FOSAMAX® CAUSES PAINFUL FOSSY JAW

Fosamax®, a popular osteoporosis drug, has been linked to a serious bone disease called Osteonecrosis of the Jaw (ONJ), also known as "dead jaw" and "fossy jaw". This finding has been published in the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, which prompted the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to review the safety of Fosamax® and other drugs in its class (bisphosphonate drugs). On January 31, 2005, Merck, the manufacturer of Fosamax®, received a request for data from the FDA to update the label for Fosamax® to include labeling for the jawbone tissue disease. The revised label was not made available until July 2005.

If you have used Fosamax® and have suffered any jaw injury or disease, please complete our short CONFIDENTIAL contact form on the right side of this page or call us immediately at TOLL FREE 1800-467-4000. We will thoroughly examine your case, answer your questions, and inform you of your legal rights and options.

About Fosamax®
Fosamax® (Generic: Alendronate Sodium), manufactured by Merck, gained FDA approval in 1995. Fosamax® Plus D (Generic: Alendronate Sodium Cholecalciferol) contains Vitamin D. Fosamax® is prescribed to treat osteoporosis and Paget's disease. Fosamax® is a type of drug known as a bisphosphonate. Individuals using Fosamax® or other bisphosphonate medications should attempt to steer clear of tooth extractions and other major dental work while on the drugs.

About Osteonecrosis of the Jaw (ONJ)
Osteonecrosis of the Jaw (ONJ) is a condition in which the bone tissue in the jaw fails to heal after minor trauma such as a tooth extraction, causing the bone to be exposed. The exposure can eventually lead to infection and fracture and may require long-term antibiotic therapy or surgery to remove the dying bone tissue. Experts say that prevention and early treatment of patients using bisphosphonates such as Fosamax® is extremely important in preserving the jawbone. Signs and symptoms of ONJ may include: jaw pain, swelling of the gums, loose teeth, drainage, exposed jaw bone, numbness, or a feeling of heaviness in the jaw. Loss of blood supply to the jaw precedes the development of ONJ. Fosamax® reduces the activity of the cells that cause bone loss, which is supposed to decrease the rapid rate of bone loss in women after menopause. However, this exact mechanism may be what causes osteonecrosis of the jawbone.