Osteoporosis drug guidance reveals exactly what’s wrong with the medical mainstream

I love when the FDA produces unintentional humor.

Last week I told you about a new FDA report. The agency “suggested caution” in using Boniva, Fosamax, and other osteoporosis drugs for more than five years.

These drugs may increase risk of bone fracture and esophageal cancer.

A New York Times piece noted that the FDA report “offered little specific guidance” about long-term use.

But the Times added this note. “The agency did say that women at low risk for fracture or with a bone density near normal may be good candidates to stop therapy after three to five years.”

I doubt the Times author was trying to be funny. And I’m positive the FDA wasn’t kidding. But the idea that a woman with normal bone density requires drug therapy is preposterous!

Unfortunately, you know there are women out there who have used these drugs for years even though their fracture risk is low.

That’s modern medicine in a nutshell. Selling potentially harmful drugs to patients who don’t need them.

Sources:

“New Cautions About Long-Term Use of Bone Drugs” Tara Parker-Pope, New York Times, 5/9/12, well.blogs.nytimes.com