With over 37 million prescriptions written by the year 2008, Fosamax is one of the most widelypreferred  drugs. However, things are now changing as some of its adverse effects have been reported. Moreover, Fosamax is also being blamed for the link found between osteoporosis and heart failure.

Fosamax is generically known as alendronate sodium. It belongs to the class of medicine called biphosphonates that interfere in bone cycle formation. The mechanism of action of the drug slows down bone loss while increasing bone mass, thereby helping in the prevention of bone fracture.

Fosamax is indicated for both men and women. It is deemed more apt for women and their osteoporosis that is usually caused by menopause or by intake of steroids in the case of men. The drug is also given to patients with Paget's disease of the bone, a disease where bones are brittle and often malformed. People with osteopenia, where the patient suffers from low bone mineral density, are also advised to take this kind of drug.

Oftentimes, Fosamax therapy has some issues with drug-to-drug interaction. The likelihood of other medications contributing to the Fosamax femur fractures is now taken into consideration.

Aside from the intended effects, Fosamax also has a number of unintended side effects, some of which are beneficial while some are adverse. However, off-label use of the drug should not be practiced because of its possible serious consequences.

Fosamax Side Effects

You need to consult your doctor if any of these less serious side effects persist or become bothersome during your Fosamax therapy:

• Constipation or diarrhea
• Bloating or feeling full, mild heartburn
• Dizziness, headache, eye pain
• Mild back, muscle, or joint pain
• Mild nausea, vomiting or stomach pain

 
Doctors and health care providers may ask you to hold therapy and immediately seek medical attention if any of the following serious effects are felt:

 

• Severe allergic reactions (rash, hives, itching, difficulty breathing)

• Chest pain

• Difficulty (dysphagia) or painful (odynophagia) swallowing

• Pain or burning sensation under the ribs or in the back

• Severe heart burn, burning epigastric (upper stomach) pain, or coughing of blood

• New or worsening heartburn

• Fever, body aches, flu-like symptoms

• Severe musculoskeletal pain

• New or unusual pain in your thigh or hip

• Jaw pain, numbness or swelling.

 
A Fosamax therapy should only be pursued under a doctor’s advice. This should also come with the information regarding the period of therapy. If possible, try asking your doctor about the potential side effects of the drug as people filing a Fosamax lawsuit are constantly increasing in number.

 

References:

examiner.com/women-s-health-in-los-angeles/women-taking-bisphosphonates-may-need-screening-radiography
rxlist.com/fosamax-drug.htm

Bones undergo a constant remodeling cycle to keep their strength, medical research says. However, as age progresses, density is lost. Some people may even experience osteoporosis. Right now, more and more studies are being done about Yerba Mate Tea’s reported osteoporosis-preventive properties.

People who are developing or at risk of developing osteoporosis are usually treated with bisphosphonates,  which unfortunately have faced different issues in recent years. Conflicting ideas held by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisory members led to the recommendation of stronger warnings for such drugs, including Fosamax. If only the development of this disease was avoided, these thoughts would not have happened.

One of the ways one can avoid the disease is through the help of vitamin D. First, it is important that the necessity of vitamin D’s aid in the body be discussed. This vitamin is an essential component in providing strength for the body. The human skeletal system serves as scaffold that protects organs and it also anchors muscles for motion. Hence, maintaining bone health is essential to our lives.

The movement of calcium within the body by and large is dependent upon vitamin D. Active form of vitamin D, which is calcitriol, promotes absorption of calcium in the gut. It also boosts calcium release from the bone to the blood. This will simultaneously reduce the elimination of calcium by the kidney to the urine.

In terms of bone remodeling, vitamin D acts on osteoblasts. Osteoblasts are bone cells responsible for bone formation. It releases a specific type of molecule, which activates osteoclasts, which are the bone cells  responsible for bone digestion. This mechanism guarantees the regulation of bone mineralization within normal values.

It may seem so simple but vitamin D may very well produced within the skin by the help of sunlight. Vitamin D researchers concurred that by exposing oneself to sunlight for five to 30 minutes at least twice a week between 10 AM to 3 PM, one can already meet the required amount of vitamin D that the body needs. On a different note, sufficient vitamin D may also be acquired from the meat of fatty fishes like salmon.

Although vitamin D brings a lot of good news, bad news arrive for a well known drug called Fosamax manufactured by Merck & Co. The company is accused for not properly disclosing the possible adverse effects of the bisphosphonate Fosamax as some of its users are reported to suffer from femur fractures which has lead them to file a Fosamax lawsuit.

References:

ehow.com/about_4570134_vitamin-do-you_.html