Fosamax and Osteonecrosis of the Jaw

Fosamax is the brand name for a nitrogenous bisphosphonate drug called alendronate. Fosamax is typically used as a drug treatment for a number of bone diseases like osteoporosis and osteitis deformans (Paget's disease). Prescribed for the purpose of maintaining / improving the volume of calcium and minerals within bone, Fosamax gained Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval in 1995.

Fosamax is manufactured and marketed by Merck & Co., a multinational pharmaceutical company with revenues that exceeded $22 Billion in 2005. Fosamax is the second most popular drug manufactured by Merck & Co. raking in approximately $3 Billion in 2005.

Fosamax and Osteonecrosis of the Jaw

Use of Fosamax has recently been linked with the development of a serious bone disease called osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ). Also called dead jaw and bisphossy jaw, ONJ is a rare type of osteonecrosis that affects the maxillofacial region of the body.

ONJ is a degenerative bone disease that can cause excruciating pain and facial disfigurement if not diagnosed and treated in a timely manner. The use of Fosamax has demonstrated capable of yielding an inadequate supply of blood to jawbone tissue. Without the delivery of oxygen and nutrients carried within the blood, the bone tissue slowly dies, and the bone itself is left susceptible to collapse.

ONJ symptoms are said to be somewhat similar to those suffered by arthritics:

• Numbness / heaviness of the jaw; loss of sensation
• Localized pain of the jaw
• Loosening of the teeth
• Gum infections
• Soft tissue infections
• Exposure of bone within the oral cavity

Fosamax Lawsuits

There are a number of Fosamax lawsuits that have been filed against Merck & Co. for personal injuries caused by use of the bisphosphonate drug. ONJ is an irreversible bone disease that is excruciatingly painful and potentially disfiguring, significantly affecting a sufferer's way of life.

If you or a loved one has developed osteonecrosis of the jaw as a result of using Fosamax, you may be entitled to receive compensation for your pain and suffering. Contact a personal injury lawyer to get more information about Fosamax victims' rights.

Common Fosamax Side Effects

People who use Fosamax are at risk of developing a number of side effects. Some of the more common Fosamax side effects can include:

• Skin rash (on rare occasions can result in SJS or TEN)
• Nausea
• Eye problems
• Generalized pain of the muscles, joints and/or bones
• Abdominal cramping
• Ulceration of the esophagus
• Diarrhea
• Flatulence
• Ostipation (severe constipation)

Fosamax users suffering from any of the aforementioned side effects are advised to notify their doctor immediately to determine whether or not use of the bisphosphonate drug should be discontinued.

Fosamax and Osteoporosis

Fosamax is most often used as a drug treatment for people suffering from osteoporosis, a type of bone disease that causes a reduction in bone mineral density (BMD). A reduction in bone mineral density leaves osteoporosis sufferers susceptible to a variety of bone injuries including the possibility of fracture or dislocation. Osteoporosis most often affects elderly people over the age of 50 - Estimates suggest that one in three women over 50 suffer from osteoporosis, compared to one in five men.

Fosamax inhibits the activity of osteoclasts, cells that have been linked with causing a reduction in BMD. While inhibiting said activity of osteoclasts, Fosamax also fosters an increase in overall bone mass. The effects of using Fosamax should begin to take shape as little as three months after beginning treatment.

Areas of Legal Interest

Stevens Johnson Syndrome, Primary Pulmonary Hypertension, Zyprexa and Diabetes, Ortho Evra Blood Clots, Guidant Pacemaker Recall, Malignant Mesothelioma, Personal Injury, Benzene Exposure, Osteonecrosis of the Jaw, Other resource, Traumatic Brain Injury