Osteoporosis Drug Linked to Fractures
By ABC News | Source: ABC News
The FDA is looking into whether long-term use of osteoporosis drugs are connected to leg fractures.
There are several osteoporosis drugs, known as bisphosphonates, that are associated with this under the brand names: Fosamax, Actonel, Boniva and Reclast.
"Recent news reports have raised the question about whether there is an increased risk of this type of fracture in patients with osteoporosis using these medications," the FDA said today in its drug safety communication.
"At this point, the data that FDA has reviewed have not shown a clear connection between bisphosphonate use and a risk of atypical subtrochanteric femur fractures," the statement said. "FDA is working closely with outside experts, including members of the recently convened American Society of Bone and Mineral Research Subtrochanteric Femoral Fracture Task Force, to gather additional information that may provide more insight into this issue."
This leads us to believe that these drugs, over time, can weaken certain bones instead of strengthen them. The use of these drugs have increased greatly over the years. More than 37 million prescriptions were written for drugs like Fosamax to prevent Osteoporosis.
One woman was jumping rope with the neighborhood kids. She jumped up then down to the ground and broke her femur. She not just broke her femur but it snapped in two. This was a serious break and very painful. She has been on Fosamax for 8 years. The femur is one of the strongest bones in our bodies.
Being on these medications for long periods of time perhaps makes our bones more brittle instead of strengthening as their prescribed to do.
The FDA and Merck are looking into these reports.