Hypocalcemia Associated with Alendronate
Authors: Debra H. Schussheim
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1999)

Letters16 February 1999Hypocalcemia Associated with AlendronateDebra H. Schussheim, MD, Thomas P. Jacobs, MD, and Shonni J. Silverberg, MDDebra H. Schussheim, MDCollege of Physicians & Surgeons, Columbia University; New York, NY 10032 (Schussheim)College of Physicians & Surgeons, Columbia University; New York, NY 10032 (Jacobs)College of Physicians & Surgeons, Columbia University; New York, NY 10032 (Silverberg)Search for more papers by this author, Thomas P. Jacobs, MDCollege of Physicians & Surgeons, Columbia University; New York, NY 10032 (Schussheim)College of Physicians & Surgeons, Columbia University; New York, NY 10032 (Jacobs)College of Physicians & Surgeons, Columbia University; New York, NY 10032 (Silverberg)Search for more papers by this author, and Shonni J. Silverberg, MDCollege of Physicians & Surgeons, Columbia University; New York, NY 10032 (Schussheim)College of Physicians & Surgeons, Columbia University; New York, NY 10032 (Jacobs)College of Physicians & Surgeons, Columbia University; New York, NY 10032 (Silverberg)Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-130-4-199902160-00008 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail TO THE EDITOR:Alendronate, a potent aminobisphosphonate that inhibits osteoclast-mediated bone resorption, is widely used to prevent and treat osteoporosis. Adverse reactions are related to gastrointestinal discomfort and, rarely, ulcerative esophagitis (1). We describe a woman with unrecognized hypoparathyroidism who developed severe symptomatic hypocalcemia shortly after initiating alendronate therapy.A 70-year-old woman who had had a total thyroidectomy at 12 years of age was treated with alendronate, 5 mg/d, for osteopenia. Her only other medication was l-thyroxine, 0.1 mg daily. Two weeks after starting alendronate therapy, she experienced sporadic throat tightening, accompanied by hoarseness and feelings of breathlessness. Spontaneous hand ...References1. de Groen PC, Lubbe DF, Hirsch LJ, Diafotis A, Stephenson W, Freedholm D, et al . Esophagitis associated with the use of alendronate. N Engl J Med. 1996;335:1016-21. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar2. Attie JN, Moskowitz GW, Margouleff D, Levy LM. Feasibility of total thyroidectomy in the treatment of thyroid carcinoma. Am J Surg. 1979;138:555-60. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. Bellamy RJ, Kendall P. Unrecognized hypocalcemia diagnosed 36 years after thyroidectomy. J R Soc Med. 1995;88:690-1. MedlineGoogle Scholar4. Chesnut CH, Harris ST. Short term effect of alendronate on bone mass and bone remodeling in postmenopausal osteoporosis. Osteoporos Int. 1993;3 Suppl 3 S17-9. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: College of Physicians & Surgeons, Columbia University; New York, NY 10032 (Schussheim)College of Physicians & Surgeons, Columbia University; New York, NY 10032 (Jacobs)College of Physicians & Surgeons, Columbia University; New York, NY 10032 (Silverberg) PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics Cited byPredictive values of diagnostic codes for identifying serious hypocalcemia and dermatologic adverse events among women with postmenopausal osteoporosis in a commercial health plan databaseOsteoporosis treatment: a missed opportunityOther Safety ConcernsNormocalcaemic hypoparathyroidism: prevalence and effect on bone status in older women. 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