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Fosamax was intended to strengthen bones, but research has linked this bisphosphonate osteoporosis medication with bones that are more easily fractured and other problems with Fosamax. This Fosamax side effect is very serious, as broken femur bones can be life threatening, especially for the elderly. Possible side effects from Fosamax also include atrial fibrillation, esophageal cancer, and osteonecrosis of the jaw. Fosamax has been one of the most frequently prescribed drugs to treat, with over $23 billion in revenue for Merck in the last 10 years alone, and often involved long term use of Fosamax.
In 2008, an article in the Journal of Orthopedic Trauma linked problems with 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. If you or a loved one has suffered from Fosamax side effects like a femur fracture, call a Fosamax side effect attorney toll free at 1-877-696-3303, or use our secure online contact form. Long term use of bisphosphonates like Fosamax appears to be linked to these injuries.
In 2004, Fosamax was linked to osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ), which is also known as “dead jaw.” ONJ is a painful condition that occurs when blood is prevented from reaching the jawbone, resulting in the jaw bone dying and surgical removal. This Alendronate side effect has resulted in Fosamax side effect lawsuits from former Fosamax users who have sued Merck Pharmaceuticals. The lawsuits claim that Fosamax is a defective product and that Merck failed to warn Fosamax users of these serious side effects of Fosamax.
What Fosamax Side Effects Were Listed on the Packaging?
Until 2009, Merck Pharmaceuticals did not warn Fosamax users of problems with Fosamax like femur fractures, despite the FDA inquiring about reports of low-impact femur and hip fractures after long term use of bisphosphonates.
Contact a Fosamax / Bisphosphonate Side Effects Attorney Now for a fee, confidential case review: 1-877-696-3303 or click for our contact form.
Below are some documents Merck has published on Fosamax:
- 2011 Fosamax Circular from Merck (pdf)
- 2011 Fosamax Medication Guide from Merck (pdf)
- 2010 Fosamax Once-Weekly Patient Information from Merck (pdf)
- 2010 Fosamax Patient Information from Merck (pdf)
- 2011 Fosamax Plus D Circular from Merck (pdf)
- 2010 Fosamax Plus D Patient Guide from Merck (pdf)
Fosamax Side Effect Warnings Change on Fosamax Package Insert
As of the current (January, 2011) package warnings, Merck Pharmaceuticals (which manufactures Fosamax) includes the following warning regarding Fosamax low-impact femur fracture side effects of Fosamax:
Atypical, low-energy, or low trauma fractures of the femoral shaft have been reported in bisphosphonate-treated patients. These fractures can occur anywhere in the femoral shaft from just below the lesser trochanter to above the supracondylar flare and are transverse or short oblique in orientation without evidence of comminution. Causality has not been established as these fractures also occur in osteoporotic patients who have not been treated with bisphosphonates.
Atypical femur fractures most commonly occur with minimal or no trauma to the affected area. They may be bilateral and many patients report prodromal pain in the affected area, usually presenting as dull, aching thigh pain, weeks to months before a complete fracture occurs. A number of reports note that patients were also receiving treatment with glucocorticoids (e.g. prednisone) at the time of fracture.
Any patient with a history of bisphosphonate exposure who presents with thigh or groin pain should be suspected of having an atypical fracture and should be evaluated to rule out an incomplete femur fracture. Patients presenting with an atypical fracture should also be assessed for symptoms and signs of fracture in the contralateral limb. Interruption of bisphosphonate therapy should be considered, pending a risk/benefit assessment, on an individual basis.
Fosamax Long Term Side Effects Versus Short Term Fosamax Side Effects
Studies seem to suggest that Fosamax long term use creates a greater risk of bisphosphonate side effects like femur fractures, with some studies focusing on use of three years or longer. Because Fosamax long term use was not considered a risk by prescribing physicians, many Fosamax users took the drug for many years.
If you believe you have suffered from a side effect of Fosamax, after you have stabilized your condition, you should contact a Fosamax side effect attorney toll free at 1-877-696-3303, or use our secure online contact form.
What are Bisphosphonate Side Effects?
Fosamax is a type of bisphosphonate, and it appears that bisphosphonate side effects may be the same as Fosamax side effects, particularly with long term use. In IV (injected) bisphosphonate medications may cause a temporary reaction similar to the flu (chills, sweats, aches and pains). Also, IV-injected bisphosphonate long term use side effects may not require as much time as oral bisphosphonates, but may also not have as much risk of bisphosphonate side effects of the jaw.
Are Alendronate Side Effects the Same as Fosamax Side Effects?
Alendronate is the chemical name of Fosamax. Because it is the same chemical, alendronate side effects are the same as the side effects of Fosamax. Possible problems with Fosamax include broken thighbones (femur fractures or femoral fractures), atrial fibrillation, and esophageal cancer.
Contact a Fosamax / Bisphosphonate Side Effects Attorney Now for a fee, confidential case review: 1-877-696-3303 or click for our contact form.
What is the most common type of long-term Fosamax side effect on my bones?
Femur Fracture is the most common bone injury associated to long period of Fosamax use. A study published in February, 2011, titled “Bisphosphonate Use and the Risk of Subtrochanteric or Femoral Shaft Fractures in Older Women,” in The Journal American Medical Association (JAMA) concluded that long-term Bisphosphonate use may increase the risk of femur fractures. Specifically, the report found that “treatment with a bisphosphonate for more than 5 years was associated with an increased risk of subtrochanteric or femoral shaft fractures.”
What are Side Effects of Osteoporosis Drugs In General?
Osteoporosis drugs include more than just bisphosphonates. Raloxifene (Evista) includes an increased risk of blood clots, according to Felicia Cosman, MD, medical director of the Clinical Research Center at Helen Hayes Hospital in Nyack, NY and clinical director for the National Osteoporosis Foundation. Other potential side effects of the osteoporosis drug Ralozifene include Hot flashes, leg cramps, fluid retention, and mild flu-like syndrome.
Other osteoporosis treatments include hormone replacement therapy and teriparatide (Forteo). All drugs have risks, and you should consult with your doctor if you are worried about side effects of osteoporosis drugs.
Note: Consult Your Physician About Fosamax Side Effects
Some side effects for Fosamax, Fosamax long term side effects, and Fosamax long term effects may not be reported at the time of this writing. Always consult your doctor or healthcare specialist for medical advice. You may also report side effects to the FDA at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/ or 1-800-FDA-1088 (1-800-332-1088). Problems with Fosamax should not be ignored.
Fosamax is also sometimes misspelled as Fosomax.