Fosamax belongs to a family of drugs called bisphosphonates. These drugs are used in the treatment of osteoporosis. They are commonly prescribed to people who are at risk of having serious bone degradation. Information has come out recently, however, that indicates that these drugs may present a real danger to the people taking them.

Fractures

Fosamax is associated with atypical femur fractures. The femur, the bone underneath your thigh and the largest bone in your body, supports the majority of your weight when you are standing, walking or running. Fosamax, according to some experts, contributes to a degradation of bone tissue that can result in the bones becoming very brittle over time. This means that, without any real stress being put upon them, those bones may simply fracture.

Fosamax is also associated with a condition called osteonecrosis of the jaw. This literally means that the bone tissue in your jaw dies. The FDA has already taken action and, because of that, the manufacturer of Fosamax, Merck, has warnings of femur fractures on the list of possible side effects that come with the drug. Critics point out that it took a full year for the drug company to respond to these issues.

The Consequences

A fracture of the femur can be a devastating injury. Because of the importance of this bone in mobility, a person who suffers a severe fracture of it may experience a great degree of degradation in their ability to walk, run and their quality of life in general. These injuries are also exceptionally painful. Having such a large bone break can cause enormous amounts of pain and suffering and, once the damage to this bone has been done, it is typically never quite the same as it was before the injury took place.

Patients do not have to deal with the consequences of dangerous drugs without taking action. Fosamax side effects and dangers have already prompted some people to file lawsuits over their injuries. If you believe that you were injured because you took Fosamax and were not adequately informed about the dangers to your femurs or of the dangers of osteonecrosis of the jaw, you should sit down with an attorney for a consultation. The attorney may be able to help you by filing a product liability lawsuit against the manufacturer, which has the potential to win enough compensation to help you pay for your injuries and to get on with your life.