Fosamax

UPDATE:

In March 2010, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that it would be investigating a possible link between the drug Fosamax (alendronate), and a particular type of leg fracture. The announcement came after recent news reports, including an ABC News report investigation, noted that certain osteoporosis drugs, known as bisphosphonates, may place patients at an increased risk of developing femur fractures. Popular bisphosphonate medications include Fosamax, Actonel, Boniva, and Reclast. The FDA announced that it would continue to work closely with outside experts to gather information concerning the link between the osteoporosis drugs and a risk of atypical subtrochanteric femur fractures- fractures in the bone just below the hip joint.

Fosamax is a drug used for the treatment and prevention of osteoporosis. It is manufactured by Merck and was approved by the FDA in 1995. Fosamax is in a class of drugs known as bisphosphonates, which are used to increase bone mass and reduce bone fractures. Oral bisphosphonates commonly are prescribed to prevent or treat osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. Bisphosphonates may be prescribed in tablet form such as Fosamax, or as intravenous bisphosphonates such as Zometa and Aredia. Intravenous bisphonates typically are used to manage advanced cancers that have metastasized to the bone, causing bone pain and possibly fractures.

Bisphosphonates, like Fosamax, have also been linked to a serious bone disease called osteonecrosis, also called “bone death.” This link was discovered by doctors at Long Island Jewish Medical Center (LIJ) in New York, in December of 2004 and published in the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons.

In the study, a review of patient records revealed that all 63 patients diagnosed with osteonecrosis over a three-year period had received long-term bisphosphonate therapy. Most of these (57) were cancer patients who had received the intravenous bisphosphonates Zomenta and Aredia. About 10% were osteoporosis patients who had taken an oral bisphosphonate, mainly Fosamax. Doctors reported that each patient had developed osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) after normal bone trauma, such as a tooth extraction. The bone tissue refuses to heal and begins to die. This condition may result in serious infection and fractures. Most patients require surgery to remove the diseased bone. The American Association of Endodontists released a position statement on the problem; “until further information is available, it would appear prudent to consider ALL patients taking bisphosphonates to be at some risk.”

The discovery of the connection between osteonecrosis and Fosamax prompted the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, in March 2005, to conclude that the labels of all bisphosphonates should include information about osteonecrosis.

PLEASE SPEAK WITH YOUR DOCTOR BEFORE DISCONTINUING THE USE OF FOSAMAX OR ANY OTHER PERSCRIPTION MEDICATION.

If you believe that you or a loved one has suffered as a result of taking Fosamax, you may want to speak with an attorney. A lawyer familiar with new developments in the investigation of Foxamax may be able to help you make important personal and legal decisions.

Please contact our law office at at 1-800-992-6878 or fill out a contact form for a free legal consultation.