However, osteoporosis can also result from the long-term use of certain medications.
Osteoporosis resulting from drugs or another medical condition is known as secondary osteoporosis.
The most common medications associated with secondary osteoporosis are the corticosteroids, a class of drugs that act like cortisol, a hormone produced naturally by the adrenal glands. Cortisol plays a role in the metabolism and regulation of blood sugar, along with other functions. Cortisone, prednisone, and dexamethasone are examples of corticosteroid drugs. In a condition known as Cushing's disease, the excess amount of cortisol produced by the body results in osteoporosis and fractures. The same side effects can occur when corticosteroids are taken at high doses for extended periods of time.