Quoted from http://www.sbsun.com/living/ci_16451707
Osteoporosis drugs and broken bones
Joe Graedon and Teresa Graedon Posted: 10/27/2010 07:17:55 PM PDT
Popular osteoporosis drugs are coming under scrutiny. Bisphosphonate drugs such as Actonel, Boniva, Fosamax and Reclast are supposed to build strong bones and prevent fractures.But an odd thing has happened. During the past few years, evidence has been building that these drugs may increase the risk of an unusual type of fracture (Journal of the American Medical Association, Oct. 6, 2010).
The Food and Drug Administration has just issued a safety announcement warning about "atypical fractures of the thigh." These femur fractures can occur without a fall, collision or trauma. Just walking may bring on this uncommon break.
Readers of this column have been reporting this kind of broken bone for some time: "I had been on Fosamax for seven years when I started having leg pain. The doctors I saw could not find anything wrong. Then one morning in the steam room at the gym, my left femur just snapped in half. It was a weird break, and I had to have a rod put in.
"Less than six months later, I was rushing around my son's kitchen getting my grandkids' breakfast and my right femur broke, making me fall. It broke in the same place as the left, and now I have rods in both legs."