Patients and healthcare specialists could have questions about oral bisphosphonate medicines and atypical subtrochanteric femur fractures &ndash fractures in the bone just below the hip joint. Oral bisphosphonates are commonly prescribed to avoid or treat osteoporosis in postmenopausal ladies. Common brand names of medications in this class consist of Fosamax, Actonel, Boniva, and Reclast. If you have taken fosamax you should speak to your health care provider to see if you are at risk for a fosamax femur fracture.
Recent news reports have raised the question about whether there is an increased threat of this type of fracture in patients with osteoporosis using these medicines. At this point, the data that FDA has reviewed have not shown a clear connection between bisphosphonate use and a danger of atypical subtrochanteric femur fractures. FDA is working closely with outside professionals, which includes members of the recently convened American Society of Bone and Mineral Analysis Subtrochanteric Femoral Fracture Task Force, to gather additional data that might offer far more insight into this concern.
Based on published case reports of atypical subtrochanteric femur fractures occurring in ladies with osteoporosis employing bisphosphonates, FDA, in June 2008, requested data from all bisphosphonate drug manufacturers concerning this potential safety signal. All obtainable case reports and clinical trial information were requested. FDA’s assessment of these information did not show an boost in this risk in women using these medications.
In addition, FDA reviewed a December 2008 write-up in the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research by Abrahamsen et al1, that analyzed information from two huge observational research in patients with osteoporosis. The authors concluded that atypical subtrochanteric femur fractures had several related features in widespread with classical osteoporotic hip fractures, which includes patient age, gender, and trauma mechanism. The information showed that patients taking bisphosphonates and those not taking bisphosphonates had similar numbers of atypical subtrochanteric femur fractures relative to classical osteoporotic hip fractures. If you or someone you know has suffered a femur fracture after taking Fosamax, you or they may be eligible for a fosamax femur fracture lawsuit.
This communication is in keeping with FDA’s commitment to inform the public about its ongoing safety evaluation of drugs. The agency will continue to assessment new details as it becomes obtainable and will update the public as soon as the agency’s review is full.
Healthcare experts should continue to comply with the suggestions in the drug label when prescribing oral bisphosphonates. Patients ought to not stop taking their medication unless told to do so by their healthcare specialist. Patients must talk to their healthcare specialist about any issues they have with these medicines.
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