DEAR DR. GOTT:
I am a 67-year-old non-smoking, non-drinking female who lives a very healthy lifestyle with exercise, good nutrition, average weight, etc. I have no history of heart disease in my family, yet three weeks ago I wound up in the ER with atrial fibrillation that required an over-night stay for observation, followed by a nuclear stress test and the wearing of a heart monitor. I’ll meet with a cardiologist in a few days to discuss the results.
I’ve taken Fosamax for almost seven years for mild bone loss and recently read of a scientific study indicating the drug can cause heart abnormalities — including atrial fibrillation, congestive heart failure, blood clots, and stroke! I stopped taking the Fosamax immediately.
Is my atrial fibrillation a chronic condition now or does the discontinuation reduce and eventually end the symptoms? Is there a SAFE bone-loss drug available? Have you any idea why this important information for women is not well known? Is there some sort of pharmaceutical cover-up?
DEAR READER:
Atrial fibrillation is a condition that presents as rapid, abnormal, irregular heart beats. The lower chambers of the heart can beat 130 times per minute while the upper chambers can send out more than 350 electrical impulses per minute. The irregularity results in a decreased amount of blood pumped to the body. The disorganized contractions of the upper heart chambers can cause clot formation.
Now for the Fosamax. I don’t know of any medication, to include aspirin, that does not have the potential for some side effects in some individuals. On the up side, research has shown Fosamax reduces the incidence of hip fracture by 63%. This is a significant finding for post-menopausal women. Now comes the down side. Fosamax appears to double a woman’s chances of developing atrial fibrillation, even if no history of heart abnormalities is present. This was not known when the drug was test marketed, nor was it known for several years thereafter. To my way of thinking, herein lies the problem. New drugs enter the market and promise to cure every condition known to mankind. Long-term effects of drug use are not known for years.
The manufacturer did not conceal the news; the bad press made headlines in newspapers and on television across the country. The drug is still being used and has not been recalled, but doctors are aware of the devastating potential side effect. Many have rightly converted their patients to a different drug without the side effect you experienced. You were wise to discontinue the medication. Hopefully your condition isn’t chronic and you will not experience repeat episodes.
Safer alternatives include calcium and vitamin D, calcitonin, and more. Speak with your physician about your best alternative. He knows your complete medical history and is your best bet for the suggestion of a substitute.
To give you related information, I am sending you a copy of my Health Report “Consumer Tips on Medicine”. Other readers who would like a copy should send a self-addressed, stamped, number 10 envelope and $2 to Newsletter, PO Box 167, Wickliffe, OH 44092. Be sure to mention the title.
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