Fosamax Femur Fracture Risk
Although our lawyers at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. have been reviewing potential Fosamax femur fracture lawsuit claims for more than two and a half years, consumers and physicians are just starting to appreciate the potential risk of fractures from Fosamax, which should help individuals reduce their risk of experiencing this painful and debilitating injury.
While there has been a good bit of media attention surrounding Fosamax lawsuits in recent years, most of this coverage has involved the risk of jaw problems from Fosamax. Very little attention has been paid to the mounting number of Fosamax fractured femur cases, but that now appears to be slowly changing.
Fosamax is a widely used drug for treatment and prevention of osteoporosis, which has been prescribed to millions of people throughout the United States. While the medication is designed to strengthen the bones, side effects of Fosamax appears to increase the risk of a rare type of low-impact fracture of femur bones. These femur fractures on Fosamax typically occur as a result of falls from standing height or less, or can occur with no impact at all.
We first wrote about the Fosamax femur fracture risk in June 2008. A study published around that time identified a low-energy femur fracture pattern that was 98% specific to users of Fosamax. Although Merck, the drug’s manufacturer, knew about the mounting number of Fosamax fracture femur reports, they have denied or minimized the risk and failed to take steps to ensure that doctors and consumers were aware of the possible risk of femur fractures.
Armed with information about the risk of a femure fracture from Fosamax, many serious and debilitating injuries could have been prevented.
Only recently have warnings been provided about the potential link between Fosamax and femur fractures. In October 2010, the FDA required the manufacturer to update warning information on about these atypical fractures of the femur with Fosamax and other bisphosphonate medications.
New information is now provided to physicians and to consumers in a Medication Guide that will be distributed with each prescription. To reduce the risk of injury for consumers, healthcare professionals are now being informed that they should:
- Be aware of the possibility of atypical femur fractures with Fosamax and other bisphosphonates
- Rule out femoral fracture from Fosamax if a patient develops new thigh or groin pain, and to discontinue the medication if a patient has evidence of a femur fracture.
- Consider periodically re-evaluating whether continued use of Fosamax or another bisphophonate medication is needed, especially in patients taking the drugfor more than five years.
- Discuss the benefits and risks with patients and instruct them to seek immediate medical attention if they experience few groin pain or thigh pain, which is often described as dull or aching. This pain can occur weeks or months before a complete Fosamax fracture occurs.
FOSAMAX FRACTURED FEMUR LAWSUIT EVALUATIONS
As a result Merck’s failure to adequately warn about the Fosamax fracture femur risk earlier, consumers and the medical community were unaware of the risk associated with the medication and failed to take steps that could have reduced the risk of serious and permanent injuries.
The Fosamax femur fracture lawyers at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. are providing free consultations for individuals who have suffered a sudden, low-trauma fracture of the femur while taking Fosamax. To review a potential Fosamax fracture lawsuit on behalf of yourself or a family member, request a free claim evaluation.
2 Comments • Add Your Comments
Sarah says:
I live in Canada…Victoria, B.C. 5 weeks ago, I broke my femur. I didn’t fall, I just twisted my leg, and it broke. I have taken Fosamax and also take large doses of Prednisone for unrelated health problems. I have been taking Fosamax and Prednisone for at least 10 years. I’m 57 years old,and now have a long steel rod from my hip to my knee, plus a couple of pins. My surgeon told me I should get off Fosamax, but I asked my GP, and she said there was nothing else, so I’m still taking it. I’m very nervous about all this, and need help.
Posted on February 9, 2011 at 4:38 pm
Mary says:
Not only have I experienced a femur fracture with a complete hip replace ment, I also suffer from osteonecrosis(DEAD JAW) a condition in which the jaw breaks down there is no quarantee of any dental appliance to replace loss of teeth. My jaw could very well loose any jaw material to chew with. My facial features have changed to a distorted condition and is shrinking. I am truely afraid of my future and the use and looks of my jaw. I have used Fosomax from 4-07-7-9
Posted on February 15, 2011 at 10:37 pm