Pharmaceutical Injuries - Fosamax

Have You Sustained a Personal Injury from Fosamax?

Fosamax side effects cautioned by the FDA include a serious condition called osteoneocrosis of the jaw, also known as dead jaw. Fosamax (alendronate) is commonly used for the treatment of osteoporosis in post-menopausal women and advanced stage cancer patients whose condition has metastasized to the bone.

Findings regarding serious Fosamax side effects have prompted the American Association of Endodonists to issue a warning to dentists regarding patients taking the medication and the potential risk for osteoneocrosis.

The risks found with Fosamax and other bisphosphonates prompted the FDA to issue a formal warning to healthcare providers on September 24, 2004. A study was also published in the Journal of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons highlighting evidence establishing the relationship between Fosamax and osteonecrosis.

What is Fosamax?

Fosamax (alendronate sodium) is a prescription medicine used to prevent or treat osteoporosis in women after menopause, and to treat osteoporosis in men. Osteoporosis is a medical condition in which the bones become thin and weak and break easily. Osteoporosis may have natural causes or may be found in men and women who have taken corticosteroids.

Fosamax can also be used to treat Paget's disease, a medical condition in which the body replaces healthy bones with weak bones.

Fosamax works by preventing bone breakdown and increasing bone density (thickness) in order to make bone stronger and less likely to break.

Fosamax is a bisphosphonate drug made by Merck and Company, Inc., and was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1999.

Fosamax and Osteonecrosis of the Jaw

There have been recent reports linking Fosamax to a serious side effect called Osteonecrosis of the Jaw (ONJ) or 'jaw death.' ONJ is a medical condition in which the jawbone partially crumbles and dies. ONJ may cause severe pain, loose teeth, exposed bone, loss of function, and disfigurement.

Fosamax maker Merck and Company, Inc., has stated that ONJ is a rare side effect, and that in controlled clinical trials involving more than 17,000 patients, there were no reports of ONJ.

Most researchers and doctors interviewed in recent news reports appear to believe that the benefits of bisphosphonate drugs greatly outweigh the risks, and say that they will continue prescribing these medicines to their patients. In the past, it appears that most reported instances of ONJ have been with cancer patients taking bisphosphonate medications intravenously.

Fosamax - Getting Legal Help
While all medications have certain, anticipated side effects, a drug manufacturer has a duty to make its products as reasonably safe as possible, and to inform the medical community and the public of known risks associated with its drugs. If a manufacturer fails to do so, it can be held legally responsible if patients are injured as the result of inadequate warnings or the unreasonably dangerous nature of the drug, under a legal theory called "product liability."

If you or a loved one have experienced any dangerous symptoms or unusual medical conditions while taking Fosamax, you should first contact your doctor or other healthcare professional. You may also wish to meet with an experienced attorney to discuss your options and to protect your right to a legal remedy for any injuries caused by Fosamax use. NationWide Law Group would be honored to assist you.

Personal Injury Lawyers Are Waiting to Help You!

If you have suffered an unfavorable reaction to Fosamax, then you should speak with a Personal Injury attorney about taking legal action against those who are responsible.

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