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Osteoporosis drug may causes irregular heartbeats
29 Apr 2008
A drug used to treat osteoporosis could cause irregular heartbeat in women, however its benefits to bone health outweigh any possible risks, a study suggests.
Researchers have found that a widely-prescribed medication called Fosamax, used to stop bone-thinning in older women, could cause the condition which is known as atrial fibrillation causing abnormal heart rhythm.
Some 719 women with osteoporosis and atrial fibrillation who were taking the drug, were compared with 966 women of a similar age and blood pressure.
The study found that Fosmax - generic name alendronate - may increase the risk of irregular heartbeat by as much as 68 per cent.
However, writing in the Archives of Internal Medicine, study authors concluded that the benefits of the drug still outweighs its risks.
"This study will help medical teams better inform their patients about the risks associated with Fosamax, helping us make the best treatment decisions for managing osteoporosis," Christine Himes Fordyce, from Group Health which carried out the study in conjunction with the University of Washington, explained.
"Now with this increased understanding of potential irregular heartbeats, both physicians and their patients should be alert to any problems, report them immediately, and treat them appropriately," she added.
An estimated one in 100 people have atrial fibrillation, which in many cases has no symptoms and is not perceived to be necessarily life threatening.
However it has been linked to palpitations, fainting, fatigue, or congestive heart failure.
Click here to learn more about osteoporosis
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