subject: Fosamax Hazardous To The Jaw [print this page] Fosamax drug can cause an unfamiliar type of bone disease called osteonecrosis. It is also called as dead jaw since it affects that part of the body.
It is a rare form of jaw disease, a rare syndrome wherein the jaw bone tissue dies. The bisphosphonate (Fosamax) contradicts the supposed purpose of the drug itself, which is to strengthen the bones and prevent further bone loss. According to an article done by the Annals of Internal Medicine, the intravenous use of this drug is more dangerous compared to the oral use because of its longer side effect.
Symptoms:
Jaw/gum pain
Jaw/gum swelling
Jaw/gum infection
Exposed bone
Loose teeth
Loss of sensation
Dramatic gum loss
Furthermore, Fosamax and other related drugs can cause more problems such as bone joint pain, allergic reactions, gastrointestinal distress, etc. The pain the patient experiences is somewhat close arthritis. Alarmingly, there are approximately 10,000 to 20,000 new cases of Osteonecrosis diagnosed in the US.
Sadly, the cause of Osteonecrosis is unknown. There are some researchers who have theorized and said that bisphosphonate drugs can prevent the formation of new blood vessels within jawbone tissue. Without being able to produce new blood vessels, the natural healing process of jawbone tissue is compromised, allowing for the degradation of bone mass.
Treatment of Osteonecrosis
The diagnosis of the disease is through the use of tomographic or panoramic imaging scans. Sadly, theres no definite surgical treatment or solution for Osteonecrosis of the jaw. Surgery can be fatal and also can lead to patients inability to eat solid food. There are antibiotic treatments patients can take. Also there are removable apparatus he can use to protect the sections of the jawbone.
Fosamax Lawsuits
So far, there are about 15 Fosamax lawsuits filed against Merck & Co., the second largest US pharmaceutical company who manufactured the drug. One particular lawsuit was filed by a 60-year-old woman from Florida who was using the bisphosphonate drug to treat her osteoporosis. She had more than six years of Fosamax treatments. This caused the woman to develop a severe case of the disease. Her mouth rotted and exposed the jaw bone.
Drug manufacturers have the responsibility to ensure the safety of their products prior to selling them to the consumers. And failure to adequately warn the consumer can be held against them for negligence and grounds for legal action.
