Medications that can cause osteoporosis

Certain medications are known to cause bone loss, leading to osteoporosis. These include:

• Oral or high-dose inhaled corticosteroids-such as prednisone and beclomethasone (QVAR)-used for more than 6 months to treat conditions such as asthma, arthritis, and lupus.
• Thyroid replacement medication, if the dose is more than the body needs. This should be monitored by checking the level of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) every year.
• Medications used to treat seizures, such as phenytoin.
• Medications used to treat endometriosis, such as leuprolide (Lupron Depot) and nafarelin acetate (Synarel).
• Certain cancer treatments, including aromatase inhibitors used to treat breast cancer, such as anastrozole (Arimidex), letrozole (Femara), and exemestane (Aromasin).
• Heparin, a blood thinner, if used for a long time.
• Depo-Provera, a birth control medication given by injection, if used for a long time.
• Anticonvulsant medications such as carbamazepine.