Fosamax Femur Fracture
Bone density drugs for treatment of osteoporosis have become the standard treatment for women suffering from this disorder. However, a growing number of case reports describe women who developed fractures involving the femur after long term bisphosphonate therapy. Fosamax is one bisphosphonate drug, others are Actonel, Aredia, Bonefos, Boniva, Didronel, Reclast, Skelid and Zometa.
On September 14, 2010, the Food and Drug Administration (hereafter the FDA ) recommended that healthcare professionals be aware of the possible risk of unusual femur fractures in patients taking bisphosphonates. Patients should talk to their healthcare professional if they develop new thigh or groin pain so that they may be evaluated to rule out a femur fracture. Patients should not stop taking their medication unless told to do so by their healthcare professional. Patients and healthcare professionals should report any side effects with the use of bisphosphonates to FDA’s MedWatch program.
On February 23, 2011, The Journal of American Medical Association published a major study entitled: Bisphosphonate Use and the Risk of Subtrochanteric or Femoral Shaft Fractures in Older Women. http://jama.ama-assn.org/content/305/8/783.short. The study compared long term users of bisphosphonate drugs with intermittent user of bisphosphonate drugs. The study concluded that among older women, treatment with a bisphosphonate drug for more than five years was associated with an increased risk of subtrochanteric or femoral shaft fractures. The authors suggested that perhaps a drug holiday from bisphosphonate use would be a good idea. However, the discontinuation of any medication should be discussed with your physician.
On February 28, 2011 National Public Radio (NPR) reported on unique fractures associated with use of osteoporosis drugs. NPR reported about a rare bone fracture and discussed what happened to Dr. Jennifer Schneider as she was travelling on a New York City subway when the train jolted and she shifted her weight onto her right leg. Suddenly, her thighbone snapped and she collapsed to the floor.
“I could hear it and I could feel it,” Schneider says. “I knew it was broken, instantly. I could not understand how this possibly could have happened from standing on a train.”
NPR link: http://www.npr.org/2011/02/28/134064950/rare-fractures-linked-to-drugs-for-weak-bones
Some of the drugs are known as Fosamax, Actonel, Boniva and Reclast.
If you or a loved one has fractured a femur while on a Bone Density Medication/Bisphosphonate Medication such as Fosamax, contact the James Esparza Law Firm for a confidential consultation of your legal rights. Call now at 1-800-745-4050 or use the Contact Us/Do I Have A Case? feature on our web site. The James Esparza Law Firm accepts Fosamax cases from all over the United States.
Links:
http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/video/osteoporosis-drug-blamed-leg-breaks-10046727
http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/story/2011/02/23/osteoporosis-bisphosphonate-femur-fracture.html
http://www.ejbjs.org/cgi/content/abstract/91/11/2556
