients receiving glucocorticoids should be given the smallest dosage for the shortest duration possible.

Advise lifestyle changes. Patients should be counseled to limit their alcohol intake to no more than two drinks per day, to quit smoking, to engage in weight-bearing exercise, and to ingest enough calcium (1,200–1,500 mg/day, through diet and supplements) and vitamin D.

Monitor bone mineral density. Patients starting glucocorticoids at any dosage for an expected duration of at least 3 months should have their bone mineral density measured at baseline. The frequency of subsequent measurements should be based on the presence of other risk factors for fracture, results of previous bone density testing, glucocorticoid dosage, whether therapy for bone health has been initiated, and the rate of change in bone mineral density. If warranted and if the results would lead to a change in management, patients can undergo dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry more often than usual, ie, more often than every 2 years. Prevalent and incident fragility fractures, height measurements, fall risk assessments, laboratory measurements of 25-hydroxyvitamin D, and consideration of vertebral fracture assessment or other imaging of the spine, as necessary, should be part of counseling and monitoring.

Osteoporosis treatment. For patients who will be taking glucocorticoids for at least 3 months, alendronate, risedronate, zoledronic acid, or teriparatide can be initiated to prevent or treat osteoporosis in the following groups:

Postmenopausal women and men over age 50 if the daily glucocorticoid dosage is at least 7.5 mg/day or if the World Health Organization Fracture Risk Assessment Tool (FRAX) score is more than 10% (the threshold for medium fracture risk)
Premenopausal women and men younger than 50 if they have a history of fragility fracture, the FRAX score is more than 20% (the threshold for high fracture risk), or the T score is less than –2.5.

Certain clinical factors can also put a patient into a higher-risk category. These include current tobacco use, low body mass index, parental history of hip fracture, consuming more than three alcoholic drinks daily, higher daily or cumulative glucocorticoid dosage, intravenous pulse glucocorticoid usage, or a decline in central bone mineral density that exceeds the least significant change according to the scanner used.²⁰

The FRAX tool accounts for bone density only at the femoral neck, and while useful, it cannot replace clinical judgment in stratifying risk. Moreover, it does not apply to premenopausal women or men under age 40.

The implicated medications have important roles, so weigh their risks and benefits

The long-term risks of medications to treat glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis are not well defined for premenopausal women (or their unborn children) or in men younger than 40, so treatment is recommended in those groups only for those with prevalent fragility fractures who are clearly at higher risk of additional fractures.²⁰

PROTON PUMP INHIBITORS

Proton pump inhibitors are available by prescription and over the counter for gastric acid-related conditions. Concerns have been raised that these highly effective drugs are overused.²¹ Several of their adverse effects are self-limited and minor, but long-term use may entail serious risks, including propensity to bone fracture.²²

Low acid leads to poor calcium absorption

Why fracture risk increases with proton pump inhibitors is controversial and may relate to their desired effect of suppressing gastric acid production: calcium salts, including carbonate and chloride, are poorly soluble and require an acidic environment to increase calcium ionization and thus absorption.²³ For this reason, if patients taking a proton pump inhibitor take a calcium supplement, it should be calcium citrate, which unlike calcium carbonate does not require an acid environment for absorption.

Higher risk in older patients, with longer use, and with higher dosage

Since the first reports on proton pump inhibitors and fracture risk were published in 2006,^24,25 a number of studies have reported this association, including several systematic reviews.

In 2011, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) updated a 2010 safety communication based on seven epidemiologic studies reporting an increased risk of fractures of the spine, hip, and wrist with proton pump inhibitors.^24–31 Time of exposure to a proton pump inhibitor in these studies varied from 1 to 12 years. Fracture risk was higher in older patients,²⁶ with higher doses,^24,29 and with longer duration of drug use.^24,27 On the other hand, one study that included only patients without other major fracture risk factors failed to find an association between the use of proton pump inhibitors and fractures.²⁸

Is evidence sufficient for changing use?

The FDA report included a disclaimer that they had no access to study data or protocols and so could not verify the findings.²⁶ Moreover, the studies used claims data from computerized databases to evaluate the risk of fractures in patients treated with proton pump inhibitors compared with those not using these drugs.^24–31 Information was often incomplete regarding potentially important factors (eg, falls, family history of osteoporosis, calcium and vitamin D intake, smoking, alcohol use, reason for medication use), as well as the timing of drug use related to the onset or worsening of osteoporosis.²⁶

Although 34 published studies evaluated the association of fracture risk and proton pump inhibitors, Leontiadis and Moayyedi³² argued that insufficient evidence exists to change our prescribing habits for these drugs based on fracture risk, as the studies varied considerably in their designs and results, a clear dose-response relationship is lacking, and the modest association is likely related to multiple confounders.

Bottom line: Use with caution

Although the increased fracture risk associated with proton pump inhibitors is likely multifactorial and is not fully delineated, it appears to be real. These drugs should be used only if there is a clear indication for them and if their benefits likely outweigh their risks. The lowest effective dose should be used, and the need for continuing use should be frequently reassessed.

SELECTIVE SEROTONIN REUPTAKE INHIBITORS

Depression affects 1 in 10 people in the United States, is especially common in the elderly, and leads to significant morbidity and reduced quality of life.³³ Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are often prescribed and are generally considered first-line agents for treating depression.

Complex bone effects

Use proton pump inhibitors only if there is a clear indication for them and their benefits likely outweigh the risks

SSRIs antagonize the serotonin transporter, which normally assists serotonin uptake from the extracellular space. The serotonin transporter is found in all main types of bone cells, including osteoclasts, osteoblasts, and osteocytes.³³ Serotonin is made by different genes in the brain than in the periphery, causing opposing effects on bone biology: when generated peripherally, it acts as a hormone to inhibit bone formation, while when generated in the brain, it acts as a neurotransmitter to create a major and positive effect on bone mass accrual by enhancing bone formation and limiting bone resorption.^34,35

Potential confounders complicate the effect of SSRIs on bone health, as depression itself may be a risk factor for fracture. Patients with depression tend to have increased inflammation and cortisol, decreased gonadal steroids, more behavioral risk factors such as tobacco and increased alcohol use, and less physical activity, all of which can contribute to low bone density and risk of falls and fractures.³³

Daily use of SSRIs increases fracture risk

A 2012 meta-analysis³⁶ of 12 studies (seven case-control and five cohort), showed that SSRI users had a higher overall risk of fracture (adjusted odds ratio 1.69, 95% CI 1.51–1.90). By anatomic site, pooled odds ratios and 95% CIs were:

Vertebral fractures 1.34 (1.13–1.59)
Wrist or forearm fractures 1.51 (1.26–1.82)
Hip or femur fractures 2.06 (1.84–2.30).

A 2013 meta-analysis³⁷of 34 studies with more than 1 million patients found that the random-effects pooled relative risk of all fracture types in users of antidepressants (including but not limited to SSRIs) was 1.39 (95% CI 1.32–1.47) compared with nonusers. Relative risks and 95% CIs in antidepressant users were:

Vertebral fractures 1.38 (1.19–1.61)
Nonvertebral fractures 1.42 (1.34–1.51)
Hip fractures 1.47 (1.36–1.58).

A population-based, prospective cohort study³⁸of 5,008 community-dwelling adults age 50 and older, followed for 5 years, found that the daily use of SSRIs was associated with a twofold increased risk of clinical fragility fractures (defined as minimal trauma fractures that were clinically reported and radiographically confirmed) after adjusting for potential covariates. Daily SSRI use was also associated with an increased risk of falling (odds ratio 2.2, 95% CI 1.4–3.5), lower bone mineral density at the hip, and a trend toward lower bone mineral density at the spine. These effects were dose-dependent and were similar for those who reported taking SSRIs at baseline and at 5 years.

Bottom line: Counsel bone health

Although no guidelines exist for preventing or treating SSRI-induced bone loss, providers should discuss with patients the potential effect of these medications on bone health, taking into account patient age, severity of depression, sex, duration of use, length of SSRI treatment, and other clinical risk factors for osteoporosis.³⁴ Given the widespread use of these medications for treating depression, more study into this association is needed to further guide providers.

ANTIEPILEPTIC DRUGS

Antiepileptic drugs are used to treat not only seizure disorders but also migraine headaches, neuropathy, and psychiatric and pain disorders. Many studies have linked their use to an increased risk of fractures.

The mechanism of this effect remains controversial. Early studies reported that inducers of cytochrome P450 enzymes (eg, phenobarbital, phenytoin) lead to increased vitamin D degradation, causing osteomalacia.³⁹ Another study suggested that changes in calcium metabolism and reduced bone mineral density occur without vitamin D deficiency and that drugs such as valproate that do not induce cytochrome P450 enzymes may also affect bone health.⁴⁰ Other bone effects may include direct inhibition of intestinal calcium absorption (seen in animal studies) and the induction of a high remodeling state leading to osteomalacia.^41,42

Epilepsy itself increases risk of fractures

Patients with seizure disorders may also have an increased risk of fractures because of falls, trauma, impaired balance, use of glucocorticoids and benzodiazepines, and comorbid conditions (eg, mental retardation, cerebral palsy, and brain neoplasm).⁴³

A 2005 meta-analysis⁴³of 11 studies of epilepsy and fracture risk and 12 studies of epilepsy and bone mineral density found that the risks of fractures were increased. The following relative risks and 95% CIs were noted:

The benefit of preventing seizures outweighs the risks of fractures

Any fracture 2.2 (1.9–2.5), in five studies
Forearm 1.7 (1.2–2.3), in six studies
Hip 5.3 (3.2–8.8), six studies
Spine 6.2 (2.5–15.5), in three studies.

A large proportion of fractures (35%) seemed related to seizures.

Certain drugs increase risk

A large 2004 population-based, case-control, study⁴⁴ (124,655 fracture cases and 373,962 controls) found an association between the use of antiepileptic drugs and increased fracture risk. After adjusting for current or prior use of glucocorticoids, prior fracture, social variables, comorbid conditions, and epilepsy diagnosis, excess fracture risk was found to be associated with the following drugs (odds ratios and 95% CIs):

Oxcarbazepine 1.14 (1.03–1.26)
Valproate 1.15 (1.05–1.26)
Carbamazepine 1.18 (1.10-1.26)
Phenobarbital 1.79 (1.64–1.95).

The risk was higher with higher doses. Fracture risk was higher with cytochrome P450 enzyme-inducing drugs (carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine, phenobarbital, phenytoin, and primidone; odds ratio 1.38, 95% CI 1.31–1.45) than for noninducing drugs (clonazepam, ethosuximide, lamotrigine, tiagabine, topiramate, valproate, and vigabatrin; odds ratio 1.19, 95% CI 1.11–1.27). No significant increased risk of fracture was found with use of phenytoin, tiagabine, topiramate, ethosuximide, lamotrigine, vigabatrin, or primidone after adjusting for confounders.

Bottom line: Monitor bone health

With antiepileptic drugs, the benefit of preventing seizures outweighs the risks of fractures. Patients on long-term antiepileptic drug therapy should be monitored for bone mineral density and vitamin D levels and receive counseling on lifestyle measures including tobacco cessation, alcohol moderation, and fall prevention.⁴⁵ As there are no evidence-based guidelines for bone health in patients on antiepileptic drugs, management should be based on current guidelines for treating osteoporosis.

AROMATASE INHIBITORS

Depression itself may be a risk factor for fracture

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women and is the second-leading cause of cancer-associated deaths in women after lung cancer. Aromatase inhibitors, such as anastrozole, letrozole, and exemestane, are the standard of care in adjuvant treatment for hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer, leading to longer disease-free survival.

However, aromatase inhibitors increase bone loss and fracture risk, and only partial recovery of bone mineral density occurs after treatment is stopped. The drugs deter the aromatization of androgens and their conversion to estrogens in peripheral tissue, leading to reduced estrogen levels and resulting bone loss.⁴⁶ Anastrozole and letrozole have been found to reduce bone mineral density, increase bone turnover, and increase the relative risk for nonvertebral and vertebral fractures in postmenopausal women by 40% compared with tamoxifen.^47,48

Base osteoporosis treatment on risk

Several groups have issued guidelines for preventing and treating bone loss in postmenopausal women being treated with an aromatase inhibitor. When initiating treatment, women should be counseled about modifiable risk factors, exercise, and calcium and vitamin D supplementation.

Baseline bone mineral testing should also be obtained when starting treatment. Hadji et al,⁴⁹in a review article, recommend starting bone-directed therapy if the patient’s T score is less than –2.0 (using the lowest score from three sites) or if she has any of at least two of the following fracture risk factors:

T score less than –1.5
Age over 65
Family history of hip fracture
Personal history of fragility fracture after age 50
Low body mass index (< 20 kg/m²)
Current or prior history of tobacco use
Oral glucocorticoid use for longer than 6 months.

Patients with a T score at or above –2.0 and no risk factors should have bone mineral density reassessed after 1 to 2 years. Antiresorptive therapy with intravenous zoledronic acid and evaluation for other secondary causes of bone loss should be initiated for either:

An annual decrease of at least 10% or
An annual decrease of at least 4% in patients with osteopenia at baseline.⁴⁹

In 2003, the American Society of Clinical Oncology updated its recommendations on the role of bisphosphonates and bone health in women with breast cancer.⁵⁰ They recommend the following:

If the T score is –2.5 or less, prescribe a bisphosphonate (alendronate, risedronate, or zoledronic acid)
If the T score is –1.0 to –2.5, tailor treatment individually and monitor bone mineral density annually
If the T score is greater than –1.0, monitor bone mineral density annually.

All patients should receive lifestyle counseling, calcium and vitamin D supplementation, and monitoring of additional risk factors for osteoporosis as appropriate.⁵⁰

References

Canalis E, Delany AM. Mechanisms of glucocorticoid action in bone. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2002; 966:73–81.
Manolagas SC. Corticosteroids and fractures: a close encounter of the third cell kind. J Bone Miner Res 2000; 15:1001–1005.
Papaioannou A, Ferko NC, Adachi JD. Corticosteroids and the skeletal system. In: Lin AN, Paget SA, eds. Principles of corticosteroid therapy. New York, NY: Arnold Publishers; 2002:69–86.
Van Staa TP. The pathogenesis, epidemiology, and management of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis. Calcif Tissue Int 2006; 79:129–137.
Van Staa TP, Leufkens HG, Cooper C. The epidemiology of corticosteroid-induced osteoporosis: a meta-analysis. Osteoporosis Int 2002; 13:777–787.
Clowes JA, Riggs BL, Khosla S. The role of the immune system in the pathophysiology of osteoporosis. Immunol Rev 2005; 208:207–227.
LoCascio V, Bonucci E, Imbimbo B, et al. Bone loss in response to long-term glucocorticoid therapy. Bone Miner 1990; 8:39–51.
Lane NE, Lukert B. The science and therapy of glucocorticoid-induced bone loss. Endocrinol Metab Clin North Am 1998; 27:465–483.
Kanis JA, Johansson H, Oden A, et al. A meta-analysis of prior corticosteroid use and fracture risk. J Bone Miner Res 2004; 19:893–899.
Van Staa TP, Geusens P, Pols HA, de Laet C, Leufkens HG, Cooper C. A simple score for estimating the long-term risk of fracture in patients using oral glucocorticoids. QJM 2005; 98:191–198.
Van Staa TP, Leufkens HG, Abenhaim L, Zhang B, Cooper C. Oral corticosteroids and fracture risk: relationship to daily and cumulative doses. Rheumatology (Oxford) 2000; 39:1383–1389.
Van Staa TP, Leufkens HG, Abenhaim L, Zhang B, Cooper C. Use of corticosteroids and risk of fractures. J Bone Miner Res 2000; 15:993–1000.
Van Staa TP, Laan RF, Barton IP, Cohen S, Reid DM, Cooper C. Bone density threshold and other predictors of vertebral fracture in patients receiving oral glucocorticoid therapy. Arthritis Rheum 2003; 48:3224–3229.
Luengo M, Picado C, Del Rio L, Guanabens N, Montserrat JM, Setoain J. Vertebral fractures in steroid dependent asthma and involutional osteoporosis: a comparative study. Thorax 1991; 46:803–806.
Selby PL, Halsey JP, Adams KRH, et al. Corticosteroids do not alter the threshold for vertebral fracture. J Bone Miner Res 2000; 15:952–956.
Gonnelli S, Caffarelli C, Maggi S, et al. Effect of inhaled glucocorticoids and beta(2) agonists on vertebral fracture risk in COPD patients: the EOLO study. Calcif Tissue Int 2010; 87:137–143.
Jones A, Fay JK, Burr M, Stone M, Hood K, Roberts G. Inhaled corticosteroid effects on bone metabolism in asthma and mild chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2002; 1:CD003537.
Weatherall M, James K, Clay J, et al. Dose-response relationship for risk of non-vertebral fracture with inhaled corticosteroids. Clin Exp Allergy 2008; 38:1451–1458
Buehring B, Viswanathan R, Binkley N, Busse W. Glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis: an update on effects and management. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2013; 132:1019–1030.
Grossman JM, Gordon R, Ranganath VK, et al. American College of Rheumatology 2010 recommendations for the prevention and treatment of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken) 2010; 62:1515–1526.
Naunton M, Peterson GM, Bleasel MD. Overuse of proton pump inhibitors. J Clin Pharm Ther 2000; 25:333–340.
Wilhelm SM, Rjater RG, Kale-Pradhan PB. Perils and pitfalls of long-term effects of proton pump inhibitors. Expert Rev Clin Pharmacol 2013; 6:443–451.
Sheikh MS, Santa Ana CA, Nicar MJ, Schiller LR, Fordtran JS. Gastrointestinal absorption of calcium from milk and calcium salts. N Engl J Med 1987; 317:532–536.
Yang YX, Lewis JD, Epstein S, Metz DC. Long-term proton pump inhibitor therapy and risk of hip fracture. JAMA 2006; 296:2947–2953.
Vestergaard P, Rejnmark L, Mosekilde L. Proton pump inhibitors, histamine H2 receptor antagonists, and other antacid medications and the risk of fracture. Calcif Tissue Int 2006; 79:76–83.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA). FDA drug safety communication: possible increased risk of fractures of the hip, wrist, and spine with the use of proton pump inhibitors. www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/PostmarketDrugSafetyInformationforPatientsandProviders/ucm213206.htm. Accessed March 7, 2016.
Targownik LE, Lix LM, Metge CJ, Prior HJ, Leung S, Leslie WD. Use of proton pump inhibitors and risk of osteoporosis-related fractures. CMAJ 2008; 179:319–326.
Kaye JA, Jick H. Proton pump inhibitor use and risk of hip fractures in patients without major risk factors. Pharmacotherapy 2008; 28:951–959.
Corley DA, Kubo A, Zhao W, Quesenberry C. Proton pump inhibitors and histamine-2 receptor antagonists are associated with hip fractures among at-risk patients. Gastroenterology 2010; 139:93–101.
Gray SL, LaCroix AZ, Larson J, et al. Proton pump inhibitor use, hip fracture, and change in bone mineral density in postmenopausal women: results from the Women’s Health Initiative. Arch Intern Med 2010; 170:765–771.
Yu EW, Blackwell T, Ensrud KE, et al. Acid-suppressive medications and risk of bone loss and fracture in older adults. Calcif Tissue Int 2008; 83:251–259.
Leontiadis GI, Moayyedi P. Proton pump inhibitors and risk of bone fractures. Curr Treat Options Gastroenterol 2014; 12:414–423.
Chen F, Hahn TJ, Weintraub NT. Do SSRIs play a role in decreasing bone mineral density? J Am Med Dir Assoc 2012; 13:413–417.
Bruyere O, Reginster JY. Osteoporosis in patients taking selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors: a focus on fracture outcome. Endocrine 2015; 48:65–68.
Ducy P, Karsenty G. The two faces of serotonin in bone biology. J Cell Biol 2010; 191:7–13.
Eom CS, Lee HK, Ye S, Park SM, Cho KH. Use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and risk of fracture: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Bone Miner Res 2012; 27:1186–1195.
Rabenda V, Nicolet D, Beaudart C, Bruyere O, Reginster JY. Relationship between use of antidepressants and risk of fractures: a meta-analysis. Osteoporosis Int 2013; 24:121–137.
Richards JB, Papaioannou A, Adachi JD, et al; Canadian Multicentre Osteoporosis Study Research Group. Effect of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors on the risk of fracture. Arch Intern Med 2007; 22;167:188–194.
Hahn TJ, Hendin BA, Scharp CR, Boisseau VC, Haddad JG Jr. Serum 25-hydroxycalciferol levels and bone mass in children on chronic anticonvulsant therapy. N Engl J Med 1975; 292:550–554.
Weinstein RS, Bryce GF, Sappington LJ, King DW, Gallagher BB. Decreased serum ionized calcium and normal vitamin D metabolite levels with anticonvulsant drug treatment. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1984; 58:1003–1009.
Koch HU, Kraft D, von Herrath D, Schaefer K. Influence of diphenylhydantoin and phenobarbital on intestinal calcium transport in the rat. Epilepsia 1972; 13:829–834.
Shane E. Osteoporosis associated with illness and medications. In: Marcus R, Feldman D, Kelsey J, editors. Osteoporosis. San Diego, CA: Academic Press; 1996.
Vestergaard P. Epilepsy, osteoporosis and fracture risk—a meta-analysis. Acta Neurol Scand 2005; 112:277–286.
Vestergaard P, Rejnmark L, Mosekilde L. Fracture risk associated with use of antiepileptic drugs. Epilepsia 2004; 45:1330–1337.
Petty SJ, O’Brien TJ, Wark JD. Anti-epileptic medication and bone health. Osteoporos Int 2007; 18:129–142.
Mazziotti G, Canalis E, Giustina A. Drug-induced osteoporosis: mechanisms and clinical implications. Am J Med 2010; 123:877–884.
Rabaglio M, Sun Z, Price KN, et al; BIG 1-98 Collaborative and International Breast Cancer Study Groups. Bone fractures among postmenopausal patients with endocrine-responsive early breast cancer treated with 5 years of letrozole or tamoxifen in the BIG 1-98 trial. Ann Oncol 2009; 20:1489–1498.
Khan MN, Khan AA. Cancer treatment-related bone loss: a review and synthesis of the literature. Curr Oncol 2008; 15:S30–S40.
Hadji P, Aapro MS, Body JJ, et al. Management of aromatase inhibitor-associated bone loss in postmenopausal women with breast cancer: practical guidance for prevention and treatment. Ann Oncol 2011; 22:2546–2555.
Hillner BE, Ingle JN, Chlebowski RT, et al; American Society of Clinical Oncology. American Society of Clinical Oncology 2003 update on the role of bisphosphonates and bone health issues in breast cancer. J Clin Oncol 2003; 21:4042–4057.

References

Canalis E, Delany AM. Mechanisms of glucocorticoid action in bone. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2002; 966:73–81.
Manolagas SC. Corticosteroids and fractures: a close encounter of the third cell kind. J Bone Miner Res 2000; 15:1001–1005.
Papaioannou A, Ferko NC, Adachi JD. Corticosteroids and the skeletal system. In: Lin AN, Paget SA, eds. Principles of corticosteroid therapy. New York, NY: Arnold Publishers; 2002:69–86.
Van Staa TP. The pathogenesis, epidemiology, and management of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis. Calcif Tissue Int 2006; 79:129–137.
Van Staa TP, Leufkens HG, Cooper C. The epidemiology of corticosteroid-induced osteoporosis: a meta-analysis. Osteoporosis Int 2002; 13:777–787.
Clowes JA, Riggs BL, Khosla S. The role of the immune system in the pathophysiology of osteoporosis. Immunol Rev 2005; 208:207–227.
LoCascio V, Bonucci E, Imbimbo B, et al. Bone loss in response to long-term glucocorticoid therapy. Bone Miner 1990; 8:39–51.
Lane NE, Lukert B. The science and therapy of glucocorticoid-induced bone loss. Endocrinol Metab Clin North Am 1998; 27:465–483.
Kanis JA, Johansson H, Oden A, et al. A meta-analysis of prior corticosteroid use and fracture risk. J Bone Miner Res 2004; 19:893–899.
Van Staa TP, Geusens P, Pols HA, de Laet C, Leufkens HG, Cooper C. A simple score for estimating the long-term risk of fracture in patients using oral glucocorticoids. QJM 2005; 98:191–198.
Van Staa TP, Leufkens HG, Abenhaim L, Zhang B, Cooper C. Oral corticosteroids and fracture risk: relationship to daily and cumulative doses. Rheumatology (Oxford) 2000; 39:1383–1389.
Van Staa TP, Leufkens HG, Abenhaim L, Zhang B, Cooper C. Use of corticosteroids and risk of fractures. J Bone Miner Res 2000; 15:993–1000.
Van Staa TP, Laan RF, Barton IP, Cohen S, Reid DM, Cooper C. Bone density threshold and other predictors of vertebral fracture in patients receiving oral glucocorticoid therapy. Arthritis Rheum 2003; 48:3224–3229.
Luengo M, Picado C, Del Rio L, Guanabens N, Montserrat JM, Setoain J. Vertebral fractures in steroid dependent asthma and involutional osteoporosis: a comparative study. Thorax 1991; 46:803–806.
Selby PL, Halsey JP, Adams KRH, et al. Corticosteroids do not alter the threshold for vertebral fracture. J Bone Miner Res 2000; 15:952–956.
Gonnelli S, Caffarelli C, Maggi S, et al. Effect of inhaled glucocorticoids and beta(2) agonists on vertebral fracture risk in COPD patients: the EOLO study. Calcif Tissue Int 2010; 87:137–143.
Jones A, Fay JK, Burr M, Stone M, Hood K, Roberts G. Inhaled corticosteroid effects on bone metabolism in asthma and mild chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2002; 1:CD003537.
Weatherall M, James K, Clay J, et al. Dose-response relationship for risk of non-vertebral fracture with inhaled corticosteroids. Clin Exp Allergy 2008; 38:1451–1458
Buehring B, Viswanathan R, Binkley N, Busse W. Glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis: an update on effects and management. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2013; 132:1019–1030.
Grossman JM, Gordon R, Ranganath VK, et al. American College of Rheumatology 2010 recommendations for the prevention and treatment of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken) 2010; 62:1515–1526.
Naunton M, Peterson GM, Bleasel MD. Overuse of proton pump inhibitors. J Clin Pharm Ther 2000; 25:333–340.
Wilhelm SM, Rjater RG, Kale-Pradhan PB. Perils and pitfalls of long-term effects of proton pump inhibitors. Expert Rev Clin Pharmacol 2013; 6:443–451.
Sheikh MS, Santa Ana CA, Nicar MJ, Schiller LR, Fordtran JS. Gastrointestinal absorption of calcium from milk and calcium salts. N Engl J Med 1987; 317:532–536.
Yang YX, Lewis JD, Epstein S, Metz DC. Long-term proton pump inhibitor therapy and risk of hip fracture. JAMA 2006; 296:2947–2953.
Vestergaard P, Rejnmark L, Mosekilde L. Proton pump inhibitors, histamine H2 receptor antagonists, and other antacid medications and the risk of fracture. Calcif Tissue Int 2006; 79:76–83.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA). FDA drug safety communication: possible increased risk of fractures of the hip, wrist, and spine with the use of proton pump inhibitors. www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/PostmarketDrugSafetyInformationforPatientsandProviders/ucm213206.htm. Accessed March 7, 2016.
Targownik LE, Lix LM, Metge CJ, Prior HJ, Leung S, Leslie WD. Use of proton pump inhibitors and risk of osteoporosis-related fractures. CMAJ 2008; 179:319–326.
Kaye JA, Jick H. Proton pump inhibitor use and risk of hip fractures in patients without major risk factors. Pharmacotherapy 2008; 28:951–959.
Corley DA, Kubo A, Zhao W, Quesenberry C. Proton pump inhibitors and histamine-2 receptor antagonists are associated with hip fractures among at-risk patients. Gastroenterology 2010; 139:93–101.
Gray SL, LaCroix AZ, Larson J, et al. Proton pump inhibitor use, hip fracture, and change in bone mineral density in postmenopausal women: results from the Women’s Health Initiative. Arch Intern Med 2010; 170:765–771.
Yu EW, Blackwell T, Ensrud KE, et al. Acid-suppressive medications and risk of bone loss and fracture in older adults. Calcif Tissue Int 2008; 83:251–259.
Leontiadis GI, Moayyedi P. Proton pump inhibitors and risk of bone fractures. Curr Treat Options Gastroenterol 2014; 12:414–423.
Chen F, Hahn TJ, Weintraub NT. Do SSRIs play a role in decreasing bone mineral density? J Am Med Dir Assoc 2012; 13:413–417.
Bruyere O, Reginster JY. Osteoporosis in patients taking selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors: a focus on fracture outcome. Endocrine 2015; 48:65–68.
Ducy P, Karsenty G. The two faces of serotonin in bone biology. J Cell Biol 2010; 191:7–13.
Eom CS, Lee HK, Ye S, Park SM, Cho KH. Use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and risk of fracture: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Bone Miner Res 2012; 27:1186–1195.
Rabenda V, Nicolet D, Beaudart C, Bruyere O, Reginster JY. Relationship between use of antidepressants and risk of fractures: a meta-analysis. Osteoporosis Int 2013; 24:121–137.
Richards JB, Papaioannou A, Adachi JD, et al; Canadian Multicentre Osteoporosis Study Research Group. Effect of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors on the risk of fracture. Arch Intern Med 2007; 22;167:188–194.
Hahn TJ, Hendin BA, Scharp CR, Boisseau VC, Haddad JG Jr. Serum 25-hydroxycalciferol levels and bone mass in children on chronic anticonvulsant therapy. N Engl J Med 1975; 292:550–554.
Weinstein RS, Bryce GF, Sappington LJ, King DW, Gallagher BB. Decreased serum ionized calcium and normal vitamin D metabolite levels with anticonvulsant drug treatment. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1984; 58:1003–1009.
Koch HU, Kraft D, von Herrath D, Schaefer K. Influence of diphenylhydantoin and phenobarbital on intestinal calcium transport in the rat. Epilepsia 1972; 13:829–834.
Shane E. Osteoporosis associated with illness and medications. In: Marcus R, Feldman D, Kelsey J, editors. Osteoporosis. San Diego, CA: Academic Press; 1996.
Vestergaard P. Epilepsy, osteoporosis and fracture risk—a meta-analysis. Acta Neurol Scand 2005; 112:277–286.
Vestergaard P, Rejnmark L, Mosekilde L. Fracture risk associated with use of antiepileptic drugs. Epilepsia 2004; 45:1330–1337.
Petty SJ, O’Brien TJ, Wark JD. Anti-epileptic medication and bone health. Osteoporos Int 2007; 18:129–142.
Mazziotti G, Canalis E, Giustina A. Drug-induced osteoporosis: mechanisms and clinical implications. Am J Med 2010; 123:877–884.
Rabaglio M, Sun Z, Price KN, et al; BIG 1-98 Collaborative and International Breast Cancer Study Groups. Bone fractures among postmenopausal patients with endocrine-responsive early breast cancer treated with 5 years of letrozole or tamoxifen in the BIG 1-98 trial. Ann Oncol 2009; 20:1489–1498.
Khan MN, Khan AA. Cancer treatment-related bone loss: a review and synthesis of the literature. Curr Oncol 2008; 15:S30–S40.
Hadji P, Aapro MS, Body JJ, et al. Management of aromatase inhibitor-associated bone loss in postmenopausal women with breast cancer: practical guidance for prevention and treatment. Ann Oncol 2011; 22:2546–2555.
Hillner BE, Ingle JN, Chlebowski RT, et al; American Society of Clinical Oncology. American Society of Clinical Oncology 2003 update on the role of bisphosphonates and bone health issues in breast cancer. J Clin Oncol 2003; 21:4042–4057.

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Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine - 83(4)

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Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine - 83(4)

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281-288

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281-288

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Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine

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Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine

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Drugs that may harm bone: Mitigating the risk

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Drugs that may harm bone: Mitigating the risk

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Bone, osteoporosis, osteopenia, glucocorticoids, corticosteroids, steroids, prednisone, prednisolone, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, SSRIs, antiepileptic drugs, aromatase inhibitors, Faye Hant, Marcy Bolster

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Bone, osteoporosis, osteopenia, glucocorticoids, corticosteroids, steroids, prednisone, prednisolone, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, SSRIs, antiepileptic drugs, aromatase inhibitors, Faye Hant, Marcy Bolster

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KEY POINTS

Professional society guidelines advise initiating treatment for bone loss in patients starting glucocorticoid therapy expected to last at least 3 months and for women taking an aromatase inhibitor.
If patients taking a proton pump inhibitor take a calcium supplement, they should take calcium citrate.
Daily SSRI use nearly doubles the risk of hip fracture in people over age 50.
Many drugs for epilepsy are associated with increased fracture risk, but so are seizures (which may confound the issue).

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Drugs that may harm bone: Mitigating the risk

Multiple effects on bone

Bone mineral density declines quickly

Oral therapy increases fracture risk

Inhaled glucocorticoids have less effect on bone

Managing the risk of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis

Low acid leads to poor calcium absorption

Higher risk in older patients, with longer use, and with higher dosage

Is evidence sufficient for changing use?

Bottom line: Use with caution

Complex bone effects

Daily use of SSRIs increases fracture risk

Bottom line: Counsel bone health

Epilepsy itself increases risk of fractures

Certain drugs increase risk

Bottom line: Monitor bone health

Base osteoporosis treatment on risk

Multiple effects on bone

Bone mineral density declines quickly

Oral therapy increases fracture risk

Inhaled glucocorticoids have less effect on bone

Managing the risk of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis

Low acid leads to poor calcium absorption

Higher risk in older patients, with longer use, and with higher dosage

Is evidence sufficient for changing use?

Bottom line: Use with caution

Complex bone effects

Daily use of SSRIs increases fracture risk

Bottom line: Counsel bone health

Epilepsy itself increases risk of fractures

Certain drugs increase risk

Bottom line: Monitor bone health

Base osteoporosis treatment on risk

Multiple effects on bone

Bone mineral density declines quickly

Oral therapy increases fracture risk

Inhaled glucocorticoids have less effect on bone

Managing the risk of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis

Low acid leads to poor calcium absorption

Higher risk in older patients, with longer use, and with higher dosage

Is evidence sufficient for changing use?

Bottom line: Use with caution

Complex bone effects

Daily use of SSRIs increases fracture risk

Bottom line: Counsel bone health

Epilepsy itself increases risk of fractures

Certain drugs increase risk

Bottom line: Monitor bone health

Base osteoporosis treatment on risk