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FDA warns of link between severe pain and Fosamax, similar drugs |
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Monday, 07 January 2008 |
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The Food and Drug Administration has warned that patients taking Fosamax and other similar bone-building drug may develop severe muscle, joint and bone pain as a result of their treatment. The agency says that it is concerned that doctors may be overlooking these drugs as a possible cause of the disabling pain reported by some patients.
The FDA’s warning concerns a class of drugs known as bisphosphonates, which are designed to increase bone density and reduce the risk of fractures. In addition to Fosamax, bisphosphonates also include Actonel, Aredia, Reclast and Boniva.
According to the new warning, patients may begin to experience pain “within days, months or years after starting a bisphosphonate.” In some cases, this pain may be so severe that in can interfere with normal daily activities and cause patients to require an aide for walking.
The FDA says that doctors should consider whether bisphosphonate drugs may be the cause of the severe pain reported by patients. It advised that these patients may need to stop taking the drugs temporarily or permanently in order to relieve their pain.
A spokeswoman for the agency says that the FDA is currently reviewing hundreds of cases of disabling pain reported by bisphosphonate users. This review is expected to take six months to complete.
In October, the FDA also began a review to determine whether bisphosphonate drugs could be linked to a type of dangerously fast heartbeat known as atrial fibrillation. The agency said that this review could take as long as a year to complete. |