Efforts In Identifying Women Affected By Fosamax Doubled By The US Drug Watchdog
A premier private pharmaceutical watchdog and advocacy group in the United States, the US Drug Watchdog, is intensifying its search for women who have suffered femur or thighbone fractures while taking the Osteoporosis drug Fosamax. The dug class Bisphosphonate, to which Fosamax (alendronate sodium) belongs, is otherwise known as antiresorptive medicines which slow or stop the natural process that dissolves bone tissue, resulting in maintained or increased bone density and strength. Yet, recent studies put light on how Fosamax might cause a femur fracture.
Since the first time it was made available to the public in 1995, Fosamax developed by Merck & Co. became one of the most prescribed drugs for the treatment of osteoporosis. Severe side effects suggested by recent studies to be associated with the long-term use of Fosamax and other Bisphosphonates are Femur fractures, osteonecrosis, musculoskeletal pain and esophageal cancer. At the risk of developing another ailment equally debilitating, the drug is known to prevent the development of osteoporosis or if osteoporosis already has developed, slow the rate of bone thinning reducing the risk of broken bones.
One of the biggest problems the US Drug Watchdog has with respect to its drug initiative work is that the average US consumer never hears about a drug recall, or serious side effects related to a specific drug’s use, according to the group. With its initiative on Fosamax, the group is trying to identify women, who have taken the drug for five years, or more, and for no apparent reason suffered a broken femur, or thigh bone. The group said this could be a particularly serious Fosamax side effect as these types of leg breaks are also called atypical fractures as it could happen suddenly and without warning.
The US Drug Watchdog further stated that “Most importantly we want to get the word out about Fosamax, and long term users, who have suffered from an unexplainable broken femur, or broken leg. At the same time, we want to make certain all Fosamax users, who suffered an unexplained broken femur, or thigh bone get to the actual trial law firms or attorneys, that have the best record in achieving superior results for their clients—period.”
Despite releasing a safety warning last year, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has yet to put up a firm stance with regards to Fosamax, however, the side effects of Fosamax suffered by many women are no fluke. According to the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) which came out with a Canadian medical study last year, there is a higher risk of a certain type of thighbone fracture in women who take bisphosphonates such as Fosamax for long periods.
Tags: Femur Fracture, health, lawsuit, Medicine