Osteoporosis is a common and significant health problem in more than 1/3 of postmenopausal women. Strategies for the medical treatment of osteoporosis are primarily
based on decreasing the resorption component of bone turnover by estrogen, alendronate, risedronate, raloxifene, or calcitonine. Recently there are therapies that are
focused on increasing bone formation by fluoride, parathyroid hormone, or strontium ranelate. This article reviews the medical treatment of osteoporosis focusing on the pharmacokinetic effects on the bone metabolism, anti－fracture effects, usage of the drugs and their side effects.
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