Fosamax femur fractures affect one of the strongest bones in the body – the long part of the thigh bone directly beneath the hip. Along with other serious side effects associated with this medication, Fosamax femur fractures are extremely painful and debilitating, and though rare, they will arise without any warning.
Fosamax, generically referred to as Alendronate, is prescribed to slow bone deterioration and strengthen bones. It is produced by Merck and was initially approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1995 to treat osteoporosis and Paget’s disease (a bone condition that results in abnormal and enlarged bones).
In 2008, the FDA responded to growing public concern regarding Fosamax femur fractures by contacting Merck. It took Merck more than a year to add information regarding this side effect to Fosamax packaging and medication guides. In October 2010, the FDA issued a nationwide warning about the danger of developing Fosamax femur fractures in order to ensure that both doctors and patients were aware of this serious side effect.
Research Findings Regarding Fosamax Femur Fractures
Researchers at Cornell University Medical School published a study in 2008 that found Fosamax patients are more than 125 times more likely to sustain non-traumatic femur fractures than those who have not taken this medication. In March 2010, ABC aired a segment that featured similarly shocking findings. In that piece, Dr. Robert Bunning, a researcher at the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Washington, DC, explained that in every reported instance of a Fosamax femur fracture (about 60 reported cases), the patient had been taking Fosamax (or a similar biphosphonate) for more than 5 years.
While Merck has denied that long-term use of Fosamax increases the risk of femur fracture, the clinical studies they have conducted (and that they site on their website) only span 3 to 4 years.
Following a Fosamax Femur Fracture…
Patients should seek emergency medical care to prevent further health complications. Once their health is stable, they can learn more about their legal rights and entitlements by attending a free, no obligations, initial consultation. Those who have sustained a Fosamax femur fracture will have a strong legal claim against Merck, and they will be entitled to a settlement that compensates them for their medical bills, lost wages, permanent disabilities, pain, and suffering.
To date, hundreds of lawsuits have been filed against Merck, and the drug company has paid out millions in monetary awards to those who have been victimized by Fosamax femur fractures and other related side effects.
If you or a loved one have used Fosamax and suffered a femur fracture, you should contact our Fosamax femure fracture attorneys immediately for a free and confidential case review. You may be entitled to compensation and we can help.
