Consumer Alert:

Fosamax: Heart problems, cancer, and bone fractures

By Welch, Gold & Siegel – Pre-Paid Legal Services, Inc., Pennsylvania

In 2006, doctors wrote more than 20 million prescriptions for Fosamax to the tune of almost $2 million.

Fosamax: The best selling osteoporosis drug is not without serious life threatening side effects. 
Knowing the associated risks of heart disease and possible link to atrial fibrillation, stroke and breast cancer for hormones, ulcers of the esophagus and stomach, and jaw decay for Fosamax -- raise your hand if you want to follow your doctors' orders?

In 2007, a study in the New England Journal of Medicine reinforced your concerns. The study found a possible link between the use of Fosamax and atrial fibrillation or irregular heartbeat -- a finding also suggested in earlier research.

In 2008, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued an alert to doctors about the possibility of severe bone pain occurring as a result of Fosamax therapy. Also, previously Fosamax was implicated in some cases of atrial fibrillation, a serious type of irregular heartbeat.

Researchers report that long-term use of Fosamax is associated with unusual fractures of the thigh bone.

Does this make sense? Fosamax advertises that it builds bone not breaks bone. The thigh fractures were low-energy fractures, meaning they occurred from a fall from standing height or less, and the bone cracks were in an unusual horizontal pattern. About one-third of women with these types of thigh fractures were on long-term Fosamax therapy to prevent osteoporosis.

Of these women who suffered these unusual thigh fractures, two-thirds had taken Fosamax for an average of more than seven years.

These unusual thigh fractures occurred when the women were basically doing nothing.
Researchers concluded there was a potential link between Fosamax and low-energy fractures of the femur. The study is published in the March 20, 2008 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. Authors acknowledge the limitations of their retrospective analysis and suggested these findings need to be confirmed in a prospective study.

There are several theories as to how Fosamax could be related to these fractures. One is that the drug slows down the development of new collagen. Another could be because there is slower bone turnover on the medications. That could mean there may be accumulated micro-damage in the bone, making it more susceptible to fracture in certain women.

Have you suffered life threatening side effects from Fosamax?

Talk to Welch Gold Siegel, PA Pre-Paid Lawyers to find out what your legal options are.