Fosamax Problems

Fosamax is one of the most widely used drugs with nearly 37 million prescriptions written. Recently, this drug faced many complaints by long-time users who reported that they suffered from femur fractures. This has also made researches possible to be able to find new ways to treat osteoporosis. Recently, researchers are developing potential stem cell treatment for osteoporosis. While recent additional studies uncover the other effects of this drug, findings came out supporting the claim that Fosamax can help prolong the life span of prosthetics.

In the United Kingdom, doctors have been following up on some 42,000 patients who were prescribed with Fosamax and have been implanted with artificial joints. Hip failures and other problems are less likely to occur in implant recipients who are into Fosamax therapy, says a study published in the British Medical Journal.

Fosamax has been the prescribed treatment for osteoporosis caused by menopause or by steroid intake in both men and women. It is also a treatment for Paget's Disease of the bone, a condition in which the bones are weakened and misshapen. This drug has also been a prescription for the medical condition called osteopenia, which is characterized by poor bone mineral density.

Oftentimes Fosamax therapy has had some issues with drug-to-drug interaction. At present, the possibility of other drugs contributing to the Fosamax femur fractures is under thorough investigation.

Apart from the intended medical impact, Fosamax also brings a number of unintended side effects to the body that can either be beneficial or unfavorable. Nevertheless, off-label use of the drug is strongly discouraged because of the possible harm.

Unintended Effects of Fosamax

If you develop severe allergic reactions such as rash, hives, itching, and difficulty breathing, you need to get medical attention immediately. Serious side effects might need you to stop your therapy and consult your doctor. These include:

• chest pain

• difficulty swallowing (dysphagia) or painful swallowing (odynophagia)

• burning sensation under the ribs or in the back

• severe heartburn, burning pain in your upper stomach (epigastric area)

• fever, body aches, flu-like symptoms

• severe joint, bone, or muscle pain

• new or unusual pain in the hip or thigh

• jaw pain, numbness or swelling.

Less serious side effects are common in patients taking Fosamax, such as:

• mild heartburn

• bloating

• mild nausea, vomiting or stomach pain

• diarrhea, gas or constipation

• mild joint pain or swelling

• swelling in your hands or feet

• dizziness

• eye pain

• headache

The decision to undergo Fosamax therapy should only be done with your doctor's order and after obtaining complete information, including the duration of therapy, in order to prevent adverse results like femur fractures.

References:

foodandlife.com/foodo.html

ctds.info/osteoporosis-diet.html

medicinenet.com/super_foods_for_your_bones_pictures_slideshow/article.htm

mehlville-oakville.patch.com/articles/pondering-the-potential-of-pumpkins-310bde28

Bone Health Support

The health of the bones is a very important factor that one must take into account, medical research says. Regardless of age and gender, healthy bones are necessary to ensure a healthy body. In fact, many different medical studies are being developed in order to know more about how one can have healthy bones. Recently, the National Bone Health Alliance (NBHA) commented about the latest osteoporosis study made by the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM).

Result from the osteoporosis study has made osteoporosis testing unnecessary once every two years.The NEJM showed that osteoporosis may develop in a very slow pace that testing for it is not helpful the way one thinks it is. However, as was highlighted by the NBHA, in order to protect those who are afflicted of osteoporosis, the results of the stud should be carefully assessed.

Many issues may come and go for the bones. Osteoporosis is just one of the examples. To prevent issues from appearing is to ensure the health of our bones. There are many ways in order for one to support his/her bone health. Here’s a list:

Calcium

Calcium is very well-known element that is good for the bones. There are many ways for one to get an adequate supply of this. Dark leafy vegetables and milk are good sources of calcium. Moreover, you can always check the label in order to know if the product is rich in calcium.

Exercise

To maintain and improve our health, activities that require physical effort must be carried out. There are different exercises one can take in which can be good for one’s bone health like jogging, swimming, dancing, and yoga. Depending upon your body type, you may need to exercise for half an hour to an hour.

Medical Check-Up

There is only one way of knowing if you are at risk of any kinds of bone disease: this is by going to a doctor. The doctor may perform exams in order to check the health of your bones. In this way, proper advice may be possible like giving medical prescriptions. As for osteoporosis, Fosamax has been famous as a preventive medicine. However, reports show that this is not the best medicine as far as lawsuits filed against the drug are concern.

This list is only part of the things you can do. There are still more and you might one to explore on that. However, you must always be careful and avoid things like Fosamax femur fractures from happening.

Taking Fosamax

An alendronate sodium called Fosamax has been the object of complaints due to its adverse effect, which put its reputation in a bad light. Its manufacturer has been facing cases one after another. For example, a consolidated Fosamax lawsuit is scheduled for trial in February which will take place in the Supreme Court of New Jersey. Now, it is imperative that we know how Fosamax works in the body so that we will better understand why adverse events like these lawsuits happen.

Fosamax belongs to the group of drugs known as bisphosphonate which makes the bones stronger. This class of drugs helps prevent the loss of bone mass. Their method of action makes them potent for treating bone diseases like osteoporosis for both men and women as well as Paget’s Disease.

Although it looks pretty stationary, our bones are actually in a constant process of replacing themselves, called bone remodeling cycle – bone cycle or bone metabolism – throughout our lifespan. This cycle consists of three phases: bone resorption, osteoclastic reversal and bone formation. Typically, bone cycle in human runs about three to six months.

In the bone resorption phase, a type of bone cells called osteoclasts break down bone tissues and release minerals like calcium into the blood. Moreover, osteoclastic reversal is the phase when the resorption process shifts to formative process. The last step of the cycle is the bone formation where there is the growth and development of bone tissues.

Bisphosphonates alter the bone cycle by hampering bone resorption, holding back bone loss. Minimizing the rate of bone thinning in people with osteoporosis aids in reducing the risk of bone fracture. The ultimate goal of treating osteoporosis is to prevent the occurrence to bone fractures.

However, there is mounting evidence that bisphosphonates, particularly Fosamax and its generic alendronate, may cause an unusual type of fracture in the thigh bone after using the drug for five years or so. There were some concerns that long-term bisphosphonates use can cause an over-suppression of bone turnover. Additionally, it is believed that minute cracks in the bone that were not able to heal well eventually mount up and cause this king of fracture.

Right now, the main goal is to prevent fractures from happening which is an adverse situation deemed rare. Many doctors have changed their prescription lengths of Fosamax to not more than three years as a response to these reports. Many of those who have suffered this type of Fosamax femur fracture have filed a Fosamax lawsuit already.

References:
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/405699_4
http://www.judiciary.state.nj.us/notices/2008/n081023b.pdf
http://www.judiciary.state.nj.us/notices/2008/n080716e.pdf

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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Fosamax Victims Can Afford to Pursue a Fosamax Femur Fracture Lawsuit

The femur is the largest and strongest single bone in the human body. A fracture of the femur will not only result in the most excruciating pain, but can also inhibit a person’s mobility. Patients that are experiencing these symptoms as a result of chronically taking the osteoporosis medication, Fosamax, may be interested in filing a Fosamax fracture lawsuit against the company that manufactures and distributes the drug, Merck. Concerns over potential hefty legal fees are alleviated with the fact that Fosamax femur fracture lawyers are not as expensive as previously thought.

A 2008 study by the Journal of Orthopedic Trauma has revealed evidence that long term use of Fosamax could lead to low impact femur fractures resulting from falls at standing height or less. This has led to an investigation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to find whether or not there is a direct causal relationship between Fosamax and femur fractures, which could ultimately result in a public recall and multiple Fosamax femur lawsuits.

Although a Fosamax recall has yet to be implemented, there is increasing evidence to encourage anyone who has suffered from a low impact femur fracture while taking the drug to begin preparing a case against Merck. Low impact fractures are not a common occurrence and the severity and unpredictability of these fractures should entitle victims of this drug to proper punitive damages from the pharmaceutical company distributing the drug.

Not all lawyers are necessarily expensive. It is unlikely that a Fosamax femur fracture lawyer will bill their clients at an hourly rate. Instead, a contingency fee arrangement will be made at the formation of the attorney-client relationship. This entails the attorney taking a percentage of the recovery, which is typically between a quarter to one third of the settlement, should the client win their Fosamax femur fracture lawsuit. However, should the client lose the case, they both receive nothing.

Fosamax femur fracture lawyers have made it affordable for victims to pursue a Fosamax femur lawsuit. Patients that have been affected by chronic Fosamax intake should get the reparations they are entitled to. Updated information about the Fosamax femur fracture lawsuit can be found on the website.