Dr. Gillman warned readers that some popular bone density medications such as Boniva and Fosamax may actually do more harm than good. Boniva, he says, has caused musculoskeletal pain “including back pain, joint pain, intense muscle spasms and also headaches, numbness in the hands, chest pain & tightness, increased heart rate and persistent dizziness to name a few,” he writes. Fosamax has the same side effects, plus another very debilitating one, osteonecrosis of the jaw, or ONJ.

ONJ is a severe bone disease that causes a reduced blood supply to the bones of the jaw and results in damage or death to the jawbone. The condition can be painful and irreversible. In severe cases of ONJ, removal of the affected bone is required.

The jawbone is in close proximity to skin and to somewhat of a dirty environment in the mouth. Thus, when a person takes Fosamax, which slows or stops the normal turnover of bone, the jawbone becomes more susceptible to decay, Dr. Gillman says.

“In other words, drugs taken to prevent fractures due to osteoporosis actually set the patient up for breaking bones and poor repair,” he says. The best bet, he says – strengthen your bones the old-fashioned way through diet and weight-bearing exercise.

SOURCE: Osteonecrosis and Fosamax › Doctor warns against bone density-building drugs