Fosamax Related To Femur Fractures

1. Fosamax Related To Femur Fractures

2. Fosamax is a bisphosphonate used to mainly treat postmenopausal women who are at risk of developing osteoporosis. Merck & Co., the manufacturing company of this drug, has managed to test Fosamax to some 8,000 people and claimed that the results were satisfactory. Fosamax was supposedly able to increase bone density level and reduce the risk of hip fractures. However, post trial there have been issues that arise regarding a high incident of femur fractures resulting from long term treatment of the drug. Merck & Co. was quick to deny of this allegations.

3. The same thing happened to those taking the generic brands of the drug. They also experienced the opposite effects of it. Instead of making bones stronger, it did the opposite, weak and likely to break. Compensatory claims have been the cry of the people affected by it, whose lives were deeply changed. Earlier reports said that the federal law does not warrant claims made by generic brand users but now, new order by the Senate will likely help those affected by it.

4. According to studies, Fosamax alters the bone structure in an unidentified way which can lead to atypical femur fractures. These femur fractures may happen even if there’s no known injury in the area affected beforehand. It has been stated that patients undergoing bisphosphonate therapy showed lesser tissue heterogeneity which can lead to a change in bone quality. This suggests that Fosamax and other bisphosphonates may be the cause of brittleness of the bone which may lead to bones breaking easily.

5. There are reports that said, less collagen were found in the matrix, meaning there is less movement and flexibility in the bone resulting to femur fractures. Also, there have been debates about how long patients should continue taking the drug. They worry that years of using the drug will make their bones weak which later on lead to developing osteonecrosis of the jaw, esophageal cancer, kidney damage, and again femur fractures. • The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has been reviewing these reports about Fosamax adverse side effects. They published an analysis that advised its users to take extra caution in using the drug for a long period of time but they lack specific recommendations. But an article by Dr. Rosen and others, printed in The New England Journal of Medicine, has a lot more specifics to share.

6. He said that women who will benefit more from Fosamax are those who, after almost five years of treatment remain to have a very low bone density level. Then again, whatever maybe the case, there have been several class action lawsuits filed against fosamax manufacture Merck. • URL References: • medicinenet.com/alendronate-oral/article.htm • well.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/05/09/new-cautions-about-long-term-use-of-bone-drugs/