Gilman Law LLP, a leading national law firm with over 30 years of experience protecting the rights of victims, is now accepting claims for lawsuits involving side effects such as femur fractures, Osteonecrosis of the Jaw (ONJ or “Dead Jaw Syndrome”), and esophageal cancer stemming from use of the bisphosphonates; Actonel, Aredia, Bonefos, Boniva, Fosamax, Didronel, Reclast, Skelid or Zometa.
If you or someone you know is suffering from femur fractures / thigh fractures, bone breaks or fractures, Osteonecrosis of the Jaw (ONJ or “Dead Jaw Syndrome”) or esophageal cancer and has been taking a bisphosphonates, including Actonel, Aredia, Bonefos, Boniva, Fosamax, Didronel, Reclast, Skelid and Zometa, Gilman Law is here to help.
If you are taking the bisphosphonate Fosamax, please visit our Fosamax Page
Bisphosphonate Side Effects and Symptoms
Femur Fractures (Atypical femur (thigh) fractures): Studies have shown that some post-menopausal women who use bisphosphonates for many years are more likely to sustain subtrochanteric (the bone just below the hip joint) and diaphyseal femur (the long part of the thigh bone) factures.
ONJ or Dead Jaw Syndrome: A painful bone disease marked by degradation of the jaw bone, gum loss, swelling and infection.
Esophageal cancer: A malignancy of the esophagus with a poor prognosis. Symptoms include swallowing difficulties, chest pain, and new or worsening heartburn.
FDA Warning on Atypical Femur Fractures
Subtrochanteric and diaphyseal femur fractures are extremely rare, accounting for less than 1% of all hip and femur fractures overall, according to the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA). However, a growing body of evidence has linked the use of bisphosphonates to these types of thigh fractures, especially in women who have taken the drugs for many years. In October 2010, the FDA was concerned enough about this potential bisphosphonate side effect that it asked the makers of these medications to add this information to the “Warnings and Precautions” section of the their labels. The FDA ordered the label change after a study involving over 300 women who sustained such fractures found that 94 percent had taken a bisphosphonate. Most had been on the drugs for five years or more.
FDA Warning on ONJ/Dead Jaw Syndrome
In July 2005, the FDA had bisphosphonate labels updated to include a warning regarding ONJ, or Dead Jaw Syndrome. The FDA order came after a 2004 review by the agency found 139 bisphosphonate-related ONJ cases. By October 28, 2005, 1,600 cases of bisphosphonate-related ONJ had been reported to the FDA. Dead Jaw Syndrome usually occurs following tooth extraction or other minor trauma, and the bone tissue fails to heal. This causes the bone to be exposed, leading to infections and fracture. Victims of ONJ may require long-term antibiotic therapy or surgery to remove the dying bone tissue.
FDA Safety Review of Bisphosphonates for Esophageal Cancer
In July 2011, the FDA issued a press release acknowledging a potential link between oral bisphosphonate drugs and an increased risk of esophageal cancer. According to the agency, it had received numerous reports of esophagitis (inflammation of the esophagus that is a risk factor for cancer) and esophageal events, particularly in individuals who do not follow specific directions when using bisphosphonate medications. The FDA review of oral bisphosphonates and esophageal cancer is ongoing.
What are Bisphosphonates?
Bisphosphonates are a class of drugs that prevent the loss of bone mass that are used to treat osteoporosis and similar diseases. Bone has constant turnover, and is kept in balance by osteoblasts creating bone and osteoclasts digesting bone. Bisphosphonates inhibit the digestion of bone by osteoclasts. Osteoclasts also have constant turnover and normally destroy themselves by apoptosis, a form of cell suicide. Bisphosphonates encourage osteoclasts to undergo apoptosis.
Some bisphosphonates are used for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis, as well as other bone diseases such as Paget’s disease. This class includes the oral bisphosphonates Fosamax (alendronate), Actonel (risedronate), Boniva (ibandronate), Atelvia (risedronate delayed release), Didronel (etidronate), and Skelid (tiludronate). Reclast (zoledronic acid), another bisphosphonate used to treat bone disorders, is given intravenously (IV), usually only once each year.
Aredia (pamidronate) and Zometa (zolendronic acid) are intravenous bisphosphonates that are used to treat cancer that has spread to the bone. They also help reduce pain from cancers that begin in the bone, such as multiple myeloma.
In recent years, bisphosphonate labels have been updated to include warnings about a number of side effects, including osteonecrosis of the Jaw (ONJ)/Dead Jaw Syndrome and severe bone, joint, or musculoskeletal pain. The labels of bisphosphonates used to treat osteoporosis now include information about a possible risk of atypical femur fractions. Recent studies have reported bisphosphonate use (to be specific, zoledronate and alendronate) as a risk factor for atrial fibrillation in women. A 2010 study suggests that the risk of esophageal cancer increased with 10 or more prescriptions for oral bisphosphonates and with prescriptions over about a five year period.
As evidence linking long-term use of Fosamax and other bisphosphonates to atypical femur fractures has accumulated, more and more women from around the country have filed lawsuits against the makers of these drugs, alleging they downplayed the serious risks posed by bisphosphonates. If you suffered an atypical femur fracture while taking Fosamax, Actonel, Boniva or another bisphosphonate, you may also want to consider filing your own bisphosphonate femur fracture lawsuit. The Fosamax femur facture lawyers at Gilman Law LLP are ready to assist. For a free evaluation of your potential Fosamax femur facture lawsuit, please fill out the online form on the left or call Toll Free at 1-888-252-0048.
How Do Bisphosphonates Cause Femur Fractures?
Reports that women taking bisphosphonates for osteoporosis, including Fosamax, Actonel, Atelvia, Didronel, Skelid, and Reclast, were suffering atypical femur fractures first began to surface around 2005. By October 2010, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) was so concerned about bisphosphonate femur fractures that it asked the makers of these medications to add this information to the “Warnings and Precautions” section of the their labels. The FDA’s request came on the heels of a study involving 300 postmenopausal women who had suffered atypical femur fractures. The vast majority of women in the study, 94%, had been taking a bisphosphonate when they were injured. And most of those women had been using the drugs for at least five years.
The types of broken bones suffered by users of Fosamax and other bisphosphonates are unusual, in that they don’t generally result from a lot of force or trauma placed on a bone. Some women have reported that they were doing ordinary things, such as taking a simple walk up a flight of steps, when they suffered a bisphosphonate femur fracture. Some victims of bisphosphonate femur fractures were merely standing when their bone snapped. In many women who suffered these broken bones, prior x-rays revealed what appeared to be normal bone density.
So why would drugs that are supposed to protect bone health be causing bone fractures of such an unusual nature? Ironically, it may have something to do with the way Fosamax and other bisphosphonates work to build bone. Bone loss occurs with age because the normal process of bone turnover removes more bone than it replaces. Bisphosphonates work by slowing the rate of bone turnover. But the slowing of bone turnover may also inhibit the repair of the tiny microscopic fractures that occur through normal wear and tear on the bones. While the bones of bisphosphonate users appear to be of normal density, this phenomena can cause them to become brittle. Under normal or minor stress, such brittle bones can break.
Studies suggest that women who use bisphosphonates like Fosamax for five-years or more face the highest risk of sustaining atypical fractures. Some doctors are now advising that women who have used Fosamax or other bisphosphonates for a number of years should take “holidays” from the drugs to reduce their risk. In 2010, a task force of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research advised that “patients who are deemed to be at low risk of osteoporotic-related fractures should not be started on bisphosphonates.”
As evidence linking long-term use of Fosamax and other bisphosphonates to atypical femur fractures has accumulated, more and more women from around the country have filed lawsuits against the makers of these drugs, alleging they downplayed the serious risks posed by bisphosphonates. If you suffered an atypical femur fracture while taking Fosamax or another bisphosphonate, you may also want to consider filing your own bisphosphonate femur fracture lawsuit. The Fosamax femur facture lawyers at Gilman Law LLP are ready to assist. For a free evaluation of your potential Fosamax femur facture lawsuit, please fill out the online form on the left or call Toll Free at 1-888-252-0048.
Legal Help for Victims of Bisphosphonate Side Effects
If you or someone you know is suffering from femur fractures or thigh fractures, bone breaks or fractures, Dead Jaw Syndrome or esophageal cancer following the use of bisphosphonates, including Actonel, Aredia, Bonefos, Boniva, Fosamax, Didronel, Reclast, Skelid and Zometa, Gilman Law is here to help. For a free evaluation of your case, please fill out the online form on the left or call Toll Free at 1-888-252-0048.
Bisphosphonates are a class of drugs that prevent the loss of bone mass that are used to treat osteoporosis and similar diseases. Bone has constant turnover, and is kept in balance by osteoblasts creating bone and osteoclasts digesting bone. Bisphosphonates inhibit the digestion of bone by osteoclasts. Osteoclasts also have constant turnover and normally destroy themselves by apoptosis, a form of cell suicide. Bisphosphonates encourage osteoclasts to undergo apoptosis.
Some bisphosphonates are used for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis, as well as other bone diseases such as Paget’s disease. This class includes the oral bisphosphonates Fosamax (alendronate), Actonel (risedronate), Boniva (ibandronate), Atelvia (risedronate delayed release), Didronel (etidronate), and Skelid (tiludronate). Reclast (zoledronic acid), another bisphosphonate used to treat bone disorders, is given intravenously (IV), usually only once each year.
Aredia (pamidronate) and Zometa (zolendronic acid) are intravenous bisphosphonates that are used to treat cancer that has spread to the bone. They also help reduce pain from cancers that begin in the bone, such as multiple myeloma.
In recent years, bisphosphonate labels have been updated to include warnings about a number of side effects, including osteonecrosis of the Jaw (ONJ)/Dead Jaw Syndrome and severe bone, joint, or musculoskeletal pain. The labels of bisphosphonates used to treat osteoporosis now include information about a possible risk of atypical femur fractions. Recent studies have reported bisphosphonate use (to be specific, zoledronate and alendronate) as a risk factor for atrial fibrillation in women. A 2010 study suggests that the risk of esophageal cancer increased with 10 or more prescriptions for oral bisphosphonates and with prescriptions over about a five year period.
Fosamax Femur Fracture Claim Form
Women throughout the country who have suffered atypical femur factures while taking Fosamax or other bisphosphonates are filing lawsuits against the manufacturers of these drugs for allegedly failing to warn users of their risks. The Fosamax femur fracture lawyers at Gilman Law LLP are currently evaluating claims on behalf of women injured by bisphosphonates used to treat osteoporosis, including Fosamax, Actonel, Boniva, Didronel, Skelid and Reclast. Gilman Law LLP is also evaluating claims on behalf of people who may have been injured by these and other bisphosphonates, including those used to treat cancer, such as Aredia and Zometa. Other possible bisphosphonate injuries being evaluated by Gilman Law LLP include Osteonecrosis of the Jaw (ONJ or Dead Jaw Syndrome) and esophageal cancer.
People injured by Fosamax or another bisphosphonate may be able to obtain compensation for their medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, mental anguish and other damages. If you would like to discuss a Fosamax femur fracture lawsuit or other bisphosphonate injury claim, please contact Gilman Law LLP today. For a free evaluation of your potential Fosamax femur fracture lawsuit, please fill out claim form above or call Toll Free at 1-888-252-0048.
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