Aredia
Aredia is a bone-resorption inhibitor, which is used to treat and prevent osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. How the treatment works is not completely understood. Aredia is believed to directly block the breakdown of calcium phosphate in the bones but does not stop new formations and mineralizations, so it allows your bones to get stronger while protecting them from breakdown.
Bone resorption means that the bone is broken down and dispersed into the bloodstream. This is a common occurrence as the bones age. Because of this process, bones lose strength and density, and can break and fracture more easily.
Postmenopausal women are most susceptible to osteoporosis because of age and because they stop producing oestregen, which is a hormone that strengthens and builds bone. Aredia is prescribed to postmenopausal women who are at risk of osteoporosis.
Osteoporosis occurs because of a calcium deficiency, which can happen for a number of reasons. Calcium begins to decrease because of parathyroid gland complications, lack of sufficient calcium intake, or failure to process calcium correctly. Also, when female oestregen levels decrease, as they do during menopause, bones begin to breakdown more quickly. Bones need calcium in order to be healthy and remain dense.
Bone resorption comes in many forms, and Aredia can be used to treat:
- Hypercalcemia of Malignancy: an overabundance of calcium which can lead to comas
- Paget’s Disease: bones that break down are rebuilt in a softer, more breakable form
- Osteolytic Bone Metastases of Breast Cancer: bone loss due to breast cancer
However, Aredia can cause many harmful side effects, including:
- kidney damage and failure
- fluctuations of calcium, phosphate, magnesium and potassium levels
- reproductive failure
- serious injury or death to babies if mother’s take it while pregnant or nursing
- seizure
- hypertension
- urinary tract infection
- upper respiratory infection
- heart attack
- liver disease
Aredia should not be used for patients who are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, have kidney or liver problems, or allergies.
If you are injured because of Aredia, contact a personal injury attorney immediately.
Tags: aredia, menopause, osteoporosis, postmenopausal