Fosamax Risks: How Dangerous, Unusual Can They Get

Fosamax is a popular bone drug mainly used to treat and prevent the effects of osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is a medical condition which is more prevalent in women, especially those who are in menopausal period. It works by robbing the bone with its mineral density, making it susceptible to fractures. However, there has been mounting evidence that this drug and other in its class may cause serious side effects, such as atypical femur fractures, esophageal cancer and osteonecrosis of the jaw, a painful and disfiguring crumbling of the jaw bone, if used longer than five years. Those taking bone-strengthening drugs need to understand the possible dangers of long-term use. There have been a number of complaints filed by women injured by Fosamax. In fact, New Jersey will be hosting the multicounty litigation for Fosamax lawsuits.

This pharmaceutical formula comes from an industrial cleaning solvent. Thesse chemicals poison and kill the group of bone-building cells known as the osteoclasts, which break down bad bone, making room for the new, stronger bone the osteoblasts put in its place. This causes bad bone to accumulate beneath the new good bone, causing an increase in bone density at the expense of bone quality. Three to five years into taking these drugs, though, bone density may increase, and bone fracture rate may increase as well.

In 2008, a report was issued on studies over the long-term use of Fosamax and unusual fractures of the femur – the long bone of the thigh. Ten out of the 15 women studied had atypical fractures of the femur – the long bone in the thigh – from doing nothing more than “low energy activities” such as walking up stairs and had been taking Fosamax for an average of 7.3 years. The theories on how Fosamax is related to these fractures include the slowing of the development of new collagen, the main protein in connective tissue, or a slower bone turnover when on the medication resulting in accumulated microdamage.

It is always essential to take care of our bones. Eating a healthy diet rich in calcium, magnesium and vitamin C and performing weight-bearing exercises contributes good benefits to our bone health. If you want to know more, visit the Fosamax Injury Lawsuit Center for related information.

References:

osteoporosis.emedtv.com/fosamax/fosamax-warnings-and-precautions.html

livestrong.com/article/268117-problems-with-fosamax/

mayoclinic.com/health/fosamax/AN01379

abcnews.go.com/Health/fosamax-fracture-cases-women-weigh-risk-bone-loss/story?id=10057108&page=2