Dr. Matthew M., the author of the article “Stop Fosamax After Five Years”, advises all his readers especially those ones who are currently under Fosamax medication (and have been taking bisphosphonates for 5 years or more) to stop taking them to avoid the probability of femoral fractures. He believes that the real benefits of bisphosphonates are seen in the first 5 years of therapy.
“If you are taking a bisphosphonate, don’t stop…..unless you have taken it for 5 years or more, in which case you should discuss with your doctor about stopping the medication.”, says Dr. Matthew.
The FDA issued a drug holiday or 5 years usage on the 9th of September last year, after considering a label change for bisphosphonates.
Dr. Matthew posted a more detailed information on his site with regards to the relevance of discontinuing Fosamax use after five years: “It is important to point out that femoral fractures are very rare, whereas osteoporotic fractures of the hip and spine are common, which is why bisphosphonate therapy is so important. However, even though the FDA’s review in 2008 found no association, it appears there is a least a signal of a potential harmful type of fracture with the use of these drugs. Most importantly, these harmful effects appear to occur only in patients on long term use of these medications. The patient Diane Sawyer interviewed had been on Fosamax for over 10 years. The good news is that the beneficial effects of 5 years’ worth of taking a bisphosphonate are seen 5 years after stopping! In a study published in JAMA in 2006, Effects of Continuing or Stopping Alendronate after 5 Years of Treatment, patients who had been taking bisphosphonates for 5 years were randomized to taking 5 more years of a bisphosphonate or stopping. Though there were some decreases in bone structure in those patients that stopped the bisphosphonates, there were no differences in hip and spine fractures in the two groups. In other words, for patient taking bisphosphonates, it appears that after 5 years on the drug, at least a 5 year „holiday“ should be taken.”
In the US, older women are most commonly the victims of osteoporotic fractures. Though bisphosphonates are effective in treating bone loss and preventing osteoporosis, some studies and researches put more doubts in the public’s mind if it really has adverse side effects that can cause rare femoral fractures.
“Whether or not bisphosphonates can cause rare femoral fractures is unclear, but if they do, this is one of the adverse side affects of Fosamax that appears to occur only after long term use. The real benefits of bisphosphonates are seen in the first 5 years of therapy, and experts are now recommending stopping bisphosphonates after 5 years, which should also diminish if not eliminate the risk for femoral fractures.”, concludes Dr. Matthew.
References:
http://www.wellsphere.com/general-medicine-article/stop-fosamax-after-five-years/1040317
http://forums.webmd.com/3/osteoporosis-exchange/forum/681
{ 0 коментара… прибавете свой сега }