According to researchers, experiencing bone fractures is higher among people suffering from osteoporosis. This has to do with the known conditions that make the bone weaker. For these people, a biphosphonate medication is often recommended. For a biphosphonate medication, one of the best example is the drug called Fosamax. Right now, as issues with this drug surfaced, the number of people filing complaints kept on rising, which shows how popular the drug has become. However, if its history is traced, it wasn’t really that famous. Actually, Merck found ways to create a Fosamax demand.


Osteoporosis patients are usually treated with biphosphonates, an antiresorptive or bone anabolic agent commonly prescribed by doctors to prevent bone fracture. Bone fracture is prevented by the mechanism of action of biphosphonates, which includes its ability to fortify the bone structure and prevent the dreaded bone fracture possibility in osteoporosis. Over four years of Fosamax use, reports from long-time Fosamax users show that the drug caused unfavorable adverse effects, such as atypical, low-impact femur fracture, among the other Fosamax complications reported.


The issue concerning Fosamax's link with femur fracture complications has triggered research studies created to better understand the root of all the claims and reports circulating around the biphosphonate drug. One of the notable studies published was an article entitled “Bisphosphonate Use and Atypical Fractures of the Femoral Shaft,” which was released along with the New England Journal of Medicine May issue. It was meant to shed light on those side effects. Many doctors were jolted by the study considering some of them were convinced of the drug's harmful complications. However, other medical practitioners think that the benefits rendered by the drug is valuable than its adverse effects. Dr. Per Aspenberg, who led the team of researchers involved in the controversial study, claimed that “These population-based nationwide analysis may be reassuring for patients who receive bisphosphonates … Although there was a high prevalence of current bisphosphonate use among patients with atypical fractures, the absolute risk was small.”


A constant increase is seen on the number of people filing for a Fosamax lawsuit. Many people are complaining of experiencing atypical and low-impact femur fracture. These people are not going to decrease their number soon as trends suggest.


References:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=121609815