Archive for the ‘bisphosphonates’ Category
More Bisphosphonate Side Effects
Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010
A little over a year ago, in an article about the use of bisphosphonates, I warned that we were just seeing the tip of the iceberg in the related incidence of osteonecrosis in the jaw (ONJ), and now, after more prolonged and widespread use, it seems that prediction is coming true. Bisphosphonates are a class of drug used to treat osteoporosis, mainly in women.
Initially, we were told by Merck and Company, a leading manufacturer of bisphosphonate drugs, that there was less than a one thousandth of a percent chance of developing ONJ with the oral version, such as Boniva, Fosamax, and Actonel, and why shouldn’t we believe them? However, a recent study at the University of Southern California School of Dentistry has shown that if an extraction is done on a bisphosphonate user, the incidence of ONJ jumped up to about 4.5 percent, 4500 times greater. According to Dr. Parish Sedghizadeh, director of the USC research center, “we’re getting two or three new patients a week that have bisphosphonate-related ONJ and I know we’re not the only ones seeing it.”
In that previous article, I explained the mechanism by which bisphosphonates make you very susceptible to bone disease and cancer, but to put it simply, they kill your bones. This makes them harder and more resistant to fracture temporarily, but the slightest infection can turn them to mush (osteonecrosis). The jaws are particularly susceptible to this problem because of the teeth. If you are considering taking medication for osteoporosis, be sure your dental condition is excellent first, and well maintained, and if while you are on bisphosphonates, you need an extraction or root canal, or have a gum infection or denture sore, quit taking it immediately. They say the bone damage might be reversible, but I’ve seen very little evidence of that, and I’m afraid after a certain point it won’t be.
Also, oral bisphosphonates have been linked to esophageal cancer. Dr. Diane K. Wysowski of the FDA division of drug risk management has received 43 reports of this cancer being caused from the medication, 35% of which have been fatal. They have long been known to cause esophageal inflammation. That’s why you are told to remain upright for a half hour after taking them.
These are just studies concerning oral bisphosphonates. For intravenous ones, such as Reclast, just multiply these statistics by ten. My recommendation is to find a more natural way to treat osteoporosis. Try prevention.com for good ideas, and ADA information on the subject can be found on their website at www.ada.org.
Dr. Moulton’s article was published in the Desert Valley Times, February 2009
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