New Evidence Regarding Dangers of Fosamax May Force Merck to Settle Claims
Many leading dangerous drug lawyers speculate that increasing evidence of serious adverse side effects associated with Fosamax and other bisphosphonates may mean that Merck, which manufactures Fosamax, faces growing pressure to settle some of the 900 pending lawsuits involving approximately 2,000 plaintiffs. There is a growing body of evidence that Fosamax and other bisphosphonates, which are designed to increase bone density, may do exactly the opposite in some cases. The FDA has indicated a link between Fosamax and osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) which is a very serious medical condition in which the jawbone effectively dies and is not able to regenerate.
The crux of the Fosamax lawsuits is that Merck failed to warn both patients and doctors that the drug may inhibit blood flow to the jaw area, which in turn may cause jawbone-tissue necrosis, commonly referred to as osteonecrosis of the jaw, or ONJ. At Montlick and Associates, Attorneys at Law, we represent those who suffer serious injuries caused by the side effects of dangerous drugs.
The FDA also recently directed that a new warning be included on packaging addressing additional risks including femur fractures, and severe musculoskeletal pain. Fosamax is a widely prescribed drug for the treatment of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women as well as other bone diseases, such as, Paget's disease and for the prevention of fractures due to bone metastases in cancer patients.
This new warning follows prior concerns and warnings regarding links between Fosamax and ONJ. ONJ, which is also commonly referred to as dead jaw syndrome, is a painful and disfiguring bone disease. In patients with ONJ, the bone tissue in the jaw fails to heal after minor trauma, such as, a tooth extraction. The jawbone becomes exposed resulting in infection and fracture and may require long-term antibiotic therapy or surgery to remove the dying bone tissue. Common symptoms of ONJ may include jaw pain, swelling of the gums, loose teeth, drainage, exposed jawbone and numbness.
The FDA new guidelines for the warning labels for Fosamax were motivated by Fosamax possible association with atypical femur fractures. Studies suggest that Fosamax might be linked to a rare but serious type of thighbone fracture. The study examined 310 cases of atypical femur fractures and found 291 of the patents had taken bisphosphonates like Fosamax. The majority of the patients who suffered femur fractions had been taking the drugs for longer than 4 years. The FDA is reviewing bisphosphonates for possible links to atypical subtrochanteric femur fractures. Such fractures occur in the bone just below the hip joint and can be extremely painful. The FDA review was prompted by studies indicating bisphosphonates might have a negative impact on bone quality and increase the probability of atypical fractures of the femur when used for four or more years.
If you or someone you love previously took Fosamax and suffered any of the above injuries, you may have the right to legal compensation for your injuries. The Georgia Fosamax side effects attorneys at Montlick and Associates, Attorneys at Law, represent those who are seriously injured by dangerous drugs throughout Georgia. Our Georgia Fosamax attorneys are available to assist clients throughout all of Georgia, including but not limited to Albany, Athens, Atlanta, Augusta, Columbus, Dalton, Gainesville, Macon, Marietta, Rome, Roswell, Savannah, Smyrna, Valdosta, Warner Robins and all smaller cities and rural areas in the state. Call us today for your free consultation at 1-800-LAW-NEED (1-800-529-6333) or visit us on the web at www.montlick.com. No matter where you are in Georgia, we are just a phone call away, and we will even come to you.