Fosamax Overview

Fosamax is a bisphosphonate used for the treatment of decreased bone density in post- menopausal women and osteoporosis. Merck manufactures Fosamax. The use of this drug leads to “dead jaw” or osteonecrosis (ONJ) of the jaw. Poor blood supply to the bone causes osteonecrosis. Osteonecrosis can be defined as a slow death of the bone tissue. It is painful and loosening of teeth, mouth swelling and exposed bone are few symptoms of osteonecrosis. Following patients are at an increased risk of developing osteonecrosis:

• Patients undergone chemotherapy
• Having history of Paget’s disease, cancer or osteoporosis
• Taken Fosamax intravenously
• Taken steroids while using Fosamax
• Have a history of serious dental work

Fosamax Threat Alerts the Doctors

Defining Bisphosphonates

Bisphosphonates are the drugs that hinder the resorption of bone.  These drug acts against the loss of bane density found in the post- menopausal women, patients suffering from Paget’s disease and cancer.  A part of the drug is not barred and is absorbed by the body into bone tissue and thus strengthening bone. Merck markets Bisphosphonates. Bisphosphonates include Bondronat, Fosamax, Aredia, Actonel or Zometa.

Merck and other companies manufacturing Bisphosphonates called it as miracle drug that can cure the depredation of Osteoporosis (ONJ). However, Bisphosphonates including Fosamax caused the opposite side effects in the patients experiencing osteonecrosis of the jaw. Osteonecrosis of the jaw can be defined as the painful and slow bone death patients suffering from thus disease requires long antibiotic treatment or oral surgery. As per the recent statement given by the American Association of Endodontists, patients taking Bisphosphonates are at a higher risk of developing dead jaw syndrome or ONJ. According to the doctors, it is difficult to determine bone death at an early stage because many times symptoms of bone death and osteoporosis are similar.

However, Fosamax was approved for treating the women patients who do not suffer from osteoporosis but from ostopenia. Fosamax reduces the risk of hip fracture in the women suffering from osteoporosis in half, however, its benefits are extraneous for the ostopenia sufferers who are not at an increased risk of hip fracture.

To overcome the side effects linked with the use of Fosamax, there is one non-bisphosphonate drug available in the market. Miacalcin is a nasal spray with the effects similar to that of Fosamax. Patients consuming Fosamax should immediately consult a doctor to substitute the drug.

Merck’s Fosamax Lawsuits

It is not only the thousands of Vioxx lawsuits that are creating trouble for the Merck and Company but also a new class of lawsuits against Fosamax , a drug used for the treatment of Osteoporosis have been associated with osteonecrosis of the jaw or ONJ, brought bad taste for the company. These drugs are one of the most popular drugs prescribed to postmenopausal women suffering from decreased bone density.

The recent lawsuit accuses Merck for withholding the information about some serious side effects caused by Fosamax from the public and the doctors.  They further alleged that although in 2004, Food and Drug Administration recommended Merck to increase the safety warning on the Fosamax label but it failed to do so. Merck claimed that by mid 2005, information regarding osteonecrosis and bone death was added on the warning labels of Fosamax D and Fosamax. However, attorney Tim O’Brien alleges that warning label is insufficient and all the 10,000 patients who have filed a lawsuit against the adverse side effects of using Fosamax should be compensated.

The class action of Fosamax lawsuit is a big trouble for Merck as it is already facing thousands of lawsuits against its best selling and popular drug, Vioxx. Fosamax is the second best popular and selling drug manufactured by Merck. It became popular when in 2002, a study established that estrogen was a dangerous solution for the signs and symptoms of osteoporosis and bone loss in women. According to a study conducted by the Long Island Jewish Medical Center, there is a relation between the bisphosphonates such as Fosamax and irreparable jawbone necrosis in a group of patients receiving chemotherapy through intravenous bisphosphonates. This study was published in the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons and forced FDA to increase the warning labels on all Fosamax tablets and liquids.

Merck has to prove that it was not required to legally add the information on all the warning labels of Fosamax. Merck claimed that a clinical trial was conducted on 17,000 and there was not even a single case of bone death.

If you believe that you are suffering from the side effects of Fosamax D and Fosamax , you may participate in the class action of Fosamax lawsuit.