Topics about the adverse side effects of Fosamax are everywhere online.  From authority websites, to blogs, and forums, Merck’s osteoporosis drug has become one of the most talked about bisphosphonates in town.  This is not actually surprising considering the hundreds of thousands Americans who are under the drug’s medication.

To get you into the loop of the latest Fosamax buzz this week, I compiled some recent news below that directly mentions Fosamax.  Enjoy reading the rest of the details by clicking the links.

Osteoporosis medications in patients with kidney disease

To minimize the risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD) progressing to end-stage renal disease (ESRD), such osteoporosis medications as alendronate (Fosamax) and ibandronate (Boniva) are contraindicated in individuals whose glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is <30%. But is it safe to restart these medications once stage 5 CKD (or dialysis) has been reached? — Jason Tiede, PA, Edmond, Okla.  Read more at http://www.clinicaladvisor.com/osteoporosis-medications-in-patients-with-kidney-disease/article/221711/.

Patients With Normal Bone Density Can Delay Retests, Study Suggests

A class of drugs, bisphosphonates, which includes Fosamax, has been found to prevent fractures in people with osteoporosis. But medical experts no longer recommend the medicines to prevent osteoporosis itself. They no longer want women to take them indefinitely, and no longer consider bone density measurements the sole defining factor in deciding if a woman needs to be treated.  Read more at http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/19/health/bone-density-tests-for-osteoporosis-can-wait-study-says.html?_r=1.

US Drug Watchdog Calls Its Osteoporosis Drug Fosamax Initiative & Women Who Have Had A Unexplainable Femur Fracture One Of Its Most Important Ever 

The US Drug Watchdog is trying to identify every woman in the United States, who has been using, any type of osteoporosis drug, or the osteoporosis drug called Fosamax for at least five years, and then for some unexplained reason, they suffered a broken femur, thighbone, or what is called a atypical thigh fracture.   Read more at http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2012/01/19/prweb9116734.DTL.

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"Treating older osteoporotic women with alendronate was more cost effective than treating younger women with osteoporosis, and treating osteoporotic women with prior spine fracture was more cost effective than treating osteoporotic women without prior spine fracture."

Above is a conclusion made by a research team after studying the Cost Effectiveness of Alendronate (Fosamax®) for the Treatment of Osteoporosis and Prevention of Fractures.

Johnell O., Jönsson B., Jönsson L., and Black D. came up with the following results.

"We found that treating 71-year-old osteoporotic women with a prior spine fracture with alendronate resulted in a cost per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) gained of SEK76 000, which is well below the threshold for cost effectiveness of SEK300 000. For women aged 65 years, the cost-effectiveness ratio increased to SEK173 000 and for women aged 77 years, the cost-effectiveness ratio decreased to SEK52 000."

About Fosamax

Fosamax or alendronate sodium, is a bisphosphonate drug used as treatment and prevention of osteoporosis and other bone loss problems.  It is mainly used for Prophylaxis and treatment of female osteoporosis, Treatment of male osteoporosis, Prevention and treatment of corticosteroid-associated osteoporosis together with supplements of calcium and vitamin D, and treatment for Paget's disease.  But, inspite of its effectiveness, recent studies and researches show evidences that it has adverse side effects.  Read more about the side effects of Fosamax at www.ediththehealthbuff.wordpress.com.
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Bisphosphonate medication like Fosamax is the most common way of treating osteoporosis and osteopenia.  But, recent studies and reports reveal that adverse side effects of Fosamax can cause serious health problems.

An online article by Ronald Redman features different ways in managing osteoporosis.  The following are taken from this original article.

Before bisphosphonates were introduced, estrogen hormone therapy was the most widely recommended treatment for osteoporosis. In order to prevent bone loss, estrogen hormone therapy helps by increasing bone formation and reducing bone resorption. The mechanism is similar to the testosterone replacement therapy which may be prescribed to men who have osteoporosis.

Nutrition, exercise, and safety considerations are the top priorities of a successful treatment program. In order for people to fight osteoporosis, they need an adequate amount of vitamin D and calcium in their diet. Weight bearing are also important like walking and hiking.

There are many approaches for treating osteoporosis. The best treatment program can only be advised by a medical professional who knows your medical history.


Read the full article here.

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_ I read an article recently featuring the reactions of Medical Practitioners on Fosamax Femur Fracture Studies. 

It highlights the division of opinions among medical practitioners since most of the studies conducted have controversial results.  Some of them believe that Fosamax has been doing some good works when it comes to preventing bone loss.  Others, on the other hand, were alarmed by the studies.

Below are excerpts from the article that pointed out the medical practitioners varied reactions.

“A surgical professor of orthopedic medicine at New York University scrutinized the x-ray findings of the Fosamax complainants who claimed they endured femur fracture due to Fosamax use.”

“In response to this, medical practitioners has decided to exclude women with low body mass indexes who was assessed to have high likelihood for osteoporosis with a history of falls, and is known to have smoking and drinking alcohol habits. “If a person is diagnosed with osteoporosis and it's decided they should be treated with bisphosphonates, they should try the medications.", shared by Dr. Ken Lyles of Duke University on his thoughts in light of the study recently published.”



Read the rest of the article by visiting this link: http://www.articlesbase.com/health-and-safety-articles/medical-practitioners-feedback-on-fosamax-femur-fracture-studies-4791430.html

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