Drugs for Osteoporosis May Raise Risk of Irregular Heart Beats

Oct. 29 -- A class of medicines prescribed to treat millions of people with osteoporosis appear to increase the risk of irregular heart beats, according to an analysis of earlier studies of so-called bisphosphonates by researchers from the University of Miami.

The researchers pooled three studies with a total of 16,322 participants taking a placebo or osteoporosis drugs that included alendronate, sold as Fosamax, and zoledronic acid, or Zometa.

Patients taking the medications were significantly more likely to have an incident of serious atrial fibrillation, or irregular heart beat, that included hospitalization or death. Between 1 percent and 2 percent of the patients had such an serious problem.

The study was presented in Philadelphia this week at the annual scientific conference of the American College of Chest Physicians.

"Atrial fibrillation can be serious if it is persistent or occurs in people with preexisting heart disease or hypertension," said the study's lead author Jennifer Miranda. She noted that untreated an irregular heart beat can cause a host of health problems including stokes, congestive heart failure and excessive fluid in the lungs.

The researchers concluded that doctors need to take the risk of such adverse events into account when prescribing the medications. And the study suggests patients taking a medication in that class of drug should let their doctors know if they feel symptoms that can include palpitations, light-headedness, chest pain or shortness of breath.

Contact staff writer Josh Goldstein at 215-854-4733 or jgoldstein@phillynews.com.