UNITED-KINGDOM EXPERIENCE WITH ALENDRONATE AND ESOPHAGEAL REACTIONS

Alendronate is indicated for the treatment of osteoporosis in post-men opausal women. Although the drug has been associated with reports of s evere oesophagitis, there have been no studies establishing the incide nce of such reactions. Information was collected on 1523 patients incl uded in a study conducted by means of prescription-event monitoring. D yspepsia, 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.