Femur fractures may happen anytime. There can be many reasons why this bone condition happens but even mundane activities can be enough of a reason like athletic jumping on a rope with your neighborhood children. This condition has started many researches and the use of biphosphonate drugs like Fosamax were found out to result in femur fractures. Fosamax and another biphosphonate are now being tested on space stations.

Fosamax belongs to a class of drugs called biphosphonates, which are used in preventing the loss of bone mass and is usually prescribed as treatment for osteoporosis. Unexpectedly, the number of reports from Fosamax users claiming that they sustained spontaneous fracture as a result of the long-term use of the drug continues to rise.

The break in the continuity of the bone that occurs even without the use of any force or involvement of trauma is what we call a spontaneous fracture. Mundane activities like walking down the steps and standing for a certain duration or playing jumping rope with kids were the only things engaged when the break in the bone may happen.

Long-terms users of this drug reported that it is not only femoral fractures they are experiencing as a side effect of this particular biphosphonate. Fosamax is also connected to medical conditions like osteonecrosis of the jaw, also known to many as ONJ, Dead Jay or Bis-Phossy Jaw, as well as severe musculoskeletal pain. Its manufacturer Merck may already have known about the risks for ONJ but chose to do without properly informing the patients.

As a biphosphonate, Fosamax alters the bone cycle formation and reduces the bone density. This mechanism of action also prevents bone resorption, exposing its patients to certain types of bone break. Postmenopausal women have been prescribed with biphosphonates but there is no indication regarding the length of use. Right now, doctors are putting a five-year limit to the course of treatment using biphosphonates.

Biphosphonates have been very popular that around 37 million prescriptions were written for it around 2008. It is depressing when you think about the number of women out there suffering from brittle bones and may sustain spontaneous fracture as a result of the long-term use of the drug. These kind of situations have actually led to many people filing a Fosamax class action lawsuit.