Posted on 07/18/2008 10:18:54 PM PDT by neverdem
New questions have emerged about whether long-term use of bone-building drugs for osteoporosis may actually lead to weaker bones in a small number of people who use them.
The concern rises mainly from a series of case reports showing a rare type of leg fracture that shears straight across the upper thighbone after little or no trauma. Fractures in this sturdy part of the bone typically result from car accidents, or in the elderly and frail. But the case reports show the unusual fracture pattern in people who have used bone-building drugs called bisphosphonates for five years or more.
Some patients have reported that after weeks or months of unexplained aching, their thighbones simply snapped while they were walking or standing.
“Many of these women will tell you they thought the bone broke before they hit the ground,” said Dr. Dean G. Lorich, associate director of orthopedic trauma surgery at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell and the Hospital for Special Surgery. Dr. Lorich and his colleagues published a study in The Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma last month reporting on 20 patients with the fracture. Nineteen had been using the bone drug Fosamax for an average of 6.9 years.
Last year, The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery published a Singapore report of 13 women with low-trauma fractures, including 9 who had been on long-term Fosamax therapy.
The doctors emphasize that the problem appears to be rare for a class of drug that clearly prevents fractures and has been life-saving for women with severe osteoporosis. Every year, American adults suffer 300,000 hip fractures.
Merck, which makes Fosamax, says it will study whether the unusual fracture pattern is really more common in bone-drug users. Arthur Santora, Merck’s executive director for clinical research, noted that the fracture accounted for only about 5 or 6 percent of...
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
The utter demonization of the pharma industry will come back to haunt us.
That just drives me nuts. Part of the demonization is because they are a business, and their goal is to make money. Should we not buy cars because the manufacturers make a profit, and their vehicles are involved in accidents?
The media portrays it that the drug companies deliberately want to harm people. In the late 1800's, how many people died of bacterial infections, that can now be treated with a simple antibiotic?
Have people forgotten the hysteria a few years ago with Anthrax? The treatment for that is Cipro, and yet today, people are getting their panties in a wad because Cipro has caused tendon ruptures in a small percentage of those who took it. RISK VS. BENEFIT PEOPLE!
Sorry to dredge up an old thread. I did a search for osteoporosis and found this one and you folks have some good questions and answers.
My mom has severe osteo and has broken her knee three times just walking. Friday night she fell, and it seems to be a break in the bones beneath her knee.
She’s in a lot of pain and can’t tolerate narcotics. They make her physically ill. She’s all of 93 pounds and I can’t think of her not being able to eat.
The doc will be in tomorrow. Can you point me to any drugs my parents should ask about that are alternatives to narcotics? A weird twist, we’re both (mom and I) allergic to Tylenol. What do we do? She’s taking Bufferin now but it’s not helping much.
I’m asking here because my parents (or I) don’t know what’s out there to treat pain. I’ll be dialing the phone tomorrow, but just looking to be more informed by Freepers when I make those calls. Thank you all. :)
Naproxen? As in Aleve?
Aleve is bad too. That one got her the one and only ambulance ride she’s had in her life. Throat swelled shut and the whole deal. We’re a weird family. Benadryl is our only friend, that and plain old aspirin. Doesn’t help for a bone break though. Errrr....
I have occasional dry eye. I use the old remedy of a drop or two of castor oil in the eyes. Works pretty well, overall. Over all, I am a ‘better living through chemistry’ person.
Ginger capsules dramatically help SOME people who have nausa from narcotics. They also have something of an anti-inflammatory effect. You might consider trying them for your mom’s pain, and nausea.
Maybe Celebrex? Although I don’t know why it would work better than aspirin other than reduce the risk of internal bleeding. They are both NSAIDS. Any acute pain that can’t be treated with Tylenol or NSAIDS, and opiates are what’s left. Ultram is one of the mildest with the least potential for addiction. You might want to add Tigan. They give it after operations for nausea and vomiting. Good luck!
Thank you, Judith Anne. Ginger is not one I had heard of until now. I will add it to my list.
Thank you, neverdem. It is very helpful to me to have some concrete names I can ask the doc about. Thanks much!
How to stay safe in the world today
1. Avoid riding in automobiles because they are responsible for 20% of all fatal accidents.
2. Do not stay home because 17% of all accidents occur in the home.
3. Avoid walking on streets or sidewalks because 14% of all accidents occur to pedestrians.
4. Avoid traveling by air, rail, or water because 16% of all accidents involve these forms of transportation.
5. Of the remaining 33%, 32% of all deaths occur in Hospitals. Above all else, avoid hospitals.
You will be pleased to learn that only .001% of all deaths occur in worship services in church, and these are usually related to previous physical disorders. Therefore, logic tells us that the safest place for you to be at any given point in time is at church!
Bible study is safe too. The percentage of deaths during Bible study is even less.
FOR SAFETY’S SAKE - Attend church and read your Bible ... IT COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE
Ginger capsules are very cheap, can be found in lots of grocery stores in the over the counter med section. Very easy to try. My 8 yo granddaughter takes a ginger capsule before taking a car trip, it prevents the severe car sickness she gets.
I will definitely look for the ginger capsules. My 12 year old son gets carsick so we’ve been giving him Dramamine. I’ve reduced the dosage to a 1/4 pill because it makes him so groggy and out of sorts at full strength. This sounds like a good alternative, like ginger ale for an upset stomach. Thanks!
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