Oral bisphosphonates, among them Fosamax, have been widely prescribed over the years to prevent or delay the negative consequences of bone problems such as osteoporosis and Paget’s disease, which causes the bones to become fragile and more susceptible to fractures, medical experts say. The blog on Fosamax drug injury cases contains important information about the side-effects associated with the drug. However, first time users of Fosamax are at increased risk of getting scleritis and anterior uveitis, warned medical experts. Scleritis is the inflammation of the sclera, the white part of the eye, which when left untreated, may cause glaucoma, cataracts, retinal damage or detachment, optic nerve damage and shrinkage of the eyes. Uveitis is the inflammation inside of the eye, and is the 5th or 6th cause of blindness in the US.

The inflammatory eye conditions are potentially reversible if identified early, however the labels on osteoporosis drugs do not mention eye inflammation. Patients and their doctors need to be familiar with the symptoms so they can seek immediate and early intervention from an ophthalmologist.

References:

health.usnews.com/health-news/news/articles/2012/04/02/osteoporosis-drugs-may-lead-to-eye-trouble-study

adverseevents.com/monitor/2012/04/04/study-links-bisphosphonates-to-serious-inflammatory-eye-diseases/

summitmedicalgroup.com/healthday/article/619683/

 
Some bisphosphonate formulations may cause kidney damage that leads to renal failure, experts say, citing research that some of these popular osteoporosis medications may pose a risk. This proves to be alarming especially when considering the possible potential for lawsuits that could arise similar to the class action proceedings against Fosamax maker Merck.  

Bisphosphonates such as Fosamax have a very long effective half-life and can stay within a body for a long time. Since bisphosphonates are primarily excreted through the kidneys, this is particularly worrisome because as the drug is even more slowly removed from the body it could cause more problems for the patient besides renal failure.

While medical sources agree that the chance of acute renal failure is very rare while on bisphosphonates, experts’ advice that patients should be monitored for their creatinine levels as added precautions especially where intravenous bisphosphonate formulations are concerned.

URL References:

  • ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22710581
  • cjasn.asnjournals.org/content/4/1/221.full