Pennsylvania Injury Lawyer Blog

Many people have many questions about Fosamax and the serious side effects that may result from taking Fosamax.

Below, we will explain four important Fosamax timing issues:

1. Fosamax length of time for side effects is important to know. It can take years for Fosamax side effects to start. While you should be aware of the symptoms of potential side effects when you start the drug, it is important to not let your guard down as the years pass without incident.

2. Fosamax to clear from body takes how long? There is not yet conclusive evidence about how long it takes Fosamax to completely clear the body. However, it is important to know that Fosamax is designed to stay in the body long term and that how long Fosamax remains in body is important.

3. How long to take Fosamax should be discussed with your doctor. Some doctors are now recommended that Fosamax be stopped after five years because of potential complications. As always, it is important to talk to your doctor about your own risks and when you should stop taking Fosamax.

For more information about Fosamax and how it may affect your body long term, please talk to your doctor about the benefits and risks so that you can make an informed decision.

You’ve seen the commercials. You are eager to try the once a month medication to treat your osteoporosis and you are ready to ask your doctor for a prescription. However, before you pop that pill in your mouth, it is important to understand the possible side effects of bisphosphonate drugs such as Boniva.

Boniva Bisphosphonate Risks

Bisphosponate osteoporosis drugs pose certain risks and no exception is made for Boniva. New risks recognized by the FDA and included in the warnings for Boniva include:

• Femur Fractures. An atypical fracture of the femur, or thigh, bone can create significant pain and problems with the hip and mobility.
• Osteonecrosis of the Jaw (ONJ). ONJ is a deterioration of the jaw bone that is sometimes called “dead jaw.” ONJ can create significant problems with eating, speaking, infection, dental problems and other complications that greatly affect a person’s health and quality of life.

Boniva risks, such as those described above, can best be explained to you by your doctor. However, if you have already been hurt by Boniva then you may have a legal right to recovery.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Merck & Co. won a jury trial in its defense against a lawsuit that alleged the company’s drug Fosamax caused a woman osteonecrosis. The verdict’s announcement was made on Monday, February 14.

A state court jury in Atlantic City, New Jersey rejected claims from a woman from Pennsylvania that Fosamax, which is a drug used to treat osteoporosis, caused her osteonecrosis, a deterioration of the jaw, often referred to as ONJ. The woman also claimed the drug manufacturer failed to warn consumers properly about the risks of the drug and Fosamax side effects. The jury found that the drug did not cause the woman’s jaw and dental problems and that the company “acted properly.” The woman plans to appeal the case, stating the drug maker should not be allowed to keep getting away with hiding the risks of Fosamax.

Merck, which is based in Whitehouse Station, NJ, is currently facing approximately 1,180 cases of users who allege that Fosamax caused ONJ. This trial was the first Fosamax trial in state court. Three cases were previously tried in New York federal court, of which Merck won two and is appealing the loss of the third. In that case, the jury awarded the plaintiff $8 million but the judge reduced the amount to $1.5 million.

At Anapol Schwartz, our Fosamax attorneys have handled many lawsuits regarding unsafe drugs, including popular pharmaceuticals and diet drugs. If you have suffered because you have taken Fosamax, contact our law office today to learn more about your legal rights when pursuing a lawsuit against a drug manufacturer. Call 866-735-2792 to schedule a free consultation today.

This past October, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced via a press release a label change on drugs approved to treat osteoporosis. Information was required to be added to the Warnings and Precautions sections of the label for Fosamax, among other drugs. The change needed to communicate the risk of typical thigh fractures occurring in patients who take bisphosphonates for osteoporosis. It was also required for patients to receive a medication guide detailing the risks when picking up their prescription for the bisphosphonate product from the pharmacy or their doctor’s office.

Fosamax is a bisphosphonate product and has been linked to many serious side effects. Atypical thigh fractures known as subtrochanteric and diaphyseal femur fractures are rare, accounting for less than one percent of all femur and hip fractures. However, these unusual fractures have been widely reported in patients who have taken or are taking bisphosphonates. Other Fosamax side effects are esophageal cancer, osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ or dead jaw syndrome), inflammation of the esophagus, throat, and stomach, and various and sometimes severe muscle, joint, and bone pain, as well as other serious issues.

Over 20 million people have taken Fosamax since it was introduced to public markets in 1995 by Merck and Company, Inc. Numerous lawsuits and class actions have been brought against the drug manufacturer for damage it has caused patients who have taken Fosamax. The FDA recommends that patients whose doctors have prescribed them the bisphosphonate product continue to take their medication unless they are instructed to stop by their physician.

The Fosamax femur fracture attorneys at Anapol Schwartz have dealt with many significant unsafe drug lawsuits, including those that deal with diet drugs and popular pharmaceuticals. If you are considering filing a Fosamax lawsuit because of injuries you sustained while taking the bisphosphonate product, it would be in your best interest to consult with one of our Fosamax femur fracture lawyers to find out your legal rights and options. Call the Anapol Schwartz law firm today at 866-735-2792. We offer free consultations.

If you ask the drug makers if Fosamax is bad for women, you will probably get a different answer than if you ask the women who have suffered serious side effects and injury consequences from taking Fosamax.

No prescription or over-the-counter drug is foolproof as far as side effects. But when thousands of women start talking to lawyers and start filing lawsuits, then you have to question whether or not Fosamax is bad for women.

Let’s consider the reasons why women are filing Fosamax lawsuits:

• Esophagus cancer: Merck & Co., the makers of Fosamax have responded defensively saying the risks are minimal as compared to the benefits. Tell that to the women and the families of women who have suffered or died from the complications of esophagus cancer.


• Jawbone death: While Fosamax is touted as building bone mass, it’s causing long-term prescription drug takers to develop eroding jawbones. Imagine going to the dentist for oral surgery only to develop an infection because your jawbone is not healing.


• Thigh bone fractures: Though rare, women who have been taking Fosamax for 3 to 5 or more years are suffering thigh bone or femur fractures. Their bones have become brittle from long-term use and could hear their bones crack before hitting the ground.

Could Fosamax be another hormone replacement therapy debacle? Remember HRT was given to post-menopausal women. It was as expected as motherhood and apple pie to be prescribed HRT. Finally the FDA announced that HRT was found to cause breast cancer and heart attacks.

How much risk should women have? Is Fosamax bad for women?

If you have been harmed from Fosamax, please contact Anapol Schwartz law firm to find out what legal action you can take. You may be eligible for a Fosamax injury lawsuit.