Originally published July 21 2005
Experts warn of unnecessary, sometimes harmful osteoporosis drugs
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Many women are risking unnecessary side effects when they take bone density tests and prescription drugs for osteoporosis too early in life, some osteoporosis experts say, and The Seattle Times reports that healthy 50-year-olds have a low chance of developing the condition.
Every day in clinics and doctors' offices across the country, healthy middle-age women slide their wrists into portable X-ray machines that calculate bone density.
If they get a low enough density score, they walk out with a prescription that's supposed to prevent a hip fracture late in life by adding bone tissue now.
But there's a big problem with this familiar exercise, according to some top osteoporosis experts: Most of these women don't need the drug.
By targeting women in their 50s, manufacturers of drugs for osteoporosis have helped transform osteoporosis from an underrecognized disease in elderly women into what some say is a disease affecting tens of millions.
� Promoting osteopenia and osteoporosis directly to these younger, healthier women, telling them they are at risk and should consider taking bone-strengthening drugs such as Fosamax.
All of this was done in the name of prevention.
But Dr. Steven Cummings, one of the world's experts on osteoporosis and the director of the San Francisco Coordinating Center, a research center, says the drug companies' push has been driven by marketing as well as medicine.
"Drug therapy for women with osteopenia does do some good because it reduces the risk of spine fractures, but women with osteopenia have a low risk of those fractures.
For elderly women who suffer fractures, bone drugs such as Fosamax are life-enhancing: strengthening bone, reducing chances of future breaks.
The bone-density X-ray machines promoted by Merck & Co. and other drug companies also are powerful advances in treating the disease.
Even a former lobbyist for Merck concedes that the company's focus has been on expanding the market for Fosamax, also known by its chemical name, alendronate.
Experts devise a numerical measurement of bone density --- and the boundaries of a new condition.
All content posted on this site is commentary or opinion and is protected under Free Speech. Truth Publishing LLC takes sole responsibility for all content. Truth Publishing sells no hard products and earns no money from the recommendation of products. NaturalNews.com is presented for educational and commentary purposes only and should not be construed as professional advice from any licensed practitioner. Truth Publishing assumes no responsibility for the use or misuse of this material. For the full terms of usage of this material, visit www.NaturalNews.com/terms.shtml