Bone loss drug Fosamax faces litigation for dangerous side effects
Fosamax is a prescription medication manufactured by Merck & Co. Inc. The drug and its generic counterpart Alendronate are used to treat osteoporosis, a condition in which the body experiences a reduction in bone mass due to depletion of calcium and bone protein. This condition often occurs in older people, especially menopausal women.
Fosamax belongs to a group of drugs known as biphosphonates, which are designed to slow down the process of bone loss by limiting the activity of cells called osteoclasts, which break down bone. First approved by the FDA in 1995, the drug is increasingly coming under fire for serious side effects from prolonged use, including significantly increased risk of fractures to the femur due to thinning of the bone structure. Some patients have experienced severe compound fractures of the femur while doing routine tasks such as walking down the stairs or jumping rope. Fosamax use has also been linked to osteonecrosis of the jaw, a condition in which the bones of the jaw painfully decay and die. This dreaded result can cause the bones of the jaw to become exposed inside the mouth, leading to infection of the jaw bone.
Merck's original package warnings gave no indication of side effects related to weakening or thinning of bone mass or osteonecrosis. After the FDA inquired into the issue in 2008, Merck updated its packaging to include language that specifies a risk of "femoral shaft fractures". The most severe injuries have been associated with long-term use of Fosamax for five or more years.
Wilson Kehoe and Winingham has decades of product liability experience involving pharmaceutical litigation. If you or a loved one have been taking Fosamax and have experienced any significant side effects or injuries you feel were related to the use of Fosamax, we would like to hear from you. Please call us as 1-800-525-8028 for a free consultation or contact us via our website.
Fosamax belongs to a group of drugs known as biphosphonates, which are designed to slow down the process of bone loss by limiting the activity of cells called osteoclasts, which break down bone. First approved by the FDA in 1995, the drug is increasingly coming under fire for serious side effects from prolonged use, including significantly increased risk of fractures to the femur due to thinning of the bone structure. Some patients have experienced severe compound fractures of the femur while doing routine tasks such as walking down the stairs or jumping rope. Fosamax use has also been linked to osteonecrosis of the jaw, a condition in which the bones of the jaw painfully decay and die. This dreaded result can cause the bones of the jaw to become exposed inside the mouth, leading to infection of the jaw bone.
Merck's original package warnings gave no indication of side effects related to weakening or thinning of bone mass or osteonecrosis. After the FDA inquired into the issue in 2008, Merck updated its packaging to include language that specifies a risk of "femoral shaft fractures". The most severe injuries have been associated with long-term use of Fosamax for five or more years.
Wilson Kehoe and Winingham has decades of product liability experience involving pharmaceutical litigation. If you or a loved one have been taking Fosamax and have experienced any significant side effects or injuries you feel were related to the use of Fosamax, we would like to hear from you. Please call us as 1-800-525-8028 for a free consultation or contact us via our website.