Fosamax and Its Patients

The biphosphonate Fosamax and its potentially dangerous, long-term side effects have been published in many studies. The drug is supposed to help treat osteoporosis but things seem to turn out differently. Based on these studies, women who are 68 or older and have taken Fosamax for over five years have about a three-percent chance of suffering from a femoral shaft fracture than those who used the drugs for less than 100 days. On the other hand, Fosamax risks are not seen on other biphosphonate drugs, which is quite interesting.

Fosamax has been a very popular seller for its distributor, Merck & Co. According to sales figures compiled since its introduction to the public, Fosamax has had a steady prescription rate of around 1.5 million per year. Sales striking billions in US dollars might have resulted from these prescriptions.

There are many patients claiming that Merck failed to give adequate warning labels on their product. Information regarding the potential side effects of the drug were not readily available to the public, according to industry publications. As regard bone death and several other allegations, there have been at least 100 different cases filed against Merck. These cases were filed since 2006 in a multidistrict litigation venue in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey. One bellwether trial has already been heard and disposed of. Jaw bone death and femur fracture cases, however, have been separated from each other as they have been deemed exclusive from each other.

The insufficient warning labels on the product might have been the origin of these claims. Many affected users have stated that if they had known of the dangerous side effects of Fosamax, they would have never used the drug in the first place. However, a Fosamax lawsuit has already been filed because many people have already suffered a Fosamax femur fracture. Through this recovery lawsuit, the ones responsible for the sufferings they have gone through will compensate them fairly for the damage.

References:
http://www.examiner.com/women-s-health-in-los-angeles/denosumab-for-osteoporosis-no-atypical-fractures