Study Links Fosamax To Irregular Heartbeat
A new study suggests that women taking the osteoporosis drug Fosamax are twice as likely to develop a chronic heart condition known as atrial fibrillation.
The condition is marked by an irregular heartbeat and causes dizziness, fatigue and fainting.
Researchers at the University of Washington decided to examine the link between atrial fibrillation and Fosamax after a study linked a similar drug to an increased risk of abnormal heartbeat.
In the new study, researchers found that women who had taken Fosamax faced a higher risk of atrial fibrillation compared to women who did not take the drug. However, doctors say the results are inconclusive and more data is needed to confirm the risk.
Fosamax belongs to a class of drugs known as bisphosphonates. Drugs in this class have previously been linked to a serious jaw condition called ONJ, or osteosteonecrosis of the jaw.