Corticosteroids: no drug prevention of fractures needed

Prescrire Int. 2009 Aug;18(102):175.

Abstract

Long-term corticosteroid therapy increases the risk of fractures, which depends on the dose and duration of treatment. No drugs have been demonstrated to reduce the incidence of symptomatic fractures in this setting. It is better to keep the dose and duration of steroid therapy to the effective minimum, and to choose non-drug preventive measures.

MeSH terms

  • Adrenal Cortex Hormones / administration & dosage
  • Adrenal Cortex Hormones / adverse effects*
  • Alendronate / administration & dosage
  • Alendronate / therapeutic use
  • Bone Density / drug effects*
  • Bone Density Conservation Agents / administration & dosage
  • Bone Density Conservation Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Bone and Bones / drug effects*
  • Calcium, Dietary / administration & dosage
  • Calcium, Dietary / therapeutic use
  • Diphosphonates / administration & dosage
  • Diphosphonates / therapeutic use
  • Etidronic Acid / administration & dosage
  • Etidronic Acid / analogs & derivatives
  • Etidronic Acid / therapeutic use
  • Fractures, Bone / chemically induced
  • Fractures, Bone / prevention & control*
  • Humans
  • Imidazoles / administration & dosage
  • Imidazoles / therapeutic use
  • Osteoporosis / chemically induced
  • Osteoporosis / drug therapy
  • Osteoporosis / prevention & control*
  • Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
  • Risedronic Acid
  • Risk Factors
  • Steroids / administration & dosage
  • Steroids / adverse effects*
  • Teriparatide / administration & dosage
  • Teriparatide / therapeutic use
  • Vitamin D / administration & dosage
  • Vitamin D / therapeutic use
  • Zoledronic Acid

Substances

  • Adrenal Cortex Hormones
  • Bone Density Conservation Agents
  • Calcium, Dietary
  • Diphosphonates
  • Imidazoles
  • Steroids
  • Teriparatide
  • Vitamin D
  • Zoledronic Acid
  • Risedronic Acid
  • Etidronic Acid
  • Alendronate