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Fosamax Linked to Severe Musculoskeletal Pain and Osteonecrosis of the Jaw Injury - Free Lawsuit Case Review by a Fosamax Side Effects Injury Lawyer

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Fosamax, a popular osteoporosis drug, has been linked to severe musculoskeletal pain (pain of the joints, muscles, and/or bones), as well as a serious bone disease called Osteonecrosis of the Jaw (ONJ), also known as "dead jaw" and "fossy jaw".  An article on the association between Fosamax and ONJ was first  published in the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, which prompted the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to review the safety of Fosamax and other drugs in its class (bisphosphonate drugs). On January 31, 2005, Merck, the manufacturer of Fosamax, received a request for data from the FDA to update the label for Fosamax to include labeling for the jawbone tissue disease. The revised label was not made available until July 2005.

On January 7, 2008, the FDA  warned that Fosamax had been linked to severe and sometimes incapacitating bone, joint, and muscle (musculoskeletal) pain.  The agency advised doctors and patients to be aware of this side effect, and to discontinue Fosamax use should it occur.

If you have used Fosamax and have suffered any sever muscle, joint or bone pain, or have experienced jaw injury or disease, contact Parker & Waichman, LLP to have a Fosamax lawyer review your case. Please complete the contact form on the right of this page to have your Fosamax side effects case review today. Alternatively, call 1-800-LAW-INFO (1-800-529-4636) to speak to someone immediately.

About Fosamax
Fosamax (Generic: Alendronate Sodium), manufactured by Merck, gained FDA approval in 1995.  Fosamax Plus D (Generic: Alendronate Sodium Cholecalciferol) contains Vitamin D.  Fosamax is prescribed to treat osteoporosis and Paget's disease. Fosamax is a type of drug known as a bisphosphonate.  Individuals using Fosamax or other bisphosphonate medications should attempt to steer clear of tooth extractions and other major dental work while on the drugs.

Fosamax is a Bisphosphonate
Bisphosphonate drugs are commonly used in tablet form to prevent and treat osteoporosis in post-menopausal women. Stronger forms of bisphosphonate drugs are used in the management of advanced cancers that have metastasized to the bone, where the disease often causes bone pain and possibly even fractures. Several cancers can involve or metastasize to the bone, including lung cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, multiple myeloma, and others. When bisphosphonates are given in cancer chemotherapy, the drugs are given intravenously in higher doses and usually for longer periods of time.

About Osteonecrosis of the Jaw (ONJ)
Osteonecrosis of the Jaw (ONJ) is a condition in which the bone tissue in the jaw fails to heal after minor trauma such as a tooth extraction, causing the bone to be exposed. The exposure can eventually lead to infection and fracture and may require long-term antibiotic therapy or surgery to remove the dying bone tissue. Experts say that prevention and early treatment of patients using bisphosphonates such as Fosamax is extremely important in preserving the jawbone. Signs and symptoms of ONJ may include:  jaw pain, swelling of the gums, loose teeth, drainage, exposed jaw bone, numbness, or a feeling of heaviness in the jaw.  Loss of blood supply to the jaw preceeds the development of ONJ.  Fosamax reduces the activity of the cells that cause bone loss, which is supposed to decrease the rapid rate of bone loss in women after menopause.  However, this exact mechanism may be what causes osteonecrosis of the jawbone.

Fosamax and Severe Musculoskeletal Pain
According to the 2008 FDA Fosamax health alert, the severe musculoskeletal pain associated with Fosamax can occur within days, months, or years after starting treatment with the drug.  While some patients have experienced complete relief of symptoms after discontinuing Fosamax, others have reported that the pain continued.  The risk factors for and incidence of severe musculoskeletal pain associated with Fosamax are unknown. 

Although severe musculoskeletal pain was already included in the prescribing information for Fosamax, the FDA said that the association between Fosamax and severe musculoskeletal pain could be overlooked by healthcare professionals, resulting in delayed   diagnosis, prolonged pain and impairment, and the need for treatment with analgesics. The FDA has recommended that healthcare professionals be aware that the use of Fosamax could be responsible for severe musculoskeletal pain in patients who present with this symptom.   If patients on Fosamax do experience this severe musculoskeletal pain, the FDA advised that  their doctors  consider temporary or permanent discontinuation of the drug.

Free Fosamax Lawsuit Consultation
If you or a loved one took Fosamax and suffered side effects, please fill out the form at the right for a free case evaluation by a qualified drug side effects attorney or call 1-800-LAW-INFO (1-800-529-4636).