Treatment Options for Osteoporosis

This instructional course has been designed to provide relevant information to healthcare clinicians regarding the current treatment options for osteoporosis. Patients with osteoporosis may present in any healthcare setting. The nurse may be involved in obtaining a medical history, performing diagnostic procedures, providing patient education, coordinating with other healthcare disciplines, and preparing and administering medications to treat the disease. This course presents information about various types of interventions but concentrates heavily on the use of medications, the mainstay of osteoporosis treatment. All clinicians involved in caring for these patients need a working knowledge of the diagnosis for which these medications are given, side effects of the drugs, and appropriate interventions when necessary.

This course includes information about intravenously administered medications. State Boards of Nursing have varying positions on the role of the LPN/LVN in the administration of infusion therapy. A link to each state board of nursing is listed on the Pedagogy website. Competency requirements are obtained and maintained through the nurse’s employer, facility or institution.

Objectives

Upon completion of this course, the participant should be able to:

1. Describe the relationship between osteoclasts and osteoblasts.
2. Name two of the most common fracture sites that occur in patients with osteoporosis.
3. Recall at least three risk factors for osteoporosis.
4. Explain the role of bisphosphonates in osteoporosis treatment.
5. Name at least two medications used to treat osteoporosis in addition to bisphosphonates.
6. Identify one lab value that should be monitored in a patient who is receiving an antiresorptive agent.

Curriculum

Chapter 1: Introduction

Chapter 2: Diagnosis

• DEXA Scan
• Diagnostic Fractures
• FRAX®​Assessment Tool

Chapter 3: Treatment

• Diet
• Exercise
• Fall Prevention
• Pharmacologic Intervention
  • Estrogen
  • Calcitonin
  • Bisphosphonates
    • Oral Bisphosphonates
    • Intravenous Bisphosphonates
  • Denosumab
  • Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators
  • Parathyroid Analogs
  • Romosozumab

Chapter 4: Patient Education

Chapter 5: Bibliography