Safety review of bisphosphonates.(Safety and Efficacy Issues)

United States of America -- On 1 October 2007, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that it was reviewing safety data on a potential increased risk for atrial fibrillation in patients treated with a bisphosphonate drug (1).

Bisphosphonates are a class of drugs used primarily to increase bone mass and reduce the risk for fracture in patients with osteoporosis. Bisphosphonates are also used to slow bone turnover in patients with Paget disease of the bone and to treat bone metastases and lower elevated levels of blood calcium in patients with cancer. Bisphosphonate products include: alendronate (Fosamax[R], Fosamax Plus D[R]), etidronate (Didronel[R]), …