How do I know that bisphosphonates are safe for me?
All treatments have risks and benefits. These risks and benefits of treatment must be first understood from the clinical trials where the drug is tested against a placebo, or an inactive dummy pill. Such trials in osteoporosis have involved 2,000 to 10,000 patients followed for 3 to 5 years. These trials have led to medication approvals from government agencies such as Health Canada and the FDA. It is possible for rare side effects to occur which have not been seen in clinical trials. In such cases, “post-marketing surveillance” programs are put in place. We understand, however, that patients treated with osteoporosis medications will still have some fractures, since such treatments are not 100% effective in preventing fracture. A fracture occurring while someone is on treatment does not mean that the medication has failed or caused the fracture. It rather indicates that our treatments are effective in preventing some but not all fragility fractures. Risks and benefits of anti-osteopor
