12/26/2011 - Today's topic is a bit on the "dire" side... Not that I like alarming anyone, but if I come across something that I deem important, I want to share it. So for this post, I would like to discuss Fosamax (aka alendronate) and dentistry, because there is a definitive risk factor involved. More>>>

12/20/2011 - Health Canada is alerting Canadians that a class of drugs used for osteoporosis is linked to a slightly higher risk of a rare but serious thigh bone fracture known as an atypical femur fracture. The advice is the result of Health Canada's review of bisphosphonate drugs, which has led to new warnings and precautions for patients and doctors and will lead to new labels for the drugs. More>>>

09/19/2011 - Labels on bisphosphonates, a type of medication used to treat and prevent osteoporosis, should further clarify how long patients can take them, an FDA advisory panel voted today. But the panel backed off giving any specific time limits. Bisphosphonates include Aclasta, Actonel, Altevia, Boniva, Fosamax, and Reclast. Four million to 5 million Americans fill prescriptions for the drugs every year, according to the FDA. More>>>

09/08/2011 - Two FDA advisory panels convene on Friday to review the long-term safety of biophosphonates such as Fosamax and its generics, Boniva and Actonel. The advisory panels will discuss whether women who take biophosphonate bone drugs should take a “drug holiday” due to increased concerns of the long-term use side effects and they will also review the medical evidence to date to determine whether biophosphonates have proven to be safe and effective in use longer than three to five years. More>>>

09/05/2011 - Two advisory panels of the Food and Drug Administration will consider on Friday whether to recommend requiring women who use popular bone drugs like Fosamax to take “drug holidays” because of rising concerns about rare side effects with long-term use, according to people involved in the review. More>>>

07/24/2011 - In the US, there are an estimated 14 million patients taking oral bisphosphonates for osteoporosis or off-label for osteopoenia.
Alendronate (mostly as Fosamax) has caused 96 per cent of the bisphosphonate- induced osteonecrosis of the jaws (BIONJ) known to Prof Robert E Marx, from the Miller School of Medicine in Miami, and this is primarily because of dosing. More>>>

07/19/2011 - On July 14, 2011 the FDA announced an FDA advisory committee will hold a meeting on September 9, 2011 at 8 AM to discuss the benefits and risks of long term bisphosphonate use for the treatment and prevention of osteoporosis. The drugs that will be reviewed will be Fosamax, Actonel, Boniva and Reclast. The law firm of Ennis & Ennis, P.A. notes this is a necessary step for informing the public of the potential dangers of bisphosphonates. More>>>

06/30/2011 - Lois Takamori, a 62-year-old retired Kailua school teacher, was talking with friends at a gym in 2009 when a slight step backward broke her thigh bone. Takamori filed a federal lawsuit Wednesday against drugmaker Merck & Co., claiming the thigh bone fracture was a result of taking the prescription drug Fosa max for eight years. More>>>

05/24/2011 - The Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation has granted Merck & Co. Inc.’s request to transfer 36 actions alleging femur fractures and other bone injuries to New Jersey federal court for coordinated pretrial proceedings. 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. Fosamax has also been linked to low energy femur fractures (thigh bone fractures).

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.

Fosamax Side Effects Information:

Fosamax Low Energy Femur Fractures / Thigh Bone Break.
Fosamax has also been linked to low energy femur fractures(thigh bone fractures).
A study in the May/June 2008 issue of the Journal of Orthopedic Trauma links Merck’s osteoporosis drug Fosamax to a rare type of fracture in the femur. The study looked at 70 patients who experienced low-energy femur fractures, which occur when someone falls from a standing height or less. Twenty-five patients (36%) were taking Fosamax for four years or more on average.

The Fosamax patients’ fractures also have some distinct characteristics. The study shows that 76% of the 25 patients had a simple fracture with a straight line across the bone. Also, a beak-like overhang on one side of the bone was observed. Furthermore, the patients’ bones didn’t look like typical osteoporotic bone; it appeared strong.

Fosamax 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.

Fosamax 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.

Read Fosamax Order and Ruling From U.S. District Court Case >>>

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 taken Fosamax and have been injured as a result of Fosamax side effects such as osteonecrosis of the jaw or low energy femur fracture, 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.