Medication class
Osteoporosis
Bisphosphonates and other drugs that strengthen bones and prevent fractures in osteoporosis.
Data updated 2026-05-15
- 9
- Medications
- 6
- With a generic
- 74%
- Avg generic savings
- 0
- In active shortage
Drug class assignments follow the FDA openFDA therapeutic classification, and clinical details are drawn from FDA Structured Product Labeling (DailyMed). See the full sources below.
PlainMeds tracks 9 osteoporosis medications compiled from official FDA drug labels, including denosumab, teriparatide, alendronate.
Osteoporosis medications are grouped here by the openFDA therapeutic classification and drawn from FDA Structured Product Labeling. PlainMeds lists 9 in this class, 6 with a lower-cost generic available (averaging about 74% versus brand). Each drug page covers labeled uses, FAERS-reported side effects, interactions, recalls and NADAC pricing. This is educational information from public data, not medical advice.
What osteoporosis drugs cost
Highest NADAC acquisition cost per unit in this class, brand and generic
- teriparatide
teriparatide
$1,726 per unit
- denosumab
denosumab
$1,724 per unit
- abaloparatide
abaloparatide
$1,646 per unit
- risedronate $82
risedronate
$82 per unit
- ibandronate $53
ibandronate
$53 per unit
- alendronate $35
alendronate
$35 per unit
- zoledronic acid $1
zoledronic acid
$1 per unit
What this shows teriparatide is the costliest in this class at $1726.00/unit; generics in the same class run a fraction of that.
Generic availability vs other classes
67% of osteoporosis medications have a generic available, ranking #16 of 22 therapeutic classes (the typical class sits near 74%).
Source: CMS NADAC generic-availability flags across all PlainMeds therapeutic classes. The dot is this class; the line is the cross-class median.
abaloparatide
Tymlos
Tymlos is a medicine to treat osteoporosis.
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alendronate
Fosamax
Binosto is a medicine that helps make your bones stronger.
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calcitonin
Miacalcin, Fortical
Calcitonin is a medicine that helps manage calcium levels in your body.
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denosumab
Prolia, Xgeva
Stoboclo is a medicine that helps to treat osteoporosis and increase bone mass.
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ibandronate
Boniva
Ibandronate (Boniva) is a medicine that helps treat and prevent bone loss in women after menopause.
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risedronate
Actonel
Risedronate sodium delayed-release tablets help treat osteoporosis after menopause.
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romosozumab
Evenity
Evenity is a medicine to treat osteoporosis in women after menopause who are at high risk for bone fracture.
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teriparatide
Forteo
Teriparatide (Forteo) is a medicine that helps to strengthen your bones.
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zoledronic acid
Reclast, Zometa
Zoledronic acid injection is a medicine that helps treat high calcium levels in the blood and bone problems caused by cancer.
View details →
Understanding the Osteoporosis Category
The Osteoporosis category currently lists 9 medications in this database, each drawn from FDA drug labels and grouped by therapeutic classification. Bisphosphonates and other drugs that strengthen bones and prevent fractures in osteoporosis. Clinical guidelines usually treat these medications as a reference set when weighing treatment options, switching strategies, or comparing safety profiles.
Within this category you'll find examples such as denosumab, teriparatide, alendronate, alongside 6 other entries. Each drug page links to the same underlying FDA data, labeled uses, adverse events reported to FAERS, documented interactions, warnings, and, where available, NADAC acquisition pricing from CMS. Over-the-counter and prescription options can sit in the same category but follow different regulatory pathways: OTC products have simplified labeling aimed at self-care, while prescription drugs include detailed monographs meant for clinicians. That distinction matters when comparing dosing, monitoring requirements, and contraindications.
Browsing a category is a research starting point, not a treatment recommendation. Effectiveness, tolerability, and cost for any individual patient depend on the specific condition, comorbidities, other medications, genetics, and insurance coverage, none of which can be inferred from a category list alone. FAERS report counts, recall history, and shortage status all evolve as new data is reported to the FDA, so the relative standing of drugs in this class can shift month to month. This page is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice, a licensed clinician is the right source for personalized guidance.
Explore other categories
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Data currency: FDA FAERS adverse-event reports through 2025, CMS NADAC acquisition-cost pricing effective December 2024, compiled and last refreshed May 2026. See our methodology for per-source dates and refresh cadence. Spot a figure that looks wrong? Report a correction.