If you have osteoporosis or osteopenia, you need to monitor the diseases and try to prevent falls.

Monitoring

Your healthcare professional can use regular DEXA scans to find out how well your bones are responding to lifestyle changes and medication. Scans often happen every year or two.

If you are on a bisphosphonate medication and your bones respond well, your provider may consider giving you a “drug holiday,” where you take a break from treatment. This helps reduce the risk of having long-term side effects from the medications. Your bone mineral density (BMD) should be monitored during this time.

Many people will need to restart their medication at some point.

Preventing Falls

Reducing risk of falls will help prevent broken bones.

Visit the Falls Prevention chapter for more information.

Last Updated December 2022