If Your Leg Breaks Stop Taking Biphosphonates

The highlighted bold is me.  I keep reading this FDA recommendation just to make sure I understand what they are trying to say.  I think the recommendation says the FDA found no cause and effect between the use of biphosphonates and leg fractures so keep taking your medication.  But if your leg breaks, your physician will instruct you to stop taking the medication she prescribed for you to help prevent bone loss and fractures.

I’m glad the FDA cleared up this issue, don’t you?

Safety Alerts for Human Medical Products > Bisphosphonates (Osteoporosis Drugs): Label Change – Atypical Fractures Update

BACKGROUND: Atypical subtrochanteric femur fractures are fractures in the bone just below the hip joint. Diaphyseal femur fractures occur in the long part of the thigh bone. These fractures are very uncommon and appear to account for less than 1% of all hip and femur fractures overall. Although it is not clear if bisphosphonates are the cause, these unusual femur fractures have been predominantly reported in patients taking bisphosphonates.

RECOMMENDATIONS: Patients should continue to take their medication unless told to stop by their healthcare professional. FDA recommends that healthcare professionals should discontinue potent antiresorptive medications (including bisphosphonates) in patients who have evidence of a femoral shaft fracture. See the FDA Drug Safety Communication below for additional information.

FDA Warns Docs, Patients of Femoral Fracture Risk Linked to Some Bisphosphonates — AAFP News Now — American Academy of Family Physicians

Scary Chart of the Day – 08.19.10

Pretty ugly looking trend

QuickStats: Number of Poisoning Deaths* Involving Opioid Analgesics and Other Drugs or Substances — United States, 1999–2007

From 1999 to 2007, the number of U.S. poisoning deaths involving any opioid analgesic (e.g., oxycodone, methadone, or hydrocodone) more than tripled, from 4,041 to 14,459, or 36% of the 40,059 total poisoning deaths in 2007. In 1999, opioid analgesics were involved in 20% of the 19,741 poisoning deaths. During 1999–2007, the number of poisoning deaths involving specified drugs other than opioid analgesics increased from 9,262 to 12,790, and the number involving nonspecified drugs increased from 3,608 to 8,947.

Arava (leflunomide) – Watch Those Liver Enzymes

Medical News: FDA Adds Liver Failure Warning to RA Drug – in Product Alert, Prescriptions from MedPage Today

The FDA has expanded the black box warning to the label of the rheumatoid arthritis drug leflunomide (Arava) to include possible fatal liver damage.

The agency received 49 adverse event reports — including instances of jaundice, coagulopathy, encephalopathy, and 14 fatalities — about the drug from August 2002 to May 2009. Of the patients reporting adverse events, 36 were hospitalized.