Did Fosomax Casue my Osteonecrosis "Dead Jaw"?
What is Fosomax?
Fosomax (Alendronate) is a type of drug known as a bisphosphonate. It is designed to strengthen bone in people suffering from osteoporosis. Fosamax has been widely prescribed to post-menopausal women. Fosamax was approved by the FDA to treat or prevent osteoporosis or bone loss in women. Fosomax was intended to inhibit osteoclasts, cells that cause the breakdown of bone, thereby making the bones thicker and less likely to break.
What are the dangers and risks of Fosomax?
Fosomax has been shown to actually cause the complete oposite effect than what it was designed for in some cases, actually causing osteonecrosis of the jaw “dead jaw”, a condition where the jaw essentially rots away. The FDA concluded that labels accompanying bisphosphonates should warn patients of the risk of osteonecrosis.
As of May 2006, Merck, the manufacturer of Fosamax, has failed to include a warning on the label for osteonecrosis. The only warning related to the condition is included on page 13 of a 22 page report given only to pharmacies, a warning clearly inadequate given the risk.
Merck & Co., the manufacturer of Fosamax, marketed Fosamax aggressively and today has more than $3 billion in annual sales. Doctors wrote 22.4 million prescriptions for Fosamax in the U.S. last year.
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