Fosamax
Fosamax Health Alert:
Fosamax and related drugs may cause jaw bone death, femur fractures
Fosamax and related prescription drugs are used to treat bone diseases such as osteoporosis. However, the drug has been linked in some patients to “osteonecrosis,” a disease that causes jaw bone death. More recently, the drug has also been linked to spontaneous femur breaks, where the bone of the thigh suddenly breaks for no apparent reason.
What is Fosamax?
Fosamax, manufactured by pharmaceutical giant Merck, is a bisphosphonate drug used to treat bone diseases like osteoporosis. Sometimes it is even prescribed long-term for osteopenia, a precursor to osteoporosis. It is sold as Fosamax and Fosamax Plus D, which is a version of the drug combined with vitamin D. The generic version of the drug, known as alendronate, has been on the market since 2008.
Prescription Fosamax and alendronate are sold in tablet and liquid form, with either daily or weekly dosages. Some bisphosphonates are also given intravenously to cancer patients to treat some forms of cancer that have spread to the bone.
Fosamax has been linked to serious injuries such as osteonecrosis and spontaneous femur breaks. Learn more about the injuries connected to Fosamax use.
In recent months, two federal court juries have found that Merck, the maker of Fosamax, defectively designed the drug, resulting in awards of compensation to two patients who suffered osteonecrosis of the jaw after taking the drug for a lengthy period of time. Hundreds of lawsuits against Merck brought by patients suffering harm from the drug are still pending.
If you or a loved one has suffered jaw bone death or a sudden, unexplained break of the thigh bone (femur) after taking Fosamax or a related drug for three years or more, contact Baron & Budd for a free case evaluation. We are working with co-counsel to protect the rights of patients injured by this drug.
