Prescription Painkillers Increase Risk of Bone Fractures, Study Finds

According to a study published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine, older adults who take potent prescription painkillers known as opioids are at an increased risk of bone fractures.

The study examined more than 2,300 adults aged 60 or older who experienced chronic pain. The study found that those taking opioid medications experienced more bone fractures than those who did not use opioids, with higher doses further increasing the risk. 

Patients not taking opioids in the study experienced an annual rate of bone fractures of 4 percent, while those taking opioids had a fracture rate of 6 percent. The fracture rate increased further with the use of at least 50 mg of opioids daily, jumping to 10 percent. Researchers state that a 50 mg daily dose of opioids is in the moderate range for prescribed doses of the medication.

Dr. Michael Von Korff, a senior investigator with the Group Health Research Institute in Seattle, Washington, noted that 37 percent of the patients suffering bone fractures required hospitalization, while 25 percent entered a nursing home within a month of the fracture incident.

Opioids are powerful medications prescribed in the treatment of pain. Common opioids include oxycodone (OxyContin, Endocet), morphine (Embeda, DepoDur), and hydrocodone (Vicodin). Long term use of opioids increase the risk of addiction to the medications and increases the risk of side effects such as nausea, dry mouth, itching, vomiting, and constipation.

Dr. Von Korff estimates that 8 million Americans are using opioid medications to treat chronic pain, and he warns that “these drugs need to be taken cautiously and under close medical supervision.”

Additional information about drugs and drug side effects may be found on Drugwatch.com.