Fosamax for Osteoporosis and AIH Bleeding Varices

[Guest guest]

To All,

I appreciated getting the Merck website about Fosamax that offered some hope of

offsetting the effect of osteoporosis caused by taking prednisone with my wife's

Autoimmune Hepatitus. Unfortunately she also had bleeding varices which was a

natural final result of a deteriorated liver. The Merck publication on Fosamax

gave a warning that everyone with a liver condition should be aware of and make

their liver doctor aware of: I copied and pasted one paragraph from the Merck

site as follows:

Esophageal adverse experiences such as esophagitis (inflammation of the

esophagus), esophageal ulcers and erosions, occasionally with bleeding, and

rarely followed by esophageal stricture, have been reported in patients

receiving treatment with Fosamax. In some cases these have been severe and

required hospitalization. The risk of severe esophageal adverse experiences

appears to be greater in patients who fail to follow dosing instructions.

It sounds that Fosomax offers no hope of being usable for Hepatitus patients.

Ask your doctor, but make him aware of the above paragraph from Merck first.

Schneider

Wife with AIH and bleeding varices resulting therefrom

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

So far I haven't had to take anything stronger than

calcium supplements but I do know a lot of peeps who

take Fosamax. They hate it because it's a real pain

to take. You have to take it first thing in the

morning then sit or stand upright for 30 minutes

before eating or drinking. There is a risk that it

will tear up the esophagus if the instructions are not

followed to the letter. I would guess that it would

be contra-indicated in the case of bleeding varices.

My Mom uses a prescription product called Miacalcin

same as Calcitonin which is a nasal spray, so the

ingredients go directly into the blood stream. She

has been using it for several months with no side

effects. Something to consider, and I'm sure the docs

will be able to advise.

Barbara Ann

AIH Transplant Recipient

--- Schneider <pwsch@...> wrote:

> To All,

> I appreciated getting the Merck website about

> Fosamax that offered some hope of offsetting the

> effect of osteoporosis caused by taking prednisone

> with my wife's Autoimmune Hepatitus. Unfortunately

> she also had bleeding varices which was a natural

> final result of a deteriorated liver. The Merck

> publication on Fosamax gave a warning that everyone

> with a liver condition should be aware of and make

> their liver doctor aware of: I copied and pasted

> one paragraph from the Merck site as follows:

> Esophageal adverse experiences such as esophagitis

> (inflammation of the esophagus), esophageal ulcers

> and erosions, occasionally with bleeding, and rarely

> followed by esophageal stricture, have been reported

> in patients receiving treatment with Fosamax. In

> some cases these have been severe and required

> hospitalization. The risk of severe esophageal

> adverse experiences appears to be greater in

> patients who fail to follow dosing instructions.

>

> It sounds that Fosomax offers no hope of being

> usable for Hepatitus patients. Ask your doctor, but

> make him aware of the above paragraph from Merck

> first.

>

> Schneider

> Wife with AIH and bleeding varices resulting

> therefrom

>

_________________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Hi -

I can relate to your wife's experience with the bleeding esophageal varices.

However, I would tend to disagree that it is " a natural final result of a

deteriorated liver " . I personally don't believe this is a " final result " . This

may be true for some people, however, my bleed occurred in 1994. I was not

supposed to survive the bleed, but, here I am. I am now in " a state of

remission " (normal LFT's) I was diagnosed with AIH in 1985, have gone through

every phase of the disease thus far, and am still alive and kicking. Just my

two cents : )

Debbie

AIH

Michigan

[ ] Fosamax for Osteoporosis and AIH Bleeding Varices

To All,

I appreciated getting the Merck website about Fosamax that offered some hope

of offsetting the effect of osteoporosis caused by taking prednisone with my

wife's Autoimmune Hepatitus. Unfortunately she also had bleeding varices which

was a natural final result of a deteriorated liver. The Merck publication on

Fosamax gave a warning that everyone with a liver condition should be aware of

and make their liver doctor aware of: I copied and pasted one paragraph from

the Merck site as follows:

Esophageal adverse experiences such as esophagitis (inflammation of the

esophagus), esophageal ulcers and erosions, occasionally with bleeding, and

rarely followed by esophageal stricture, have been reported in patients

receiving treatment with Fosamax. In some cases these have been severe and

required hospitalization. The risk of severe esophageal adverse experiences

appears to be greater in patients who fail to follow dosing instructions.

It sounds that Fosomax offers no hope of being usable for Hepatitus

patients. Ask your doctor, but make him aware of the above paragraph from Merck

first.

Schneider

Wife with AIH and bleeding varices resulting therefrom

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

My Scripps Hepatologist is the doctor who told me that I should take

Fosomax and I specifically asked him if it would be okay to take,

considering my liver disease. He was a little huffy that I even asked,

since he made it clear he wouldn't have put me on it if he thought it would

cause me harm. I think that it might be contraindicated depending on other

factors, like bleeding varices, but I haven't had that problem. Hopefully

any doctor who prescribes a drug will consider all factors before the drug

is prescribed (though that doesn't always happen.) I know that I do NOT

want to have severe osteoporosis and if Fosomax can pssibly prevent or

delay it, I'll take my chances. I'm not sure life would be worth living if

I had to spend it in bed for fear of my bones shattering everytime I

bumped into something.

Take care,

Geri

_

[Guest guest]

Geri:

My doctor in town will look up the drug anytime he has to treat me for

something. He is really good about it. I know I can trust him.

Sue AIH

Wisconsin