Fosamax is meant to keep your bones strong (prevent osteoporosis), but it  may do just the opposite.

It could potentially be the latest in legal trouble for the drug company Merck, which is still reeling from the Vioxx scandal. Michael Schwartz, an oral surgeon in Baltimore says most doctors aren’t even aware of the problems Fosamax can cause. It belongs to a class of drugs called bisphosphonates, which also include the pills Actonel and Boniva and the IV drugs Aredia and Zometa, which are typically used in cancer patients.

Sheldon Gottesfeld has an area of his jaw that’s literally dead. It’s called osteonecrosis of the jaw and after 11 years after being successfully treated for leukemia, Sheldon’s losing his teeth. Not from cancer, but his doctor believe from taking Fosomax and Zomata as a preventative measure. For patients like Sheldon, a simple tooth extraction can shatter the jaw. Reconstructive surgery can be disfiguring and may not heal. Sheldon is worried, he might need two teeth pulled.

Merck added a warning to its U.S. labels at the request of the FDA. That label is actually a 22-page document which is given to pharmacies that dispense Fosamax. The item on osteonecrosis of the jaw is buried in the middle of page 13. Sheldon stopped taking Fosamax and Zomata, but doctors say they can stay in the body for up to 10 years. So the worst many not be over. Drugs like Fosamax are effective against osteoporosis, so for now no one is suggesting you stop taking them. Complications like dead jaw are considered rare, but, expect to hear more about the problem as doctors and patients become more aware of this condition, as well as a class action lawsuit.

Injury and Side Effects

Fosamax (generic name Alendronate).
Fosamax, Zometa and Aredia are types of drugs known as bisphosphonates. Recently, a link has been found between bisphosphonates and a serious bone disease called osteonecrosis of the jaw ONJ. This important discovery clearly shows that Fosamax and Zometa side effects may include osteonecrosis of the jaw also known as Dead Jaw. The discovery published in the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons prompted both the US Food and Drug Administration FDA and Novartis the manufacturer of bisphosphonates used in cancer chemotherapy to issue a warning to health care professionals on September 24 2004. The warning letter contained information about bisphosphonates and the risks of osteonecrosis in the jaw. Bisphosphonates are commonly used in tablet form such as Fosamax Alendronate Sodium to prevent and treat osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. Stronger forms of bisphosphonates are commonly used in the management of advanced cancers that have metastasized to the bone where the disease often causes bone pain and possibly even fractures.

The pharmaceutical industry has developed and marketed numerous amounts of medications to prevent and treat these conditions, but unfortunately all of these drugs have severe side effects. Because the medications alter basic bodily functions so dramatically, the consequences of taking these medications can be sometimes be awful. Additional side effects can often include sleeplessness, nausea and fatigue.

History

Alendronate Sodium or brand name is Fosamax caused quite a bit of excitement because it was the first drug to reverse the bone loss of osteoporosis in post-menopausal women.

It is a class of drugs called diphosphate. More specifically it is an aminobisphosphonate. Phosphates are an important element in bone formation. The structure of this drug combines phosphates with what is called an amino group. Amino groups are common in human biochemistry in a variety of settings. Amino acids often carry small electrical charges, and have a unique spatial configuration depending on their structures. With this drug, the amino groups' properties help the drug attach to its intended site of action--the bone. Once there, it can decrease bone loss.