  Medications that can cause Osteoporosis  August 17, 2011
Drugs long known to contribute to Osteoporosis  It has been
known for decades that certain medications can contribute to
bone loss. Among these drugs are corticosteroids such as
cortisone, hydrocortisone, glucocorticoids, and prednisone.
These drugs are used to treat asthma, rheumatoid arthritis,
psoriasis, and colitis, among other conditions. Aluminum
containing antacids contribute to osteoporosis because aluminum
binds to minerals and renders them useless. Prolonged thyroid
hormone therapy may lead to a significant loss of calcium from
bones, increasing the risk of fractures in the spine, hip, and
wrists. Thyroid hormone directly affects osteoblasts,
stimulating them to release cytokines that then prompt
osteoclasts to break down bone.  Progestin-based contraceptives
such as Depo-Provera decrease estrogen levels, thereby
increasing the risk of bone loss. Certain anticoagulants (blood
thinning drugs) such as heparin have been known since 1963 to
con