Injections for Osteoporosis Q&A

Healthy bones continually break down and rebuild throughout your lifetime. It is common for bones to break down more quickly as you age – especially after menopause. Bones deteriorate and weaken because bone rebuilding cannot keep pace. You can prevent fractures and improve your bone mineral density with osteoporosis medications. You can build more bone with some osteoporosis medications, while you can slow bone loss with others. An osteoporosis diagnosis could be made if you lose a great deal of bone density.
 
Whether you receive an injection to reduce the rate of bone degradation or expedite recovery, both can help to treat osteoporosis.

There are a variety of drug treatments available for osteoporosis, some of which can be injected. Two popular types of osteoporosis injections available at Jean Walter Infusion include ibandronate and denosumab.
 
Boniva is a brand name (trade name) for ibandronate. In addition to strengthening bones, ibandronate can also prevent or treat osteoporosis. The mineral matrix of bone is composed of hydroxyapatite, which ibandronate binds strongly to.
 
Osteoclasts, which break down and resorb bone (a process known as bone resorption), are inhibited by this drug. On average, ibandronate increases bone mass in postmenopausal women by reducing high rates of bone turnover.
 
Women with osteoporosis after menopause, as well as men with osteoporosis, can take denosumab (Prolia) injections to treat its symptoms. The medicine is given when other medicines cannot be used or have not worked well.
 
The drug is also used to treat osteoporosis in patients who have taken steroid medicines for at least six months. In addition to treating bone loss in men with prostate cancer and women with breast cancer who are at high risk for fracture, denosumab injections are also used to treat cancer that has not spread.

Denosumab (Prolia) is given as an injection under the skin once every six months and zoledronic acid is given as a drip once per year for 3 years. Biologically, denosumab works by deactivating the mechanism that breaks down bone but does not prevent it from forming.
 
Another commonly used injection is ibandronate sodium (Boniva) Injections of ibandronate sodium are administered every three months. It is necessary for a healthcare professional to administer the injection.

The cost of injections for osteoporosis will vary depending on each patient’s specific treatment plan and which medication they are using. Denosumab typically costs around $400, which works out to $800 annually factoring in the two injections. The cost per injection of ibandronate sodium averages approximately $600 per injection to be administered once every three months. Injections for osteoporosis are typically covered by most health insurance plans. Staff at Jean Walter Infusion will provide each patient with any details they require regarding affordable options and available insurance coverage when discussing their treatment.

Injections can be highly effective options for osteoporosis patients looking to prevent bone loss. In postmenopausal osteoporosis patients, denosumab significantly reduces the risk of vertebral and nonvertebral fractures. Women who have undergone menopause can use Ibandronate to prevent and treat osteoporosis (thin, weak bones that break easily).
 
The drug ibandronate belongs to a class of medications called bisphosphonates. The drug prevents bone breakdown and increases bone density (thickness).
 
By preventing bone loss, injections will also help mitigate other major osteoporosis risks such as falls and fractures. It is possible to reduce the risk of bone fractures with the help of medications. Depending on the person’s risk factors, their effectiveness will vary.
 
When deciding whether or not to take medication, it’s important to consider all of the different factors. You can reduce your risk of falling by exercising, strengthening your bones and muscles, and improving your sense of balance. Older people suffer most bone fractures as a result of falls.
 
Injections for osteoporosis are available at Jean Walter Infusion. Visit our professional team for osteoporosis treatment. We have convenient locations to serve you in Maryland. For more information, contact us or request an appointment online. We serve patients from Rosedale MD, Baltimore MD, Columbia MD, Glen Burnie MD, Catonsville MD, North Baltimore MD, Edgewater MD, Parkville MD, Middle River MD, Dundalk MD, Halethrope MD, Ellicott City MD, Laurel MD, Hebbville MD, and Woodlawn MD.