Bone risk: what your drugs and daily choices might be doing to your bones

Not all fractures come from falls. Sometimes the medicines you take — or the lifestyle you keep — quietly make bones weaker. If you take long-term drugs, have chronic illness, or are over 50, it pays to know what raises bone risk and what you can do about it.

Bone risk means two main things: lower bone density (osteopenia or osteoporosis) and more chance of breaking a bone from a minor bump or slip. Many people think only older women get osteoporosis, but men and younger people on certain meds can be affected too. The tricky part: you may not feel anything until a break happens.

Common drugs that raise bone risk

Here are drug groups to watch for. You don’t need to panic, but keep these on your radar and talk to your doctor about monitoring or alternatives.

- Corticosteroids (oral or high-dose inhaled): widely used for asthma, autoimmune disease, and some skin problems. Long use is a top cause of bone loss.
- Anticonvulsants and mood meds: drugs like valproic acid (Depakote) and some older seizure meds can reduce bone density over time.
- Cancer therapies: aromatase inhibitors used in breast cancer and some other cancer drugs speed bone loss.
- Proton pump inhibitors (long-term): linked in some studies to higher fracture risk, likely by affecting calcium absorption.
- Certain diabetes drugs: a few SGLT2 inhibitors (for example, canagliflozin) have been flagged in some reports for a small rise in fracture risk — discuss specifics with your prescriber.
- Long-term heavy alcohol, smoking, and low body weight also raise bone risk even without medication.

How to check and lower your bone risk — practical steps

Start with a simple medication review. Ask your doctor or pharmacist: which of my drugs affect bone health? If you’re on steroids, long-term anticonvulsants, or cancer meds, you may need a baseline DEXA bone density scan. Your clinician may also use the FRAX score to estimate 10-year fracture risk.

Everyday actions that help: keep vitamin D in the normal range (a blood test shows this), aim for 800–1,200 mg calcium daily from food or supplements if advised, and do weight-bearing exercise like walking, hiking, light strength training, or stair climbing. Cut back on heavy drinking and quit smoking. Make your home safer to prevent falls — good lighting, non-slip rugs, handrails.

If tests show low bone density, treatments like bisphosphonates or other prescription options can slow or reverse loss. Don’t stop or change meds on your own — ask about dose changes, switching to a safer alternative, or adding bone-protecting therapy.

Want deeper reads? Check related articles here on GenericVilla about Depakote, canagliflozin, steroid effects, and safer prescribing options. If bones matter to you — and they should — a quick checkup and a few lifestyle moves can make a big difference.