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:
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
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