Innocent victims are entitled to justice to help rectify the wrong done to them. For 30 years, the attorneys of Gary C. Johnson, P.S.C. have always made sure our clients understand their rights and options, and received compensation for their injuries.

Fosamax, a medication used for bone loss, has been implicated in the serious necrosis of the jaw and other bones, a condition known as "osteonecrosis" (ONJ) – also called "bone death." Recent studies suggest a link between the use of bisphosphonates, such as Fosamax and osteonecrosis. This condition is associated with the interference of the blood supply to the bone and the consequential damage that occurs.

With ONJ, 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.

The majority of the reported cases are in cancer patients who have had, or are having, a dental procedure. Patients taking Fosamax or other bisphosphonates should avoid having major dental work while they are on the medication due to increased risk of ONJ.

The discovery of the Fosamax-osteonecrosis connection was first published in the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons in May 2004. That information prompted the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to require that all bisphosphonate labels should mention osteonecrosis. Other drug companies updated their labels to include the warnings in 2004. To date, Merck has not included the warning on its Fosamax label.

Bisphosphonates remain in bone indefinitely. Symptoms of bone death in the jaw include:

• Pain
• Swelling
• Infection of the gums
• Loosening of the teeth
• Poor healing of the gums
• Numbness, or a feeling of heaviness in the jaw
• Exposed bone.

In August 2004, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration asked Merck to add a warning to Fosamax's label, but the company has yet to comply with that request. In a statement, Merck said that in all of its clinical trials of Fosamax, which have included more than 17,000 patients, it has not had any reports of osteonecrosis of the jaw. Merck said that there have been reports of patients taking Fosamax developing the condition but that doesn't necessarily mean the drug caused it.

Fosamax can also irritate the esophagus, and care must be taken in order to avoid such irritation. Recently, researchers discovered that taking Fosamax in combination with the popular arthritis drug Naproxen may increase the risk of developing stomach ulcers.

Fosamax is taken by nearly 10 million men and women. It is Merck's second best-selling drug with last year's revenue at $3.2 billion.

At Gary C. Johnson, P.S.C., we can help you understand your rights and options, and seek compensation for your injuries. If you or a loved one has experienced any of the side effects or injuries from Fosamax, please contact us today at (800) 337-4002 or through our online form for a free initial consultation to discuss your case and your rights under the law. We will vigorously pursue the maximum allowable compensation. You can count on our honest evaluation of your claim, the law, and our experience with personal injury cases.

Please see our Frequently Asked Questions for more information on Fosamax.