Taking Bone Meds? They Increase Your Risk of This Type of Fracture Bisphosphonates are used to treat osteoporosis based on a bone density test that has come under scrutiny for limited relevance April 19, 2021 Updated: April 19, 2021 Knowing your BMD isn’t an accurate gauge of your future fracture risk and that alone shouldn’t push you into using bispho- sphonate drugs with serious side effects.(Prostock-studio/Shutterstock) Bisphosphonate drugs are a go-to treatment for osteoporosis, but they come with a significant risk of triggering an atypical femoral fracture, especially if you use them for more than five years. Their use is controversial, particularly because bone mineral density isn’t an accurate measure of bone strength and fracture risk.