subject: According To Study, Fosamax And Femur Fractures [print this page] For many years Fosamax has been a popular prescription drug for those who suffer from osteoporosis. The drug is supposed to help the body create more bone mass and help reduce the risk of bone fractures due to osteoporosis. However, with the innovation of new technology like vibration therapy and reports of Fosamax possibly linked to low-impact femur fractures, potential users of Fosamax may want to weigh the pros and cons of Fosamax use.
The 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. Because of its size and density, the femur is one of the most difficult bones in the body to break or fracture. However, in the March 20, 2008 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine it was found that Fosamax may have a direct correlation to several women suffering from low-impact femur fractures.
The study revealed that several women, all of whom had been taking Fosamax for over five years for osteoporosis, suffered from low-impact femur fracture. According to the authors of the study, "Our results provide further evidence of a potential link between alendronate (Fosamax) use and low-energy fractures of the femur." These authors also explained that more research would be required toward confirming the link.
The makers of Fosamax, Merck, was forced to make a public statement about the results of the study. Merck spokesman Ron Rogers says "Fosamax has not been associated with an increased risk of fracture at any skeletal site." Rogers also noted that this study did not prove a cause-and-effect relationship between the drug and these unusual fractures, and that the researchers noted that 63 percent of women treated for low-energy fractures were not taking bisphosphonates at all.
After the publication of the study by the NEJM and several other studies showing the possible connection between Fosamax and femur fractures, the FDA issued a new warning. 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.
