The FDA has approved a new osteoporosis drug, Evenity (romosozumab), for postmenopausal women at a high risk of fractures. Evenity, a biologic drug, is seen as a major advance compared to currently available treatments, since it helps to build bone without breaking it down. Bisphosphonates, such as Fosamax (alendronic acid) and Reclast (zoledronic acid), just stop bone loss, while parathyroid hormone builds bone at the expense of breaking it down. Evenity’s label will come with a boxed warning that it may increase the risk of heart attack, stroke and cardiovascular death, and should be avoided in patients who had a heart attack or stroke within the last year. Posted April 9, 2019. Via FDA.
Less than 40% of senior adults report adverse events they experience with a medication to their doctor. A retrospective study looked at 860 people 70 and older who were living in their community and had multiple health issues. They were asked if they had experienced a list of symptoms, whether a symptom bothered them, if they thought it was related to a medication and if they had talked about it with their doctor. Results showed that the main reasons patients didn’t tell their doctor about adverse events was that they thought it was related to their old age and they didn’t want to bother their doctor. Posted April 9, 2019. Via Annals of Family Medicine.
The FDA is requiring a labeling change for opioids as a result of people who are physically dependent on them discontinuing them and experiencing harm, including suicide. The agency says it has received reports of people with serious withdrawal symptoms, uncontrolled pain, psychological distress and suicide after abruptly discontinuing an opioid or having the dose reduced too quickly. The change will inform healthcare providers to not abruptly discontinue opioid therapy and work on a patient-specific tapering plan. Patients will be told to not stop taking their medication suddenly without talking with their doctor. Posted April 9, 2019. Via FDA.
