The Bone Strengthening Drugs May Be Linked To Esophageal Cancer

Many people who are suffering from the diseases related to their bones use to

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take medicines like Boniva (ibandronate), Fosamax (alendronate) or Actonel (risedronate), these are for strengthening the bones but a recent research has shown that a prolonged usage of these medicines may be linked to esophageal cancer.

A special class of medicines called the oral bisphosphonates is especially used for osteoporosis and other bone diseases but this new British research has shown that they may increase the risk of esophageal cancer.

A lead researcher Dr. Jane Green, a clinical epidemiologist, in the Oxford University’s Cancer Epidemiology Unit said that “What we lack at present is a full picture of the benefits versus risks for long-term use of bisphosphonates, which are increasingly commonly prescribed” and further “Our results are a small part of this picture.”

This report has got published in the Sept 02 issue of BMJ.

The team found that the patients who have more than 10 prescriptions of these medicines written and had used for drugs for almost 5 years, are at double risks of esophageal cancer as compared to those who have not used these drugs.

Diane Wysowski, an epidemiologist with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and author of an accompanying journal editorial after commenting on this research suggested that “Be sure to follow the directions for use and report to your doctor any difficulty swallowing or throat, chest, or digestive discomfort so that your doctor can evaluate the need for oral bisphosphonate discontinuation.”