Defective Drug Fosamax Can Lead to “Dead Jaw”
“Death Jaw” is another name for jaw osteonecrosis (ONJ), a jaw bone decay disease that involves the breaking down and loss or “death” of the jaw bone. Recent research has linked instances of ONJ to Fosamax medication and other similar bisphosphonates. Although the exact nature of the relationship is unknown, medical providers agree that there is no definite way to treat ONJ and that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued multiple reports concluding that Fosamax is exercising misrepresentation of product and does not do a good enough job warning patients about the possibility of osteonecrosis and ONJ side effects.
Fosamax (Aldenodrate) belongs to a class of drugs called bisphosphonates and was granted FDA approval in 1995. Bisphosphonates are used to improve bone density, by maintaining or increasing the volume of minerals and calcium within the bones. It is often taken to combat the bone density disease commonly referred to as osteoporosis. Fosamax is manufactured by Merck & Co., a pharmaceutical company that courts are currently holding legally responsible for the companies arthritis drug Vioxx because of the drugs correlation to patient heart attacks.
In August of 2004, the FDA’s Office of Drug Safety issued a report on Fosamax concluding that the drugs warning label and packaging should be modified to include a warning about osteonecrosis; however, it was not until July of 2005 that Fosamax took any steps to revising the label. A debate currently exists as to whether or not the current label adequately advises patients and health care providers about the dangers of ONJ and osteonecrosis. Additionally, Merck continues to deny any connection between its drug and these terrible irreversible conditions; however, as recently as January 5, 2009, the FDA has released an update stating that Fosamax and other bisphosphonates might increase the risk of developing a jaw infection.
If you are currently taking, or have taken, one of these drugs and experienced any unusual side effects or suffered injury, you should immediately contact your health care professional for proper medical advice. Then, contact the top Missouri personal injury attorney at the Page Cagle Law Firm for a free consultation.
