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Hopefully the link will work:
http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSLAU37863320080103
If not, copy and paste the entire link into your browser.
Peggy
Hopefully the link will work:
http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSLAU37863320080103
If not, copy and paste the entire link into your browser.
Peggy
Hi pgreene: Thanks for the link, it's very interesting... I really like the fact that it's from Dr. Zavras!! No problems with the link it opens just fine.
I would want to look at the percent of parenteral (non-oral) bisphosphonate users who get ONJ vs the percentage of oral users who get stomach problems, which I believe to have a much higher frequency than the jaw problem. Look at the odds and compare. When I first heard about people on Fosamax having to have endoscopy to explore sites of esophageal bleeding, I refused the orals and stayed that way until the IV came along. Would rather have jaw pain than be throwing up blood, but that's just me.
I'm sure the stomach problems are at a much higher rate but you would normally have symptoms to indicate you are having esophageal problems. When I was on the daily dose of Fosamax 12 years ago, I did have heartburn especially if I did not remain upright. But when the once weekly pill came out I only had heartburn one day a week, and when I switched to Fosamax +D the heartburn completely went away. I can lay down after Fosamax now and not get heartburn (not that I do that mind you). If you are having stomach problems you can always switch meds until you find one that doesn't cause the problem.
However, with the jaw necrosis you most likely won't know you have a problem until you have dental work. I shared this article because people were so being so quick to make up their minds not to take Fosamax or Actonel because of jaw necrosis. But the side effect is coming from the IV meds, not the oral meds.
Peggy
This would be good news, although there are other problems associated with bisphosphonates as well. But before jumping for joy, the big quesetion, as always, is WHO FUNDED THIS STUDY??
This was very interesting, indeed. I have been on Actonel - not Fosamax which I did not tolerate - for 4 1/2 years and am receiving 11 mg Medrol for my polymyalgia rheumatica at this moment. The rhumatologist I have been seeing told me that not enough research had been done on side effects of longterm use of biophosphonates; he strongly recommended I continue with Actonel in view of my cortisone treatment; stopping Actonel NOW would practically guarantee a decline of my osteoporosis and have bad consequences. Eventually this could be considered once my condition - inflammation - had improved to be able to diminish my daily cortisone to something like 5 mg. I am definitely not there yet and intend to follow his advice. But when wanting dental work done, the dentist emphatically refused to do implants although I have been taking Actonal orally.
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