Adverse Events Resulting from Fosamax Use

Even the biggest pharmaceutical corporations in the world like Merck & Co.also have their share of hard times. What’s in the news is that Merck & Co.is suspected of Illegal Marketing Practices with regard to some of its drugs. However, what really puts the company in a bad position is the several complaints from users about the adverse reactions caused by Fosamax, one of its biggest selling drugs.

In any given, Fosamax could be written in over 20 million prescriptions. Many have known this drug as alendronate, which is its generic form, and as the drug of choice for specific bone diseases like osteoporosis and Paget’s disease (osteitis deformans). It makes your bones strong by altering the cycle of bone remodeling particularly and prevent bone resorption.

However, there are mounting reports about the adverse effects that could result from the long term use of the drug. The most commonly reported cases were osteonecrosis of the jaw bone and an atypical fracture of the thigh bone. Moreover, the pharmaceutical company seemingly lacked the proper disclosure of the said hazards causing a number of its patronizers to take legal actions.

Around 2003 when one of the earliest Fosamax-related cases of ONJ was brought to the public. ONJ, also known by some as Bis-Phossy Jaw, is a serious bone disease where a bone tissue of the jawbone dies (necrotizes) due to inadequate supply of nutrition or blood. ONJ may present symptoms like pain upon chewing a gum and it usually detected during a dental check. 

On the other hand, a specific type of fracture has also been associated to the prolonged use of the drug. It was noted in large studies that women taking bisphosphonate drugs, a drug classification which includes Fosamax, have incurred a low-impact femur fracture. Yet, this repercussion Is considered uncommon and that the beneficial effects of the drug still supersedes.

So that the risks of these complications are reduced, some health care providers have decided to order Fosamax on a shorter duration. In most cases, they will tell their patients to temporarily hold Fosamax and other bisphosphonate drugs after 3 years of drug therapy. While the adverse and other side effects of Fosamax are alarming, the benefits of the drug still outweigh the associated risks. Talk to your doctor to know if the drug is right for you.

What Is Paget’s Disease And Why Is Fosamax The Treatment?

With the controversies of Fosamax still ringing in the ears of many, more people, even men are filing Fosamax femur fracture lawsuits. This medication is said to cause several adverse effects after a long-term use. The widely known osteoporosis medication is also approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat this often overlooked bone disorder known as Paget’s disease.

Our bones go through a life-long process where mature bone tissues breakdown and are replaced with new bone tissues. With Paget’s disease of the bone, the breakdown and remodeling of the bone tissues becomes too excessive. The result of the process is misshapen, exaggerated but brittle and highly vascular bones.

Although the cause of Paget’s disease is unknown it is believed that it might be linked to the genetic composition or a viral infection in early life. The disease may only be in one or two areas of the skeleton, or throughout the body. The bones of the arm, the collar, the leg, the pelvis and the spine are the areas usually affected with the disease.

Most of the time, patients with Paget’s disease have mild or no symptoms at all. Often, symptoms are attributed with arthritis or other disorders. Symptoms may include:

• Bone pain – the most common symptom and usually occurs on the affected bone or the areas adjacent to the joints
• Enlarged head, headache and hearing loss especially if the skull is affected
• Bowing of the legs and other visible deformities
• Fracture especially on the long bones
• Joint pain or stiffness
• Neck pain
• Warmth of skin over the affected bone

Some cases do not need treatment. Most patients that are treated, however, are given drug therapy to help prevent further bone breakdown. Biphosphonates like Fosamax are presently the first-line of defense to help improve bone mineral density.

When treatment is given before major changes in the affected bones have occurred, the outlook is generally good. Possible complications of the disorder include bone deformities and fractures, deafness, paraplegia (paralysis of the lower extremities), and in rare occasions, a form of bone cancer known as osteogenic osteogenic sarcoma.

Fosamax is the drug of choice for Paget’s disease. Nonetheless, this drug should only be taken with your physician’s order to avoid any adverse events. Furthermore, if you suffered any harm due to long-term consumption of Fosamax, you may have a strong ground for filing a Fosamax lawsuit.

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Bad Effect Of Smoking Include Susceptibility To Bone Fracture

Bone fracture occurs when an extreme outside force applied to the bone exceeds the bone's capacity to sustain such a force. There are various factors which has been linked to an increased risk for bone breakage which has been studied and researched for ages. These factors may vary among distinct populations and under certain conditions that is why for more information regarding health issues afflicting you or your loved one, the best source of information is still a licensed and efficient physician. Nevertheless, one of the factors that increases the risk for bone fracture that has been an unhealthy fad popularized by the media and peer pressure is: cigarette smoking.

The youth are easily influenced by what the adults do, that is why it is important to start engraving into their minds that the bad habit of smoking cigarettes practiced by the older people should not be followed. Fracture is a common incident among old people because their bones are not as strong as they used to. The non-modifiable factors of bone breakage are: family history, genetics, culture, bone degenerating disease process such as osteoporosis, age, and sex.  Changes in lifestyle, smoking habits, alcohol intake, stress, bisphosphonate and glucocorticoid drug intake, diet, weight are some of the noted dependent factors for fracture susceptibility.

It has been a long time since precautions regarding smoking's bad effects to the body was first released to the public. Bone's calcium absorption is impaired by cigarette smoking. Calcium is a vital mineral stored and utilized by the bone. As expected, if the bone cannot absorb enough calcium, its bone mineral density is diminished. This is the reason why smoking is bad because it impairs our bones strength.

Easily fractured bones are also seen in most of the osteoporosis patients. There is a bisphosphonate drug usually prescribed by doctors which is Fosamax. Still, reports were received professing about the drugs bad effects to those who were using the drug for a long time. If you or your loved one suffered from atypical, low-impact femur fracture, you can talk to a reliable Fosamax lawyer who will guide you in filing a Fosamax Fracture Lawsuit for you and your family to gain just compensation.

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