In one study, published in The Journal of the American Medical Association in 1998, 4,272 women were randomized to alendronate or a placebo.

Rennert said in an e-mail that alendronate is used by millions of women across the globe and has few side effects.

Doctors said the problem may have been her 10-year use of alendronate, commonly known as the Merck osteoporosis drug Fosamax, following a hip fracture.