Report: Bone-building drugs might actually weaken them

-McKnights.com

07/17/2008-Researchers are questioning the effectiveness of bone-building drugs used to fight osteoporosis, saying they might weaken bones in a subset of patients.

Long-term users of drugs called bisphosphonates have showed atypical fracture patterns in the upper femur, according to case reports, investigators said. The breaks occur straight across the thighbone and often happen while the person is simply standing or walking. They are sometimes preceded by long periods of unexplained aches, according to study subjects.

Doctors emphasized the rare nature of the fracture pattern but also said they expected more published reports on them to surface after these findings. Dr. Dean G. Lorich, associate director of orthopedic trauma surgery at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell and the Hospital for Special Surgery, led the study, which was featured in the June issue of The Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma.

Lorich recommended physicians track the bone health of long-term users of bone-building drugs and said that some patients might do well to take a break from them.

Merck, the maker of bisphosphonates Fosamax, reportedly has said it would examine whether the odd occurrence of fractures is actually more common in bone-drug users.

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. If you or a loved one have experienced low energy femur fracture due to the use of Foasamax, call the Foasamax attorneys of Ennis & Ennis, P.A. today or fill out our free case evaluation form on this page.