There are a number of medications that have been associated with osteoporosis. These include corticosteroids, anticonvulsants, proton pump inhibitors, and heparin. While these medications can be quite effective in treating the conditions they are intended for, they can also have a negative impact on bone health. In particular, they can reduce bone density and increase the risk of fractures.
There are several drugs associated with osteoporosis, which can be easily remembered using the mnemonic “CAPTURES”
Drugs causing osteoporosis
A mnemonic for the metabolic syndrome is “CAPTURES”:
CAPTURES
- C : Corticosteroids (prednisone) promote bone resorption
- A : Aromatase inhibitors (letrozole)
- P : Proton pump inhibitors (omeprazole) reduce calcium absorption.
- T : Thiazolidinediones (pioglitazone)
- U : Â Unfractionated Heparin
- R : Rejection drugs (cyclosporine and tacrolimus)
- E : Excessive ETOH (Alcohol), Epilepsy Medications (phenytoin)
- S : Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (fluoxetine)
Infographic for this mnemonic
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References
- Mazziotti G, Canalis E, Giustina A. Drug-induced osteoporosis: mechanisms and clinical implications. Am J Med. 2010 Oct;123(10):877-84.
- Panday K, Gona A, Humphrey MB. Medication-induced osteoporosis: screening and treatment strategies. Ther Adv Musculoskelet Dis. 2014 Oct;6(5):185-202.
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