Taking Fosamax Can Cause Health Problems
Last month we mentioned a lawsuit that was filed against Merck & Co. concerning Fosamax, which is the company's second best-selling prescription drug. Fosamax, a prescription drug used to treat a variety of bone related conditions, is a type of drug known as bisphosphonates. Fosamax was approved by the FDA in 1995. Fosamax and bisphosphonates are most commonly prescribed to prevent and treat - osteoporosis in post-menopausal women. However, it is also approved to prevent and treat osteoporosis in both men and women, to treat Paget's disease of the bone, and to treat patients with cancer that has metastasized to the bone. It is estimated that doctors wrote 39 million prescriptions for Fosamax in American alone.
Recently, it has been discovered that there is a connection between Fosamax and a serious bone disease called osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ), which is also known as "dead jaw." As you may know, ONJ is a condition in which the bone tissue in the jaw fails to heal after any minor trauma, such as a tooth extraction, causing the bone to be exposed. This exposure can lead to infection or fracture and can require surgery to remove the dying bone tissue. Lawyers are currently investigating claims involving serious injuries caused by the use of Fosamax. If you, a member of your family, or someone you know has experienced any of the problems outlined above after using Fosamax, feel free to contact our firm for further information.
