Are you at risk for Bone Death?

The drug Fosamax, prescribed to prevent osteporosis and Paget’s disease, has been linked to a very serious and painful condition known as osteonecrosis – or “bone death.” Osteonecrosis occurs when the bone tissue in the jaw fails to heal after minor trauma, such as a tooth extraction, exposing the bone. The exposure eventually causes the bone to become infected and fractured, rotting out the jaw over time until the dead bone tissue must be surgically removed.

Fosamax (alendronate), manufactured by Merck & Company is a bisphosphonate medication that alters the cycle of bone formation and breakdown in the body – and is often used to increase bone mass and reduce fractures. However, when bone material is altered, bones can become frailer, putting patients at risk of fracture and osteonecrosis. Adding insult to injury, the majority of cases occur in cancer patients after a dental procedure.

If you suffer from osteonecrosis, you deserve answers and immediate assistance. Contact the attorneys at Brown & Crouppen by calling 1-888-891-2022 today – we are familiar with these cases and we are ready to help.

The discovery of the Fosamax-osteonecrosis connection was first published in the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons in May 2004. That information prompted the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to require that all bisphosphonate labels include warnings about osteonecrosis. Other drug companies updated their labels in 2004 – yet to date, Merck has not included the warning on its Fosamax label.

Bisphosphonates remain in bone indefinitely. Symptoms of bone death in the jaw include: