The Side Effects of Fosamax

Fosamax is a prescription medication used most commonly to treat and prevent osteoporosis in postmenopausal women and elderly men. Fosamax is in the class of medications known as bisphosphonate derivatives.

Other FDA approved indications for the use of Fosamax include the treatment of steroid-induced osteoporosis in men and women with low bone mineral density who are receiving daily prednisone, treatment of Paget's disease of the bone in people who are having symptoms, and treatment for people with asymptomatic Paget's disease who have alkaline phosphatase levels that are greater than 2 times the upper limit of normal.

Fosamax is the U.S. brand name for the medication generically known as Alendronate. There are multiple Canadian brands of Alendronate including: Apo-Alendronate®; CO Alendronate; Dom-Alendronate; Fosamax®; Gen-Alendronate; Mylan-Alendronate; Novo-Alendronate; PHL-Alendronate; PHL-Alendronate-FC; PMS-Alendronate; PMS-Alendronate-FC; ratio-Alendronate; Riva-Alendronate; Sandoz-Alendronate.

Fosamax and all other brands of Alendronate have known potential adverse effects as well as multiple contraindications that people taking this medication should be aware of.

Fosamax can cause bone, joint and/or muscle pain. This pain can be severe and potentially debilitating. The musculoskeletal pain may begin as early as one day after beginning treatment or only after several months of treatment. Fortunately, the pain that can occur with Fosamax therapy usually resolves upon discontinuing the medication.

Fosamax is known to irritate the mucosa lining the stomach and intestines. This can cause esophagitis (inflammation of the esophagus), dysphagia (difficulty swallowing), esophageal ulcers, esophageal erosions, and esophageal stricture (scarring and narrowing of the esophagus). People who already suffer from dysphagia, esophageal disease, gastritis, duodenitis, or ulcers should use Fosamax with great caution as this may worsen their underlying condition.

Low calcium level in the blood (hypocalcemia) is another potential side effect of Fosamax. This hypocalcemia is usually transient and mild, but does occur in about 18% of people of Fosamax. Before initiating therapy with Fosamax, pre-existing hypocalcemia must be corrected. These patients must also have adequate calcium and vitamin D intake, usually obtained through supplementation.

Osteonecrosis of the jaw can occur with bisphosphonate therapy. However, this painful degeneration of the jaw has been observed mostly in cancer patients. Risk factors for jaw necrosis while on Fosamax include concurrent cancer chemotherapy or radiotherapy, anemia, coagulopathy, infection, or pre-existing dental disease.

Other adverse effects of Fosamax include: Atrial fibrillation, headache, abdominal pain, acid reflux, nausea, flatulence, diarrhea, constipation, and muscle cramps. Rarely, Fosomax is associated with hair loss, dizziness, fever, joint swelling, itchy rash, hypersensitivity reactions, flu-like syndrome, and weakness.

Fosamax is widely used to treat and prevent osteoporosis. However, like all prescription medications, Fosamax is associated with potential side effects. Individuals should discuss concerns over adverse effects of Fosamax with their doctors.

Source: Lexi-Comp Online. Accessed Mar 27, 2010.