隨著人類壽命的延長，骨質疏鬆症已是世界性的重要流行病，其主要併發症是發生各部位的骨折，尤其是脊椎骨折及髖部骨折。而這兩處的骨折也會導致壽命的縮短，因此對於人口逐漸邁向老化的臺灣，勢必造成社會經濟的一大負擔。骨質疏鬆症通常無症狀，等到發現時通常已經骨折了，因此及早預防才是不二法門。目前對於骨質疏鬆症的治療除了維持正常生活習慣、適度運動、攝取足夠的鈣質及維他命D之外，近年來藥物治療也相當迅速地發展。藥物治療之臨床實證除了要求減少骨質流失，還必須能減少骨折的風險。目前主要藥物療法包括，雙磷酸鹽類 (bisphosphonates)、女性荷爾蒙、抑鈣 素(calcitonin)、SERM (selective estrogen receptor modulator)、strontium ranelate、及人工合成的副甲狀腺素等。骨質疏鬆症的藥物療法未來發展方向除了新藥劑研發以外，藥物併用療法或是接續療法是否對減少骨質流失與減少骨折風險具加成效果，仍須進一步臨床驗證。

Osteoporosis is becoming a serious public health issue in the world. The major complication of osteoporosis is fracture, especially vertebral and hip. These fractures lead to a high one-year mortality rate, and burden not only economically but also socially. To prevent and treat osteoporosis is important due to the symptoms happened only after a fracture. The current management of osteoporosis includes non-pharmacologic, such as exercise, calcium and vitamin D, and pharmacologic therapy, such as bisphosphonates, estrogen, SERM, calcitonin, strontium ranelate and iPTH. The effects of combination therapy, sequential therapy and developing medications on bone mineral density and fracture risk reduction will be clarified in the future.