Use of Fosamax Generic for postmenopausal osteoporosis treatment

f:id:healthpost:20190531183151j:plainIn 1995, the FDA approved alendronate, brand name Fosamax for postmenopausal osteoporosis treatment, a condition that affects over eight million women as well as causes 1.5 million fractures every year in the United States. It is a bone-weakening condition.

Fractures are a leading cause of morbidity in the United States in postmenopausal women. Hip fractures often lead to hospitalization and result in nursing home care. Hardly 40% of hip fracture patients regain their independence back, and nearly 25% pass on within a year. Vertebral fractures can result in debilitating back pain, and they too, increase the risk of early death.

Fosamax Generic fall into a class of drugs called bisphosphonates that work by reducing resorption, the braking phase of normal bone remodeling. Fosamax Generic is the oldest form of drugs and has been utilized the most and studied more. It improves bone density for at least 10 years. Maximum patients tolerate Fosamax Generic well; however, its most common side effects include irritation of the esophagus and stomach ulcer.

Clinicians and health care professional diagnose osteoporosis by measuring bone mineral density with the help of a technique known as dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry i.e. (DXA). Its results are used in calculating a statistical measure known as a T-score. Experts suggest that a woman with osteoporosis having a T-score of –2.5 or lower should strongly consider drug treatment for reducing her fracture risk.

Women with osteopenia i.e. women having a T-score between –1.0 and –2.5 should consider other threat factors before deciding for drug therapy. The World Health Organization (WHO) has developed the Fracture Risk Assessment Tool (FRAX), which is an online calculator that estimates a person’s 10-year risk of having a major hip fracture or other fracture that is available at www.nof.org and www.shef.ac.uk/FRAX. The NOF advises that a woman with osteopenia should undergo drug treatment if the FRAX calculator indicates that her 10-year risk for hip fractures are at least 3% or her 10-year risk for any big fracture is at least 20%.

Don't take Fosamax Generic if you are not sure you need to, as with any other drug. If a woman has been taking it and is concerned about long-term effects, then she must talk to a clinician about taking a break. There is very little solid evidence to guide in this area. Bisphosphonates stay in bone for some years, so it is unclear that taking a break in the drug will lower your risk for plausible long-term effects. If you choose to take a break, ensure to have your bone density tested in a year or two. If it has reduced significantly, you can resume bisphosphonate therapy.

Meanwhile, one should continue all the other measures which will help protect and maintain bone density i.e. calcium and vitamin D every day.