Staying on Treatment
Osteoporosis is a disease that weakens your bones, making them more likely to break or ‘fracture’. Fortunately, the risk of suffering a painful broken bone decreases when you take a treatment to stop your bones getting weaker. Taking your treatment as recommended by your doctor will help protect you from broken bones and allow you to stay active and independent.
There are a number of effective treatment options available, but even the best medicines can only work if they are taken regularly. It is common for people with a long-term condition like osteoporosis to find taking medication a real challenge. For example, it may be hard to appreciate the benefits of a treatment when you can’t immediately feel or see your bones getting stronger. As a result, up to half of people stop their treatment after only one year.1,2.3
If you have osteoporosis and have stopped taking your treatment or are thinking about stopping, it may be worth finding out more before you make your decision:
1. Complete our Patient Checklist and see if any of the typical reasons for stopping treatment apply to you. If so, it may be worth talking to your doctor, pharmacist or patient support group. Taking this checklist with you can start off the conversation, helping you to explain why you find staying on treatment difficult and what might make it easier.
2. Consider how you can make taking treatment easier so you can stay on your medication and protect yourself from fractures.
See our Hints & Tips section for some helpful advice on how you might be able to achieve this.
3. Consider the impact a break could have on your life and your level of independence.
4. If you would like a more in-depth understanding of some of the issues regarding osteoporosis patients staying on treatment, you may like to look at the following IOF reports
Staying Power: Closing The Adherence Gap In Osteoporosis (2006)
A report looking at the personal, social and financial implications of not staying on long-term treatment.
The Adherence Gap: Why Osteoporosis Patients Don’t Continue With Treatment (2005)
A report exploring patients’ and physicians’ attitudes to staying on treatment.
References:
1. Reginster JY and Rabenda V. Adherence to anti-osteoporotic treatment: Does it really matter? Future Rheumatol. 2006; 1 (1): 37-40
2. Cramer J, Amonkar MM, Hebborn A and Suppapanya N. Does dosing regimen impact persistence with bisphosphonate therapy among postmenopausal osteoporotic women? Journal Bone Mineral Research 2004; 19 Suppl 1: S448
3. Ettinger MP, Gallagher R, Amonkar M, Smith JC, and MacCosbe PE. Medication persistence is improved with less frequent dosing of bisphosphonates, but remains inadequate. Arthritis Rheum. 2004; 50 Suppl 1: S513
