Poison pill for bone drugs?

Government health officials warned doctors and patients Wednesday about an increased risk of thigh fractures with a widely used group of bone-strengthening drugs. The Food and Drug Administration said patients taking bisphosphonate drugs such as Fosamax and Boniva appear more likely to suffer a rare type of fracture of the femur. The fractures occurred just below the hip joint and make up less than 1 percent of all femur fractures.

In more than half the cases reported to the FDA, patients experienced pain or aching of the groin before the fracture. The FDA said it is updating the drugs' labels about the potential risk. The fractures were publicized in a report last month from the American Society of Bone and Mineral Research, which suggests several explanations for the fractures. One is that the slowdown in cell turnover seen with bisphosphonates could lead to weaker bones in some cases. The FDA said the fractures "may be related to the use of bisphosphonates for longer than five years." In reviewing reports of fractures, FDA officials said they found patients who had been taking the drugs up to 15 years. There are no guidelines for how long patients should take the drugs.