03/29/2008-On March 20, 2008, The New England Journal of Medicine published a physician group report of 15 women taking Fosamax who experienced "atypical low-energy fractures," which means their bones broke doing almost nothing – a serious kind of injury typically seen in very elderly individuals in declining health. The fact that the NEJM is reporting this is a major wake up call to anyone who hasn't figured out that Fosamax is dangerous to your health. More::

03/10/2008 - Merck & Co.'s chief executive officer, Richard T. Clark, received compensation valued at $14.5 million in 2007, an 80 percent raise in a year when the drugmaker took a $4.85 billion charge to settle much of the litigation over its former painkiller Vioxx. More ::

02/21/2008 - The FDA recently issued a statement that bisphosphonate drugs used to treat osteoporosis may cause "severe and sometimes incapacitating bone, joint, and/or muscle pain". More ::

02/20/2008 - Bisphosphonates are a class of medicinal substances approved for various indications related to their inhibitory effect on bone resorption in certain malignant and benign diseases, including osteoporosis. More ::

02/18/2008 - A U.S. study of more than 7,000 patients found the use of bisphosphonates to treat osteoporosis has little effect on osteonecrosis of the jaw, or ONJ. More ::

More News ::

What is Fosamax?
Fosamax (Alendronate Sodium) is a type of drug known as bisphosphonates. Recently a link has been found between bisphosphonates and a serious bone disease called osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ aka. Dead Jaw). This important discovery clearly shows that Fosamax side effects may include osteonecrosis of the jaw, aka, dead jaw or jaw death as well as osteomyelitis of the jaw.

The discovery, published in the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, prompted both the US, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Novartis, the manufacturer of bisphosphonates used in cancer chemotherapy, to issue a warning to health care professionals on September 24, 2004. The warning letter contained information about bisphosphonates and the risks of osteonecrosis in the jaw.

Bisphosphonates such as Fosamax (Alendronate Sodium), Zometa (Zoledronate), Didronel (Etidronate), Aredia (Pamidronate), Actonel (Risedronate), and Boniva (Ibandronate) are commonly used to treat, prevent, and even reverse bone loss associated with osteoporosis, chemotherapy, and other bone loss disorders. The Strongest forms of bisphosphonates are commonly used in the management of advanced cancers that have metastasized to the bone, where the disease often causes bone pain and possibly even fractures. Several cancers can involve or metastasize to the bone, including lung cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, multiple myeloma, and others. When bisphosphonates are given in cancer chemotherapy, the drugs are given intravenously, and usually for longer periods of time.

If you or a loved one have taken Fosamax and have been injured as a result of Fosamax side effects such as osteonecrosis of the jaw contact the Fosamax lawyer of Ennis & Ennis, P.A. today. The Fosamax lawyers of Ennis & Ennis specialize in Fosamax lawsuits resulting from Fosamax side effects injuries. Ennis & Ennis, P.A. is a national mass tort litigation / drug litigation law firm with offices in Washington DC and throughout Florida. Call us today or fill out our free online case evaluation form.

Osteonecrosis of the Jaw
Osteonecrosis of the jaw ( ONJ ) aka. dead jaw, is a condition in which the bone tissue in the jaw fails to heal after minor trauma such as a tooth extraction, causing the bone to be exposed. The exposure can eventually lead to infection and fracture and may require long-term antibiotic therapy or surgery to remove the dying bone tissue. Experts say that prevention and early treatment of individuals using bisphosphonates such as Fosamax is extremely important in preserving the jaw bone. Individuals using Fosomax or other bisphosphonates should attempt to avoid tooth extractions and other major dental work while on the drugs.

Osteomyelitis of the Jaw
Osteomyelitis of the jaw is an imflamation of the marrow-filled central cavity along with the cellular inbetween the trabeculae bone, along with the muscles around it.

Although most cases of osteonecrosis of the jaw related to Fosamax side effects have occurred after dental work several cases have been reported to occur without any prior dental work. If you are currently taking Fosamax you may be at risk of developing osteonecrosis. If you have been injured by Fosamax side effects you may be entitled to compensation. For more information about your legal rights contact the Fosamax Attorneys of Ennis & Ennis, P.A. today.