Osteoporosis Drugs Increases Health Risks compensation

Recently, the New England Journal of Medicine released a study that linked the Fosamax to 23 cases of esophageal cancer, since its approval for market use in 1995. According to the other study published in the Journal of the American Dental Association, patients consuming Fosamax are at an increased risk of developing a condition in which the bones within the jaw dies. This condition is known as osteonecrosis of the jaw. About 20,000 Americans suffers from this condition every year.

Merck manufactures Fosamax. According to the recent studies, there is long list of side effects caused by the use of this drug. Alendronate, generic name of Fosamax was approved for the market use in 2001, is a prescription drug for the patients suffering from osteoporosis and for postmenopausal women suffering from bone density loss.

Development of Osteonecrosis

According to the National Osteonecrosis Foundation and the Center of Osteonecrosis Research and Education, condition can be defined as “death of bone which can occur from the loss of the blood supply or by some other means.” Individuals between the age group of 20 to 50 years of age are at an increased risk of developing this condition. Following are the causes for Osteonecrosis:

• Connective tissue disease
• Post – irradiation
• Lupus
• Blood clotting disorders
• Dislocation
• Chemotherapy
• Liver disease
• Lipid disturbances
• Smoking
• High doses of corticosteroids
• Pancreatitis
• Kidney disease
• Caisson disease
• Arterial disease
• Sickle cell disease
• Alcohol
• Connective tissue disease

If an individual believes that, he is suffering from this condition, than there are several ways to diagnose osteonecrosis including the following:

• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
• Computed tomography (CT)
• Biopsy
• X-ray
• Bone scan

Defining Esophageal cancer

According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), esophageal cancer can be defined as “a cancer that forms in tissues lining the esophagus, which is the muscular tube through which food passes from the throat to the stomach.”

In 2008, approximately 16,470 people suffered from a new esophageal cancer and about 14,280 died from it.

Esophageal cancer can be treated in through chemotherapy, surgery, radiation, vaccine and immuno therapy. According to “when esophageal cancer is found very early, there is a better chance of recovery… and at later stages, esophageal cancer can be treated but rarely can be cured.”

Patients who are suffering from the side effects of Fosamax should consult a healthcare professional to get timely treatment. Thereafter, seek the advice of an experienced pharmaceutical attorney who will assist in filing a lawsuit against the company for the damages caused by Fosamax.

Osteoporosis Dangers & Treatment

According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF), osteoporosis is a disease in which the bones of the body become fragile and prone to fracturing and breaking. NOF further states that if left untreated, “osteoporosis can progress painlessly until a bone breaks.” Common bone that breaks in the patients suffering from osteoporosis includes hips, wrists or spine.

Osteoporosis commonly affects women to that of men. Approximately ten million American suffer fro osteoporosis every year. Of these ten million patients, 8 million are women. According to NOF, approximately 34 million more Americans are at a risk of developing osteoporosis due to low bone mass. This organization further states that by 2025, the cost of treating Osteoporosis will be around $ 25.3 billion.

Dangers of Osteoporosis

As the side effects of osteoporosis are invisible, it is hard to establish who is at the risk developing osteoporosis. According to the NOF, following are the risk factors for the individuals who can develop this disease:

• Small or thin bone frame
• Sex
• History of broken bones
• Smoking
• Alcohol abuse
• Family history
• Diet including low intake of vitamin D and calcium
• Age
• Ethnicity/race (Asians, Caucasians and Hispanics are at an increased risk)
• Use of medicine like anticonvulsant medicines or steroid
• Inactive lifestyle
• History of diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, gastrointestinal conditions or anorexia nervosa

Osteoporosis Treatment

Although there are several treatments available for the patients suffering from osteoporosis, scientists continually research about an effective treatment for osteoporosis. According to the Mayo Clinic, following are the common treatment for osteoporosis:

• Physical therapy treatment such as regular exercise and weight lifting .These exercise promotes a good health and gradual bone loss
• Bisphosphonates drugs, similar to estrogen prevents bone loss
• According to the Mayo Clinic, Teriparatide (forteo), is prescribed to then women at high risk
• estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) like Raloxifene
• treatments of a synthetic hormone Tamoxifen
• hormone treatments
• Calcitonin, a hormone released by thyroid decreases bone loss.

The National Library of Medicine (NLM) states that a lot of research is being conducted on the new drug therapies. Additionally the National Institute of Arthritis and Muscoskeletal and Skin Diseases and the American College of Physicians are doing a lot of research on new therapies to treat osteoporosis.

Patients who have developed osteoporosis by the consumption of prescribed drugs are advised to not only consult a doctor but also an experienced pharmaceutical lawyer. Families to reduce the heartburn, acid reflux diseases, ulcers and other stomach ailments, use PPIs. According to an article published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, PPIs work by binding a pump in the stomach to prevent the secretion of hydrochloric acid.