Most of us have seen those television advertisements with Sally Field talking about saving her bones by taking a drug to treat osteoporosis. But the latest news released by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warns that taking this class of drugs, known as Bisphosphonates, might not be worth the risk.
In fact, the government agency says it will now require manufacturers of Bisphosphonates -- which include the popular drugs Fosamax, Boniva and Actonel -- to make it clear to patients that the use of these drugs can actually raise the risk of rare thigh bone fractures, and of a painful bone deterioration known as osteonecrosis of the jaw.
The new labeling rules come only a few months after the FDA announced it was studying the possibility of a connection. Although they haven’t cemented the link, they have discovered that the majority of people who experienced the rare thigh bone fracture were taking Bisphosphonates for at least five years.
"The FDA is continuing to evaluate data about the safety and effectiveness of Bisphosphonates when used long-term for osteoporosis treatment," Sandra Kweder, of the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, said in an agency press release. "In the interim, it's important for patients and healthcare professionals to have all the safety information available when determining the best course of treatment for osteoporosis."
