First approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in September 1995, Fosamax (generically alendronic acid) is an oral medication taken once per day (or once per week, depending on the nature and severity of a condition) in order to treat Paget’s disease and osteoporosis. Fosamax works to slow, if not halt, bone loss while helping to increase bone density.
Fosamax is produced by Merck, and in 2008 when Merck’s Fosamax patent expired, Teva Pharmaceuticals began to market generic versions of Fosamax in the U.S. Other names under which Fosamax may be sold include Boniva, Actonel, Atelvia, and Reclast.
Fosamax Side Effects
Fosamax may cause a range of serious side effects, including esophageal ulcers, esophageal cancer, toxic epidermal necrosis (TEN) (a severe, life-threatening skin disorder), and deterioration of the jaw bone (osteonecrosis of the jaw or ONJ). Those with the highest risk of developing serious Fosamax side effects are patients who take higher doses of the drug and those who take it for longer than 5 years.
Fosamax Femur Fracture
Along with being associated with causing the above-mentioned health complications, Fosamax has been found to increase the risk of fractures in the femur. In fact, studies indicate that Fosamax patients who take the drug for at least 5 years are nearly 3 times as likely to develop spontaneous femur fracture.
Fosamax FDA Femur Warning
In October 2010, the FDA issued a warning regarding the risk of sustaining femur fracture when taking Fosamax. This warning was accompanied by a mandate that the manufacturers of Fosamax include printed warnings regarding this serious Fosamax side effect on all packaging and advertising.
Fosamax Lawyer
Despite the FDA’s warnings, many patients have already been injured as a result of taking Fosamax, and Fosamax lawyers are here to help victims stand up for their legal rights and build the strongest possible defective drug lawsuit against Merck. Fosamax lawyers are dedicated to aggressively asserting victims’ rights in any necessary legal proceeding, and they encourage injured parties to follow through with their case by not charging any fees unless a settlement is reached.
Fosamax Lawsuits and Settlements
While the first Fosamax lawsuits were filed in 2006, many of these cases are still being filed, because Fosamax is still on the market and putting patients at risk of developing severe health complications. Injured parties may be entitled to a Fosamax settlement that compensates them for their injuries and losses.
If you or a loved one have used Fosamax and suffered from any side effect including femur fracture, ONJ, TEN, esophageal ulcers, or esophageal cancer, you should contact our dangerous drug attorneys immediately for a free and confidential case review. You may be entitled to compensation and we can help.
