Wonderful One

After a four year fight with Merck & Co. a Florida woman was awarded by a jury for $8 million with a claim that Fosamax damaged her jaw. The jury’s decision to award that amount of money represents a major stepping stones for those other 900 lawsuits pending against Merck by nearly 1,280 patient groups who claim Fosamax damaged their jawbone tissue. The Fosamax Lawsuit News of this verdict is very important.

Recently the American Bone & Mineral Research published a study which showed that 94% of osteoporosis patients who suffered a rare femur fracture had been taking bisphosponate drugs like Fosamax. Many of the cases reported that the fractures happened when the patient was doing simple tasks like walking up a flight of stairs. Reports of these femur fractures from people using Fosamax started as early as 2007.   During the same year a report published in The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery profiled 13 women with low-trauma leg fractures, 9 who were long-term users of Fosamax 

Class action lawsuits concerning Fosamax have already popped up inCanada, and the recent lawsuit win against Merck could open the door to major class action lawsuits in theUnited Statesas well. Patients claim Fosamax, a prescription medication used to treat and prevent osteoporosis by increasing bone density and strength, actually deteriorates some bones, causing a condition known as osteonecrosis of the jaw (or death of jawbone tissue) and contributing to femur fractures. Merck denies these allegations and claims Fosamax is a safe and effective medication.

In 2008, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) contacted Merck & Co. Inc., the maker of Fosamax, about reports of femur fractures associated with the drug. It wasn’t until October 2010, however that the FDA announced it would require makers of bisphosphonates to add the risk of femur fracture to the Warnings and Precautions section of the drug labeling and provide patients with a medication guide warning of the risks.

The most common prescribed use of Fosamax is for treatment for menopausal osteoporosis. Fosamax has been the topic of much scrutiny as of late and is said to be includable in a pharmaceutical category called bisnosphonates. The drugs in this particular category have been connected to thigh fractures. Fosamax has been known to cause other serious side effects as well.

URL References:

http://www.praycal.org/health-well-being/medicine/fosamax-lawsuit-to-a-possible-fosamax-settlement

http://www.24-7pressrelease.com/press-release-rss/will-damaging-evidence-force-merck-to-settle-fosamax-lawsuits-190709.php

The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has just recently approved two new dosage strengths of Fosamax, also known as alendronate sodium, the new dosages are once-weekly tablets 70 mg for the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis and 35 mg for the prevention of postmenopausal osteoporosis.   Having these new dosages should help those fighting Fosamax Femur Fractures.

Currently Fosamax is the first and only oral medication approved for the treatment and prevention of postmenopausal osteoporosis in a once-weekly dosing regimen. Thomas J. Schnitzer, M.D., Ph.D., professor and director, Office of Clinical Research and Training, Northwestern University says “For the millions of postmenopausal women who currently have osteoporosis or are at risk for the disease, the FDA’s decision to approve Fosamax in a once-weekly dose marks an important development in the treatment and prevention of osteoporosis.” Dr. Schnitzer goes on to say as well that “Patients and their health care professionals now have the opportunity to choose between once-daily and once-weekly Fosamax, and the once-weekly regimen may be more convenient for some patients.”

Fosamax continues to be available in once-daily dosages for the treatment (10 mg) and prevention (5 mg) of postmenopausal osteoporosis in addition to the new once-weekly dosages in the 70 mg and 35 mg strengths.

However for those suffering from Paget’s disease a higher dose of 40 mg once daily for six months is required. If necessary, your healthcare provider may recommend re-treatment with the drug after monitoring your progress for six months after stopping it. Also patients should be advised that they should also be taking the sufficient amount of vitamin D and calcium since Fosamax cannot help build bones without them.

Swallow the tablets whole with a full glass of water while sitting or standing upright. You must not lie down until you have waited at least 30 minutes after the dose and after you have eaten something. The tablets should not be chewed, broken, or sucked on. This is just a precaution to prevent Fosamax from irritating the esophagus.

Fosamax users have better help now to combat the bone loss they are experiencing with the newly FDA approved dosages of Fosamax. If there are any complications with the Fosamax treatment then a doctor should be contacted as soon as possible.

URL References:

http://osteoporosis.emedtv.com/fosamax/fosamax-dosage-p2.html

http://www.drugs.com/dosage/fosamax.html

Part of the bisphosphonate drug group, Fosamax is mainly used to treat osteoporosis and several other bone disorders. Originally Fosamax was manufactured and distributed by Merck. But in 2008 Merck lost its generic patent on the drug.  A lawsuit filed by two Illinois women is claiming that Merck largely exaggerated the medical benefits of Fosamax.

However, while many Fosamax prescription holders use the drug with no problems, there are still many who report of adverse side effects. Some of the commonly reported side effects of Fosamax include: abdominal pain, musculoskeletal pain, nausea, heart burn, irritation of the esophagus, difficult or painful swallowing, chest pain, headache, constipation and diarrhea. There are however, other common side effects that are unlisted, but the important matter is that if users begin to show any of these side effects that they immediately visit their doctor.

In recent studies which have been made by theUniversityofBritish Columbiaand the Vancouver Health Research Institute, results have shown that Fosamax and other bisphoponates have the ability to raise the risk of developing bone necrosis, otherwise known as bone death. While the study goes on to say that this condition is rare, (approximately one in every 20,000 people is diagnosed with it every year) and the biggest problem is that Fosamax users are three times more at risk to developing this illness.

The most common type of bone necrosis for Fosamax Patients is osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ). Professors of oral andmaxillofacial surgery at theUniversityofMiamipublished a research study in 2005 entitled “Bisphosphonate-Induced Exposed Bone (Osteonecrosis/Osteopetrosis) of the Jaws: Risk Factors, Recognition, Prevention and Treatment.” Elaborate research showed that ONJ is most common in patients who are recovering from cancer and are receiving Fosamax through intravenous injection. Furthermore, the study goes on to state that the best way to avoid ONJ is to reduce intake of bisphosphonate drugs and not to have any surgical procedures done on one’s jaw.

In many cases Fosamax patients do not present any adverse side effects of Fosamax use. More importantly, with the number of Fosamax lawsuits increasing, it is important to know these potential side effects. If you believe that any of the mention side effect of Fosamax use have begun to present themselves, consult with your health care professional as soon as possible.

URL references:

http://www.drugs.com/sfx/fosamax-side-effects.html

http://fosamaxsideeffects.com/