Bisphosphonates, medications commonly prescribed to build thinning bones, have been linked to a serious heart problem. A review of recent research found that atrial fibrillation, an erratic heartbeat that can lead to heart attacks and stroke, may be linked to the bone-building drugs which include Fosamax and Boniva.
“In addition to possible gastrointestinal side effects, bisphosphonates can have possible cardiac side effects,” said Dr. Jennifer Maranda, an internal resident at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami and lead author of the research. “For serious cases of artrial fibrillation, there was a significant increase in risk—about 68 percent.”
The three studies reviewed included more than 16,000 patients and were randomized and placebo-controlled. They included postmenopausal women between the ages of 69 and 75 who were taking bisphosphonates for osteoporosis. While there wasn’t an overall statistical difference in the incidence of artrial fibrillation between those taking bisphosphonates and placebo, when researchers considered those whose artrial fibrillation was serious enough to cause hospitalization or death, they found that those taking bisphosphonates were at a 68 percent increased risk.
Bisphosphonates include alendronate (Fosamax), zoledronic acid (Reclast), and risedronate (Actonel). They are normally used to treat people with osteoporosis and those who have suffered bone fractures.
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