What is Fosamax?
Fosamax is a bisphosphonate drug manufactured by Merck. Fosamax was approved for the treatment of osteoporosis in post-menopausal women. Fosamax was offered as a medication that would increase bone mass in both men and women with osteoporosis. Fosamax has also been promoted for healthy people as a means to prevent osteoporosis from advancing or developing. As the drug’s popularity has risen, its side effects have become much more apparent.
The use of Fosamax and other drugs in the bisphosphonate family (Actonel – Procter & Gamble, Aredia – Novartis, Boniva – Roche, Didronel – Procter & Gamble, Reclast – Novartis, Skelid – Sanofi-Aventis, Zometa – Novartis) have shown a reduction in fractures for the first three years in women who had osteoporosis. However, studies have revealed that the prolonged use of bisphosphonates, including Fosamax, for more than three years may actually have the opposite effect and make the bones more brittle. Studies seem to show that use of Fosamax for greater than four years is counterproductive in terms of stopping factures. A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) in 2011 found that use of bisphosphonate therapy for greater than five years increased the risk of transverse femur fractures by 2.74 times. That is an 175 percent increase. A New England Journal 2008 study also found an increased risk of fracture with longer term use of bisphosphonates. Therefore, the scientific literature questions whether the risks of taking bisphosphonates after four to five years outweigh the benefits. If you have taken bisphosphonates such as Fosamax for an extended period of time, please consult with your treating physician.
Oftentimes, Fosamax injuries manifest as pain in the thigh. They are often diagnosed as a stress fracture by x-ray. If you have been using bisphosphonates for a number of years and have thigh pain, you should go to your doctor and request an x-ray. If you have a stress fracture in your thigh, you should be referred to an orthopedist and may need a metal rod implanted. Frequently, persons with Fosamax-related transverse femur fractures require operations on the second thigh.
If you or a loved one has been using Fosamax or other bisphosphonate drug for more than four years and have been diagnosed with a stress fracture or with a transverse femur fracture or a typical femur fracture, contact the defective drug attorneys at the Yost Legal Group. We are experienced attorneys in representing people harmed by dangerous drugs. We will help you to hold the drug manufacturers liable for the damage they have caused. Contact us today for a free initial consultation.
This entry was posted on Friday, January 6th, 2012 at 9:10 pm and is filed under Fosamax. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.
