Fosamax Lawyers & Attorneys

In Washington & Oregon

The prescription drug, Fosamax, is commonly given to people suffering from osteoporosis and the bone loss that osteoporosis causes. Fosamax is one of the most popular drugs prescribed to patients. In 2005 alone, for example, men and women suffering from bone loss received nearly 40 million prescriptions.

Merck, one of the worlds largest pharmaceutical companies, manufacturers and distributes Fosamax. Fosamax, or alendronate sodium, is a biphosphonate used in the treatment of bones; the FDA approved it in 1995 for public use.

The Long Island Jewish Medical Center conducted a study on Fosamax in December of 2004, and determined that there is a link between biphosphonate drugs, like Fosamax, and Osteonecrosis of the Jaw, or ONJ.

Osteonecrosis of the Jaw (ONJ) is commonly referred to as Jaw Necrosis, Dead Jaw, and Fossy Jaw. ONJ must be treated as soon as possible because it is a serious disease. ONJ can cause the jawbone to deteriorate to the point of collapse.

ONJ has been found in Fosamax users. People who are most likely to develop ONJ are biphosphonate, or Fosamax, users who have undergone serious dental procedures, such as tooth extractions. While the connection between Fosamax has been known for some time, the manufacturer and distributor of the drug, Merck, did not warn patients, doctors, and dentists of the risks users faced. Merck only revised their Fosamax warnings to identify the link between Fosamax and ONJ at the end of 2006.

ONJ is the most serious side effect and risk of Fosamax. ONJ can be treated, but it must be identified as soon as possible. Some common symptoms of ONJ include:

• Jaw feeling "heavy"
• Pain, swelling, or infection of the gums
• Loose teeth
• Feeling of numbness in the jaw
• Loss of jaw movement
• Pain, burning, or tingling in the jaw

Contact the defective drug attorneys at the Fuller and Fuller Law Firm today if you or a loved one has developed Osteonecrosis of the Jaw. You may be entitled to compensation for your injuries while using Fosamax, or after having used Fosamax in the past.

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