Drugs that are supposed to protect bones may actually put bones at serious risk

Happy holiday

It doesn’t get much lower than this.

You take a drug for prevention. Your doctor assures you it’s necessary. All the advertisements say it works.

Heck, even Sally Field takes the stuff!

But later, you learn that the drug actually INCREASES your risk of the condition you were trying to prevent.

That’s if you’re lucky. The unlucky ones are getting around on crutches.

Welcome to the fiasco of bisphosphonates.

That’s the class of osteoporosis drugs that increases bone fracture risk. And finally, even the FDA is starting to come around.

But will doctors listen?

Permanent vacation

Boniva, Fosamax, and Reclast are three of the most popular bisphosphonates.

Even experts who recommend these drugs also recommend caution. They say that many women might avoid fracture by taking a “bone holiday.”

So let’s review… Take this drug to save your bones. But after awhile, stop taking it to save your bones.

Hmmm… in my book that’s a BIG red flag.

And the FDA has hoisted that flag a little higher. The agency actually suggests that the “holiday” should be a permanent vacation.

An FDA report says this potentially dangerous drug offers little or no benefit after three to five years of use.

That’s devastating news to women who have taken the drug years beyond that cutoff.

In 2008, I told you about two Fosamax studies that came to the same disturbing conclusion. Women who take the drug long-term (about seven years or more) have a higher fracture risk.

And now the FDA tells those women they’ve been putting their bones at risk FOR NOTHING!

Their only consolation is the word “rare.”

Experts toss this word around when they talk about fracture risk. Oh, you know, it’s RARE. Like winning the lottery. Very rare. And a New York Times article joins right in with the “rare” chorus. The article repeatedly stresses the rarity of fracture risk.

Don’t buy it for a second. This risk is not rare like “alien abduction” rare. It’s more like spotting a deer by the highway rare. Infrequent? Yes. Rare? Not so much.

Two years ago, ABC News reported on Fosamax fracture risk. Scores of women went to the ABC website and shared their experiences. Here are just a few of the typical comments from bisphosphonate users…

“…developed aches in my hips, and weakness in the legs…”

“…my femur broke worst pain in the world…”

“…my mother’s femur fractured…”

“…had a slight fall and my left femur shattered…”

“…my right leg just gave out and I fell…”

“…had compression fractures of the spine…”

“…fell and broke my right femur bone…”

“…fell to my knees splitting my femur…”

Just try to convince these women that their drug-related fractures are “rare.”

The FDA report might open a few eyes among doctors. But it’s typically toothless.

The agency isn’t hinting that these drugs might come off the market. There’s not even talk about a black box warning. In fact, it’s nothing more than talk!

Doctors? It’s time to step up and be honest with patients.

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

“Fosamax: Is Long Term Use of Bone Strengthening Drug Linked to Fractures?” Christine Romo, Lara Salahi, ABC News, 3/9/10, abcnews.go.com