Fosamax Attorney Washington, DC
If you have suffered a bone fracture after taking Fosamax, it may be in your best interest to discuss your situation with a Fosamax attorney in Washington, DC. They may be able to help you seek monetary compensation for your injury.
Fosamax is a medication prescribed to adults that have been diagnosed with osteoporosis or osteopenia. These are bone conditions that cause porous bones and a high risk of fracture. These bone conditions are much more common in women than they are in men, especially post-menopausal women, but approximately one out of five people who suffer from them are men. Numerous studies have been done that indicate a clear link between people who took Fosamax and later experienced fractures of the femur bone that were not caused by a traumatic fall.
Compensation for Fosamax
If you have broken your femur or another bone without a traumatic incident causing it and you have taken Fosamax, a Washington, DC Fosamax attorney may be able to help you. If you have broken a bone performing a normal, every day movement, such as stepping off of a curb, twisting around, or bending over to pick something up, you may be entitled to compensation for expenses related to your injury as well as for your pain and suffering. Medical literature is beginning to reflect confirmation that there are clear risks to taking Fosamax, especially in the long term.
Fosamax
Fosamax was first approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1995. Since then, its manufacturer, Merck has sold over three billion dollars worth of this product. Merck’s patent for Fosamax expired in 2008 and a new generic version of it, alendronate sodium, was made available to consumers.
Over 3,000 class-action lawsuits have been filed against Merck for cases of atypical or spontaneous fractures since Fosamax was first approved by the FDA.
Fosamax works by slowing bone loss, which helps to reduce the risk of broken bones and fractures. It belongs in a class of drugs called bisphosphonates. The way Fosamax works is that it clings to the matrix of bone and causes a disruption of the normal breaking down of the old bone and building up of the new bone. This process slows down with age regardless of whether or not a person has osteoporosis but when Fosamax is used, it also slows the new bone from forming. This older and harder, more brittle bone thus becomes more prone to breaks and fractures.
In addition to causing serious fractures, the following medical conditions have also been linked to Fosamax:
- Esophageal Ulcers An esophageal ulcer is a type of peptic ulcer that is located in the lining of the lower part of the esophagus, at the junction of the esophagus and stomach.
- Stevens-Johnson Syndrome/ Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (SJS/TEN) SJS/TEN is a severe skin reaction that can be triggered by Fosamax. This condition was once thought of as separate from one another but are now considered part of a continuum where SJS represents the less severe spectrum of the disease and TEN is considered to be on the more severe end of the disease’s spectrum.
- Uveitis is a form of eye inflammation that affects the middle layer of tissue in the eyewall.
- Osteonecrosis of the Jaw (ONJ) ONJ occurs when the jaw bone is exposed and begins to starve from lack of blood.
If you or someone you care about has suffered from taking Fosamax, contact a reputable personal injury attorney that can help. For a highly rated Fosamax attorney in Washington, DC, contact Cohen & Cohen for a free case evaluation with no obligations.
