Fosamax® (alendronate) is a widely used drug that is often prescribed to strengthen bones in people who have experienced bone loss through osteoporosis. Older people, including post-menopausal women, as well as people who have Paget's disease (a chronic disease in which bones grow abnormally) often take the drug under a physician's supervision. Tens of millions of prescriptions for these drugs have been written in the United States in the past decade alone.
The drug however has a troubling side effect: A condition called osteonecrosis can result, in which bones die and are unable to grow back. Frequently, this "bone death" occurs in the jaw, where bone can be painfully exposed inside the sufferer's mouth. Symptoms can include the swelling of soft tissues in the mouth, loosening of teeth, infections and abscesses.
Bisphosphonate Bone Death | Fosamax® and Broken Bones
Fosamax® is the most commonly prescribed member of a class of drugs called bisphosphonates, which are used to treat osteoporosis and bone pain caused by certain cancers. While it is an oral medication, other bisphosphonates can be taken either by mouth or intravenously.
Although the drugs are touted for their ability to stave off bone loss, and even build bone mass, published studies have questioned whether they disrupt the body's natural calcium replacement mechanisms, and unusual fractures have been reported by patients who take these drugs.
The drugs are also believed to impede blood flow to bones and can lead to osteonecrosis. Product labels for bisphosphonates, including Fosamax®, Aredia® (pamidronate disodium) and Zometa® (zoledronic acid) now include warnings about potential osteonecrosis of the jaw.
Fosamax® Injury Attorneys Serving Grand Island, Lincoln and Throughout Nebraska | Free Consultation
Friedman Law Offices , in Lincoln, Nebraska, represents clients throughout Nebraska who have experienced osteonecrosis as a result of taking Fosamax® or other similar drugs. Our familiarity with the Nebraska courts, and dangerous drug litigation in general, enables us to secure compensation for Fosamax® injury victims for their medical bills, surgeries, disabilities, pain and suffering, and economic losses that result from an osteonecrotic condition.
To discuss your concerns about Fosamax® and other bisphosphonates with an experienced Lincoln Fosamax® side effect attorney, please contact us online or by calling 866-458-5468 or toll free 888-419-6876.
