United Kingdom experience with alendronate and oesophageal reactions

Alendronate is indicated for the treatment of osteoporosis in post-menopausal women. Although the drug has been associated with reports of severe oesophagitis, there have been no studies establishing the incidence of such reactions. Information was collected on 1523 patients included in a study conducted by means of prescription-event monitoring. Dyspepsia, nausea/vomiting, and abdominal pain were the most frequently reported events in the first month of treatment. After follow-up, 20 patients (1.3%) experienced oesophageal events that were considered to be possibly related to alendronate.