Severe Bone and Muscle Pain with Bisphosphonates

A recent FDA article describes severe pain associated with two bisphosphonate drugs: Fosamax (alendronate sodium) and Actonel (risedronate sodium).

The article, which was published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, describes over a hundred reports received by the FDA of severe bone, joint and muscle pain in patients being treated with Fosamax for osteoporosis. Many patients were unable to walk, climb stairs, or perform usual activities, and some of them became bedridden. Many of them had numerous diagnostic tests with mostly normal findings.

A majority of the patients experienced relief from pain after the drug was discontinued. This improvement was gradual in most of the patients, although some did show immediate improvement.

The article also notes that the FDA has received similar reports for Actonel, another bisphosphonate drug, and this suggests a possible class effect for these drugs.

The article says that pain in patients treated with bisphosphonates is likely to be underreported because of its subjective nature and because physicians may attribute the pain to the osteoporosis itself. It concludes that patients should be instructed to report severe bone, joint, or muscle pain that starts shortly after beginning bisphosphonate therapy, and that physicians should consider discontinuing the drug if that happens.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Bisphoshonates
• Bone
• Muscle
• Pain
• FDA
• Fosamax
• Actonel
• Osteoporosis
• Drug
• Reaction
• Patient
• Safety

[gumira69]

Severe Bone and Muscle Pain with Bisphosphonates is true.!! Bisphosphonate Use Linked to Abnormal Bone Formation and An unusual type of bone fracture has been reported in women who have taken bisphosphonates for osteopenia and osteoporosis .Patients and healthcare professionals may have questions about oral bisphosphonate medications and atypical subtrochanteric femur fractures fractures in the bone just below the hip joint.

[bikila367]

Yes, that is true.

It causes unbearable pain.

I take the 35 mg actonel once a week, the day I take it I just can't sand the bone, muscle and joint pain. I's like your whole body wants to blow up. Horrible!