A premier private pharmaceutical watchdog and advocacy group in the United States, the US Drug Watchdog, is intensifying its search for women who have suffered femur or thighbone fractures while taking the Osteoporosis drug Fosamax. Otherwise known as antiresorptive medicines, Bisphosphonate, a class of drug to which Fosamax (alendronate sodium) is grouped, slows or stops the natural process that dissolves bone tissue, resulting in maintained or increased bone density and strength. However, recent studies show how Fosamax might cause a femur fracture.

Since the first time it was made available to the public in 1995, Fosamax developed by Merck & Co. became one of the most prescribed drugs for the treatment of osteoporosis. Severe side effects suggested by recent studies to be associated with the long-term use of Fosamax and other Bisphosphonates are Femur fractures, osteonecrosis, musculoskeletal pain and esophageal cancer. At the risk of developing another ailment equally debilitating, the drug is known to prevent the development of osteoporosis or if osteoporosis already has developed, slow the rate of bone thinning reducing the risk of broken bones.

The US Drug Watchdog said that one of the biggest problems the group has with respect to its drug initiative work is that the average US consumer never hears about a drug recall, or serious side effects related to a specific drug's use. With regards to Fosamax, the group is trying to identify women, who have taken the drug for five years, or more, and for no apparent reason suffered a broken femur, or thigh bone. Also called atypical fractures as it could happen suddenly and without warning, these types of leg breaks could be a particularly serious Fosamax side effect, the group said.

“Most importantly we want to get the word out about Fosamax, and long term users, who have suffered from an unexplainable broken femur or broken leg,” said the US Drug Watchdog, adding that “At the same time, we want to make certain all Fosamax users, who suffered an unexplained broken femur, or thigh bone get to the actual trial law firms or attorneys, that have the best record in achieving superior results for their clients—period.”

The side effects of Fosamax suffered by many women are no fluke while the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has yet to put up a firm stance with regards to Fosamax despite releasing a safety warning last year. Last February, the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) came out with a Canadian medical study which pointed to a higher risk of a certain type of thighbone fracture in women who take bisphosphonates such as Fosamax for long periods.


Related article: * How Fosamax Is Affected With Other Substances (fosamaxsideeffects.typepad.com)