Health

Health: Potential Danger Of Boniva

PHILADELPHIA (CBS 3) ― Tens of millions of women take drugs to make bones stronger. But some doctors now fear, for certain women, these drugs may actually be doing more harm than good, and you won't know if you're one of the unlucky ones until it's too late.

Joanna Bonfilio hasn't seen much of her two young boys lately. She spends most of her time helping her mother who lives in constant pain.

"Brutal, brutal pain in my right hand and wrists," said Edna Polcari, Joanna's mother.

"We had a fear that she was just going to turn her back and give up because the pain is so brutal," said Joanna.

Before Edna started taking Boniva to help strengthen her bones, she lived an active life. Now she can't even open the refrigerator door without help.

"Each doctor, as I went to them, I said could it be the Boniva. And they all said no," said Edna.

But just weeks later, the FDA issued a warning to doctors alerting them that Boniva, and similar drugs called bisphosphonates, could cause the bone pain Edna was experiencing.

A statement from Boniva's manufacturer Roche said, "… the risk factors for and incidence of this effect is unknown; such reports have been infrequent."

Boniva uses star power to market the drug to women fearful of fractures. But to find out that pain can be a side effect, you have to read the package insert.

"I have never prescribed these medications," said Dr. Phuli Cohan, who treats her osteoporosis patients with vitamins and natural hormones.

She says pain isn't the worst thing that can happen with bisphosphonates.

"There is actually bone death occurring," said Dr. Cohan.

A recent letter in the New England Journal of Medicine suggests long-term use of the drugs may actually increase the risk of fracture in some women.

Dr. Cohan showed us x-rays of a woman whose hip shattered after years on Fosamax, another brand of bisphosphonate.

"People don't want to believe that this is happening. But it is a side effect of the medicine," said Dr. Cohan.

But the makers of Fosamax say no such link has ever been proven.

In a statement Merck said, "In clinical studies, FOSAMAX has not been associated with increased fracture risk at any skeletal site."

Researcher Dr. David Hunter believes the benefits outweigh the risk.

"There's a much greater risk of osteoporosis itself," said Dr. Hunter.

Dr. Cohan says this drug has only been on the market for about a decade, so the long term effects are still not known.

"My fear has always been that we'd be seeing spontaneous fractures and my worst fears have been realized," said Dr. Cohan.

Doctors stress that most women do fine with these drugs, and they have been proven to prevent hip fractures which can be deadly. So don't stop taking your medication without speaking with your doctor.

(© MMVIII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)