Another Nail In The Coffin for Bisphosphonate Drugs

A new study in the Archives of Medicine (published online May 21, 2012) destroys the fictional theory of treating osteoporosis with bisphosphonate drugs.  I have been writing and warning about the dangers of bisphosphonate drugs for years.  In my book, Drugs that Don’t Work and Natural Therapies That Do, I predicted, “…the long-term use of these medications will… lead to the formation of poor quality bone.”  Unfortunately, my prediction has come true.   

Bisphosphonate drugs (Fosamax, Boniva, Actonel, and Zometa) were found to significantly increase the risk of atypical bone fractures the longer the drugs were taken.  Shockingly, not only was the risk tremendously increased, it was found to be increased in a linear fashion.   

In fact, the study found those taking bisphosphonate drugs less than two years were 35 times more likely to have an atypical bone fracture.  For patients who took the medications for two to five years, there was a 47 fold increase in atypical fractures.  Women who took the drugs for five to nine years had a 117 fold increase and those that took the prescriptions over nine years were 176 times more likely to suffer an atypical fracture. 

How could this occur?  Aren’t these drugs supposed to make stronger bones?  The answer to these questions becomes easy to answer after studying the mechanism of action of osteoporosis drugs.  These drugs poison a crucial enzyme that is important to the bone remodeling cells--the osteoclasts.  It can easily be predicted that the poisoning of the osteoclasts will disrupt normal bone function and lead to the formation of weak bone.  I explain this in much more detail in my book. 

Folks, this article is a big deal.  I will watch closely how Big Pharma responds to it.  There is more information in this article that is damning to the bisphosphonate drugs.  I will keep you updated in future posts.  

These drugs should be pulled from the market.  Their use has never conclusively been shown to lower fracture risk.  Remember, osteoporosis is not the result of a deficiency of bisphosphonate drugs.  It results from a combination of factors including eating a poor diet as well as nutritional and hormonal imbalances.    A better approach is to use a therapy that treats the underlying cause of osteoporosis.  This includes eating a healthier diet, avoiding antacid medication and balancing the hormonal system with the use of bioidentical, natural hormones.  

Big Pharma Cartel Busted

The article from Reuters is titled, “Merck was ordered to pay $321 million in Vioxx probe,” (Reuters 4.26.10).  The article states, “A Boston federal judge sentenced Merck & Co. to pay a $321 million criminal fine for improperly marketing its Vioxx painkiller a decade ago.”

Big Pharma pleaded guilty to having illegally promoting Vioxx for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis before it was approved for that use in 2002.  Vioxx was withdrawn from the market in 2004 after it was found to cause heart attacks, strokes and death.  Furthermore, Merck agreed to pay more than $600 million to the federal government, 43 states and the District of Columbia for a wider range of improprieties. 

So, let me get this straight.  Big Pharma Cartel member Merck & Co. just paid out $1 billion dollars for criminal activity.  Do you think that is a lot of money?  Merck doesn’t.  Vioxx generated nearly $2.5 billion dollars in sales per year during the time it was on the market.  Perhaps a billion dollar fine is considered ‘just part of doing business.’  But, ‘just doing business’ should not include tens of thousands of patients dying needlessly. 

What were the consequences of Merck’s illegal activity?  The FDA estimates that between 1999 and 2003, Vioxx may have contributed to more than 27,785 deaths. (MSNBC.com 10.6.2004). Other estimates place the number of deaths from Vioxx at 55,000. Furthermore, it is thought that over 100,000 patients suffered a stroke or heart attack after taking Vioxx.   

Let’s think about this. This was an FDA-approved drug that caused nearly 20x more deaths than al-Qaeda did on 9.11.11.  The only doctors cautioning against the use of Vioxx and other Cox-2 inhibitors were the holistic doctors who actually studied the Cox-2 inhibitors mechanism of action.  The doctors that actually understood how Cox-2 inhibitors worked were predicting that the use of Cox-2 inhibiting drugs (e.g., Vioxx and Celebrex) would cause an increase in blood clots, strokes and heart attacks.  So why couldn’t the FDA look at this information?  Why did it take the FDA so long to remove Vioxx from the marketplace?

We all know the answer.  The FDA does not work for us.  It is funded, in large part, from the Big Pharma Cartel.  FDA cannot upset Big Pharma too much or its funding would be in jeopardy.  Furthermore, there is a revolving door between working at the FDA and accepting a job at the Big Pharma Cartel.

What can you do?  Number one, adopt a holistic lifestyle of eating a healthy diet, drinking water and exercising in order to achieve your optimal health and minimize your risk of having to be prescribed an FDA-approved medication.  However, if you have to take a prescription medication, it is wise to research how the drug works and the potential adverse effects.  Remember, you are ultimately in charge if your health care decisions.  You can say “yes” or “no” to a drug therapy.   

My book, Drugs that Don’t Work and Natural Therapies that Do provides the information you will need to decide if you should take a prescription medication.  This book provides information about commonly prescribed drugs such as medications to treat diabetes, high cholesterol, depression, stomach problems, hormone imbalances, and osteoporosis.  Furthermore, I have a whole chapter devoted to the problems with Cox-2 inhibitors like Vioxx and Celebrex.

There is very little need for Cox-2 inhibitors.  Adopting a healthy lifestyle will naturally decrease inflammation and minimize your need for any anti-inflammatory medications.