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Fosamax Injury Claims
Oregon & Washington Lawyers

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Fosamax is a common prescription drug prescribed to people to prevent bone loss as a result of osteoporosis. In a single year recently, doctors wrote nearly 40 million Fosamax prescriptions for men and women.

Fosamax is a prescription drug manufactured and distributed by the pharmaceutical company, Merck. The generic name for Fosamax is alendronate sodium. It is a bisphosphonate and is used to treat bones. The FDA approved Fosamax to be released to the public in 1995.

In December of 2004, a study conducted by the Long Island Jewish Medical Center demonstrated that there might be a link between bisphosphonate, drugs like Fosamax, and a bone condition called Osteonecrosis of the Jaw (ONJ), also known as Jaw Necrosis, Fossy Jaw, and Dead Jaw.

Osteonecrosis of the Jaw (ONJ) is a serious disease that must be treated as soon as possible. ONJ is caused by the jawbone becoming infected, causing the bone to deteriorate and collapse.

Users of Fosamax have suffered from ONJ. In addition, patients who have undergone invasive dental procedures like tooth extractions, while taking Fosamax, seem to be more at risk for developing ONJ. Merck, the manufacturer of the drug, failed to warn doctors, dentists, or patients about the link between Fosamax and ONJ and only revised its warning at the end of 2006.

Of all potential side effects caused by taking Fosamax, ONJ is the most serious. Some of the most common symptoms of ONJ include:

  • Pain, swelling, or infection of the gums
  • Feeling of numbness in the jaw
  • Jaw feeling "heavy"
  • Pain, burning, or tingling in the jaw
  • Loose teeth
  • Loss of jaw movement

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with ONJ while taking Fosamax, or after having taken Fosamax in the past, you may be able to recover compensation for the losses you have suffered. Contact the defective drug attorneys at Fuller and Fuller Law Firm to schedule your free initial consultation.