Clinical Review
Alendronate Therapy and Renal Insufficiency: A Prescription for Problems?
Fed Pract. 2006 July;23(7):17
Author and Disclosure Information
Brandon S. Hayes, PharmD, Laurence A. Lavezo, PharmD, and Robert B. Parsons, MD
At the time of this study, Dr. Hayes was a pharmacy practice resident at the New Mexico VA Health Care System (NMVAHCS) in Albuquerque. He is currently a primary care clinical pharmacist at the VA Great Lakes Health Care System in Tomah, WI. Dr. Lavezo is a primary care clinical pharmacist and Dr. Parsons is an attending physician in the internal medicine service, both at the NMVAHCS.
Although little research has been published on the use of bisphosphonates in patients with severe renal insufficiency, the FDA advises against administering these drugs to such patients for theoretical reasons. Now, a retrospective pilot study challenges the long held notion that reduced renal clearance of alendronate increases adverse drug events.