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Aredia

Aredia, which has the generic name pamidronate, is a potent Arediabisphosphonate that is administered through injection. Like other bisphosphonates, Aredia is used to treat osteoporosis. In addition, Aredia is used to treat Paget's disease, reduce high blood calcium levels associated with malignancy (cancer), and reduce bone breakdown due to metastases of breast cancer or multiple myeloma (a type of blood cancer).

Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp. manufactures Aredia, which has been available since 1991 when the FDA approved it. Aredia works by reducing normal and abnormal bone loss, which helps to maintain bone strength. This medication also helps to reduce blood calcium levels in situations where those levels are too high.

Although Aredia may help prevent and treat osteoporosis, it can also cause various side effects. These side effects range from mild to life-threatening. Generally, the severity of Aredia side effects depends on many factors, including each patient’s medical history and overall health.


Aredia Serious Side Effects
In January 2008, the FDA issued an alert informing the public that Aredia can cause severe and sometimes incapacitating bone, joint, and/or muscle pain as a side effect. The FDA stated that although the Aredia prescribing information already warns that severe muscle pain is a possible Aredia side effect, doctors can easily overlook Aredia as the cause of the side effect, delaying diagnosis. Overlooking Aredia as the cause of a patient’s severe pain is easy because this side effect can occur months or even years after discontinuing Aredia.

In addition, Aredia has been linked to dangerous side effects such as:

  • fast or irregular heartbeat
  • jaw pain or swelling
  • muscle cramps or spasms
  • persistent or high fever
  • seizures

Aredia Side Effects: ONJ
Another serious side effect associated with Aredia is painful and irreversible jaw bone decay, also called osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) or “Dead Jaw.� While ONJ is rare, the bulk of reported ONJ cases have been from cancer patients taking intravenous bisphosphonates like Aredia and Zometa. However, ONJ is a side effect of other bisphosphonates, such as Fosamax, Boniva, and Actonel.

Numerous class action lawsuits have been filed against Novartis, Aredia’s maker, by Aredia patients who developed ONJ or experienced other serious side effects. These patients claim, among other things, that Novartis did little to alert consumers about the serious side effects caused by Aredia. Similar lawsuits have been filed against the makers of other osteoporosis medications with similar side effects.

If you or a loved one have experienced a serious side effect due to taking Aredia, contact us to learn if you may be entitled to compensation.
 



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Aredia Quick Facts

Aredia Quick Reference Guide
Other Names: 

Pamidronate

Date Approved:
1991

Manufacturer:
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp.

Status:
Black Box Warning

Approved Uses:
Osteoporosis treatment and prevention
Osteopenia
Paget’s disease

Serious Side Effects:
Osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ)
Severe musculoskeletal pain
Atrial fibrillation
Heartburn
Chest pain
Difficulty or pain when swallowing
Pain or burning under the ribs or in the back

Common Misspellings:
Aridia
Aridea
Aredea

Related Topics:
ONJ
Osteoporosis