Osteoporosis Drugs Linked to Colon, Esophageal and Stomach Cancers

A new research study from the University of Oxford's Cancer Epidemiology Unit found people who took oral bisphosphonates for osteoporosis over a five-year period were twice as likely to be diagnosed with colon, stomach or esophageal cancer.  Those who took 10 or more prescriptions of the drugs were also twice as likely to get these cancers.  Bisphosphate drugs have already been linked with other health problems including serious atrial fibrillation and leg fractures.

Oral bisphosphonates are indicated for treatment of osteoporosis and other bone diseases and are most commonly recommended to treat these conditions.

Bisphosphonates include Alendronate (Fosamax, Fosamax Plus D), Etidronate (Didronel), Ibandronate (Boniva), Pamidronate (Aredia), Risedronate (Actonel, Actonel W/Calcium), Tiludronate (Skelid), and Zoledronic acid (Reclast, Zometa).