steroid-induced osteoporosis
overview
many people take oral or inhaled steroid medicines for conditions such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (copd). these medicines include beclomethasone and prednisone. the oral kind and the high-dose inhaled kind can cause bone loss over time. if you are on these types of medicines for longer than 3 months in the last year, you are at increased risk for osteoporosis.footnote 1 this puts you at high risk for broken bones. if you do break a bone, healing can take a long time because osteoporosis reduces your bones' ability to rebuild.
if you use steroid medicines long-term, you should be watched for bone loss.
references
citations
- morin sn, et al. (2023). clinical practice guideline for management of osteoporosis and fracture prevention in canada: 2023 update. canadian medical association journal, 195(39): e1333–e1348. doi: 10.1503/cmaj.221647. accessed october 23, 2023.
credits
current as of: july 10, 2023
author: healthwise staff
clinical review board
all healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.
current as of: july 10, 2023
author: healthwise staff
clinical review board
all healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.
morin sn, et al. (2023). clinical practice guideline for management of osteoporosis and fracture prevention in canada: 2023 update. canadian medical association journal, 195(39): e1333–e1348. doi: 10.1503/cmaj.221647. accessed october 23, 2023.
