Duration of Treatment

Much like treating high blood pressure or high cholesterol, treating osteoporosis is usually lifelong. You may need more than one prescription medication over time, but most people only take one at a time. The length of time that you are on each medication will depend on which treatment you choose and usually ranges from 1-5 years.

Your doctor will likely check your bone health with a DXA test every 1 to 3 years to gauge your risk for breaking a bone. For some medications, your doctor may suggest that you pause treatment after 3 to 5 years if you are at low or moderate risk for breaking a bone.