AboutEric Brandt Expertise I am a practicing pharmacist.On my drug information website, I have answered hundreds of questions to date. The articles posted on my site include Parkinson`s disease. depression, menopause, diabetes, sleep and aging, congestive heart failure, calcium channel blockers, thyroid hormone replacement therapy, ADHD, multiple sclerosis an more.
Experience I have experience in retail as well as hospital pharmacy pracice. Currently working in a hospital pharmacy. I am experienced in drug information. Over the last 6 years I have developed a successful web site for drug information.
The addressfor my drug information website is http://www.druginformation.bc.caThere you can read articles on varios areas of health interest. You can also leave me questions which I will personally answer. I also have a free health information newsletter called The Caplet. To subscribe send e-mail to
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Question QUESTION: I read in a magazine that people who take Actonel might experience further heart problems if they have atrail fibrillation, there are two reports in medical mags I am on this drug I also suffer from AF and have a pacemaker.
Why would my doctor prescribe this drug ?
ANSWER: Hi Kathleen,
From what I have read, the concern was about a new once yearly treatment for osteoporosis called Zoledronic acid causing atrial fibrillation if taken with the once weekly treatment alendronate. I have not read that single therapy with alendronate (Fosamax) or risedrinate (Actonel) is associated with the same risk.
I have many women taking these medications and none have reported this side effect.
Thank you for using Allexperts
Sincerely,
Eric Brandt, B.Sc. Pharm
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: I should have been clearer in my question on Actonel. The article I read said that all bone medication increased Atrial Fibrillation in patients already suffering from this malady, this would include Actonel.
I just have the feeling that given past experience with other drugs on the market, not enough research is done to ensure that patients are safe from fatal side effects.
Answer Hi Kathleen,
No medication is free of side effects. It is always a balance between risk and drug benefit. In the case of Actonel, cardiac adverse effects were reported in less than 2% of people who took the medication. Far more people benefit from the medication than were harmed by it. The incidence of cardiac adverse effecs were greater in those who took the combination of Actonel and the new once yearly mediccation. As I said earler, I have yet to hear from a patient that they have run into this adverse effect while on Actonel or Fosamax as single therapy for osteoporosis. Ask your doctor as well if he has encountered this before.
Thank you for using Allexperts
Sincerely,
Eric Brandt, B.Sc. Pharm
