Bone Fractures Maybe Caused by Fosamax - By: Ronald K. Redman

Fosamax has now been on the market for many years, and during that time it has become a popular treatment for osteoporosis. Fosamax was designed to help the body create more bone mass, thus reducing the risk of bone fractures due to osteoporosis. With new medical techniques like vibration therapy and reports that Fosamax can cause low-impact femur fractures, one may want to take caution and see if advantages taking Fosamax are greater than the danger.\r\n\r\nThe thigh bone, or femur, is the largest bone in the human body. The femur is part of two important joints, the hip join at the top of the femur and the knee joint at the bottom. Being the largest bone in the body also makes it difficult to break or fracture. The March 20, 2008 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine published a study which showed that Fosamax may potentially have a direct link to several women who suffered low-impact femur fractures.\r\n\r\nIt was shown in this study that several women who had been taking Fosamax for over five years, had suffered unexplainable femur fractures from low-impact activities such as walking. \\\"Our results provide further evidence of a potential link between alendronate (Fosamax) use and low-energy fractures of the femur,\\\" according to the authors of the study The authors, however, say that more research would be needed to confirm the link between the two.\r\n\r\nIn response to the publication of the study, Merck released a statement. Merck spokesman Ron Rogers says \\\"Fosamax has not been associated with an increased risk of fracture at any skeletal site.\\\" Rogers goes on to say that this study did not prove that there is a direct link between Fosamax and these Femur fractures, and that the notes of the authors state that 63 percent of women treated for low-energy fractures were not taking bisphosphonates at all.\r\n\r\nSoon after the study in the NEJM was published, as well as several other studies, the FDA issued a new warning for Fosamax. This FDA warning states that there is a possible link between Fosamax use and bone fractures. The new warning by the FDA may protect doctors from Fosamax lawsuits as patients would now be fully aware of the possibility of this type of fracture occurring.\r\n

About the Author

This is one of the many facts about the effects of fosamax when use for medication of bone disease. - Ronald Redman

Article Directory Source: http://www.articlerich.com/profile/Ronald-K--Redman/172117

Additional Articles From - Home | Disease & illness | Osteoporosis