Fosamax is a biphosphonate class of drug that works by altering the bone cycle reducing bone breakdown eventually increasing bone mass. Medical practitioners are given the authority by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to prescribe Fosamax, otherwise known generically as alendronate sodium, as prevention or treatment for osteoporosis in both male and female. It is also advised as a treatment for Paget’sDisease. Also, your doctor may order you to take the drug for indications not authorized by the FDA when your medical condition requires such treatment.

The act of giving the drug for an indication, dose, or form of administration that has not been recognized by the FDA is regarded as an off-label use. Doctors have found out that Fosamax may be given to treat cancers that have affects the bone structures. Some of these cancers are lung, breast, multiple myeloma and prostate cancers. Also, treatment for overdose in vitamin D and osteoporosis due to an injury in the spine are among the off-label use of the drug.

Significant weight loss is one of the side effects of biphosphonate that appears to be very appealing to some young adults. Even so, taking the drug in order to drop some weight may be inappropriate because it entails more danger. Consult your doctor and be advised on what medication is more appropriate for you to lose weight.

Off-label use of drug, particularly those that are not advised by your medical practitioner, will only bring unnecessary problems to your health. The unintended effects of Fosamax include bleeding and ulcerations of the esophagus and, in worse cases, the death of your jaw bone also known as osteonecrosis of the jaw. Moreover, there are mounting reports that prolonged use of this drug may lead to a certain type of Fosamax femur fracture. Sustaining an adverse effect of Fosamax that Merck, its manufacturer, failed to disclose to the public may be a solid basis for filing a lawsuit. But you might have a problem defending your side of litigation if it turns out that you are taking the drug for an off-label use. It is important to always be careful.

References:

npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=121609815
capecodonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20111229/LIFE/112290301/-1/LIFE03

People wield so much effort to thwart or to treat osteoporosis; yet some of their practices may not be helping at all. For instance, soy supplements do not lessen symptoms of osteoporosis which many have included in their treatment regimen.

To determine if you are a candidate for osteoporosis, your bone mineral density (BMD) is being measured. Diagnostics for osteoporosis are essential in your therapy and we have listed the most commonly used tools to make you familiar with those tests.

Dexa Scan (Dual X-ray Absorptiometry or DXA)

DXA is the most preferred technique to measure BMD. A DXA scanner produces 2 x-ray beams with different energy levels, one beam with high energy while the other with low energy level. The thickness of the bone is determined by the amount of x-rays passing through the bones and from there the BMD can be measured.

Quantitative Computed Tomography

QCT bone densitometry uses high amount of exposure to radiation and costs a lot of money causing it to be unavailable for general clinical use. This method uses a CT scanner to get a detailed picture of your bones. This technique is 3-dimensional which makes it 2-3 times more accurate than the DXA scan.

Ultrasonography

The ultrasound is a relatively new diagnostic tool to measure BMD which does not require the use of radiation. The BMD is computed with the help of ultrasonic beam directed to a specific area to let waves be scattered and absorbed. Perhaps because it’s a relatively new tool, the results of ultrasound however, is not as precise as the previous two methods and considerable studies are still being conducted.

Life with osteoporosis is never a joke. The disease itself is already a big distress and the adverse effects of its treatment drug bisphosphonates may also be another. Like in the case of some long-term Fosamax users who are now contending for a lawsuit against the drug company after allegedly being harmed by the drug. Now, as these lawsuits kept on increasing in number, the makers of the drug have to face a Fosamax class action lawsuit.

References:

newportbodyscan.com/OsteoporosisFAQ%27s.htm#6
webmd.com/osteoporosis/guide/dexa-scan

Since 2003, there have been reports of a possible link between Fosamax and a rare disorder called osteonecrosis, or bone death involving the jaw, a condition marked by pain, swelling, infection and exposed bone.The bulk of the cases of recorded osteonecrosis of the jaw have involved cancer patients who had been going through chemotherapy and had been given Fosamax via IV to treat the cancer that had spread to the bones.

There have been however, a small number of instances were osteonecrosis was report in where the patient had been taking Fosamax orally for osteoporosis.Many of these cases have been when the patient has had an active dental disease or a recent dental procedure done, such as tooth extraction.Osteonecrosis of the jaw is a serious disorder, so is osteoporosis, if you take Fosamax for osteoporosis, don’t stop taking the medication without consulting your doctor.

If you take Fosamax tablets once daily: If you forget to take this medicine first thing in the morning, do not take it later in the day.Wait until the following morning to take the medicine and skip the missed dose, do not take two tablets in one day.If you are taking Fosamax once a week and miss your dosage on the prescribed day, take your dosage the following day.After which return to your prescribed day on the following week, again do not take two Fosamax tablets in one day.

Fosamax is one the most widely prescribed drugs for osteoporosis, however there has been an increase in Fosamax Lawsuits as many patients have begun to report injuries because of the side effects of the drug.If you believe that you have been experiencing any adverse side effects of Fosamax use it is important that you visit your doctor as soon as possible.

URL References:

http://www.drugs.com/fosamax.html

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/fosamax/AN01379

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URL References:

http://www.drugs.com/fosamax.html

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/fosamax/AN01379

Related articles

• Know the Possible Side Effects of Fosamax (fosamaxfracturelawsuit.typepad.com)

Addictive

Coffee has caffeine as its main ingredient and is known for its addictive or habit-forming properties. Like how drugs can be addicting is how also coffee addiction works. Once you start drinking coffee, you will find it difficult to resist drinking it again. Your body will look for the effects that coffee brings. Then an increasing amount of it must be needed in the long run. Feelings of drowsiness and grogginess will then occur when you are unable to take the substance.

Diuretic

The presence of diuretic properties can be seen n coffee. The body will then be accustomed to the occurrence of frequent urine discharge. Once you fail to drink coffee, your body will react negatively, which can be a problem.

Increased Stress

When coffee is taken in, the body’s response to stress can eb exaggerated. When one is under stress, blood pressure increases. The constant increase of blood pressure is bad because heart problems and other medical conditions can occur.

Hunger

Body metabolism is most often affected by coffee consumption. The presence of coffee makes the body’s ability to process energy from food digested in the stomach increase. Hunger happens because your energy will be used up. As it is vital, the body will be alarmed to replenish its lost.

Coffee consumption can also make the body’s insulin resistance increased. In order to produce adenosine triphosphate (ATP), it will react with the blood’s sugar. This condition makes the digestive tract unable to process energy. Hunger will then happen.

Teeth Discoloration

Daily consumtion of coffee can stain the teeth, which will make it yellowish in appearance. Confidence due to your unappealing smile will most likely be affected. This can be tagged as an appearance problem. However, deeper things can happen. Discoloration of the teeth can have a significant effect on the itss enamel. Inevitably, the teeth will become sensitive and will decay. In the long run, the enamel may be damaged, which is irreplaceable.

Coffee’s bad effect on a drug called Fosamax was where this discussion originated. Currently, this drug was reported to produce Fosamax femur fractures. Benefits can also be gotten through coffee. Decrease in the risks of Alzheimer’s Disease, its potential anti-diabetic property, and its role as an antioxidant are just some of these benefits. As with most of things, the key is still moderation. When coffee is consumed in a moderate way, its bad effects are less likely to happen.

References:

http://www.health.harvard.edu/press_releases/coffee_health_risk

http://www.professorshouse.com/Food-Beverage/Beverages/Hot-Drinks/Articles/Health-Effects-of-Coffee/

http://pnwf.org/CoffeeEdited041001.pdf

Fosamax is generically known as alendronate sodium. This drug belongs to the group of medicines called biphosphonates that has a special role in the bone cycle formation. The slowing down of bone loss and the increasing of bone mass which helps in bone fracture prevention is the role taken up by this drug.

Fosamax is indicated for both men and women who had osteoporosis usually caused by menopause or use of steroids. The drug is also given to patients with Paget’s Disease of the bone, a disorder in which bones are brittle and often malformed. People with low bone mineral density or osteopenia can also get benefits from this drug.

Fosamax therapy should be taken with precaution since it may interfere with the effects of other drugs. Considerations are now being made for other drugs that can also add to the problem of femur fractures.

Besides the anticipated effects, Fosamax intake may also cause unintended side effects to the body, some of which are positiveand otherwise less favorable. Nevertheless, off-label use of the drug is strongly discouraged because of the possible harm brought about the drug to the body.

Possible Consequences of Fosamax Use

If you are under a Fosamax therapy and any of the following side effects happen, please contact your doctor immediately.

• Constipation or diarrhea

•  Bloating or feeling full, mild heartburn

•  Dizziness, headache, eye pain

• Mild back, muscle, or joint pain

• Mild nausea, vomiting or stomach pain

If the following happens, Fosamax use should be discontinued and immediate medical attention should be pursued.

• Severe allergic reactions (rash, hives, itching, difficulty breathing)

•  Chest pain

•  Difficulty (dysphagia) or painful (odynophagia) swallowing

•  Pain or burning sensation under the ribs or in the back

• Severe heart burn, burning epigastric (upper stomach) pain, or coughing of blood

•  New or worsening heartburn

• Fever, body aches, flu-like symptoms

•  Severe musculoskeletal pain

• New or unusual pain in your thigh or hip

•  Jaw pain, numbness or swelling.

The use of Fosamax should only considered when it is advised by a doctor. This should also come with the information regarding the period of therapy. As the number of people filing a Fosamax lawsuit are increasing, it may be safe to ask your doctor about the possible side effects the drug.

References:

http://www.examiner.com/women-s-health-in-los-angeles/women-taking-bisphosphonates-may-need-screening-radiography

http://www.rxlist.com/fosamax-drug.htm

Osteoporosis is a condition in which the bone deteriorates. It is often exemplified by a degenerating complex which makes the bones fragile, porous, and breakable. The bone’s mineral density is also decreased, which is usually caused by low levels of estrogen, as is often seen among women. In case you’re wondering, men are not safe as they also go through an aging process.

The commonly used drug in osteoporosis treatment is Fosamax which is an alendronate sodium and belongs to the biphosphonates group. Basically, it is good for the bones because of its antiresorptive properties. There are reports claiming that Fosamax can produce good results when one uses it for four years. For people who have been using it longer than four years, harmful complications such as atypical low-impact femur fractures were said to have been experienced.

This sudden femur fracture is not the only side effect claimed by long-time Fosamax users. Other harmful effects of Fosamax involve osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ), a condition wherein the jaw bone experiences a low supply of nutrient-rich blood, resulting to death of the bone matrix. Furthermore, other side-effects can still happen like diarrhea, constipation, flatulence, vomiting, skin rashes, eye inflammation problems, skeletomuscular pain, joint pain and rare occurrence of neuropsychological deviations.

It seems fitting when one says Fosamax has many adverse side effects. If you happened to have a Fosamax prescription, talk to your personal physician about your concerns. It is important to be informed because many people are now filing a Fosamax femur fracture lawsuit. The number of lawsuits and complaint are increasing when we take a closer look at this problem.

References:

http://www.endocrineweb.com/conditions/osteoporosis/osteoporosis-drugs-medications

http://www.rxlist.com/fosamax-drug.htm

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111129185923.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Latest+Science+News%29

Fosamax Drug

The New England Journal of Medicine has recently published a study which showed that the safety in the long term use of bisphosphonate drugs, like Fosamax, for osteoporosis treatment may be in question.The study suggested that in two separate case theories there has been a link between prolonged bisphosphonate therapy and atypical fractures.There was one study which showed a number patients sustained low-energy non-vertebral fractures while receiving long-term alendronate therapy; three were fractures of the femoral shaft.

According to the study the bone biopsies in the patients showed evidence of severely suppressed bone turnover and fracture healing that was delayed or absent.In theory Fosamax is designed to suppress bone turnover and thus might be associated with accumulated micro-damage in bone.

In the published study the editor states: “To our knowledge, no study has demonstrated microdamage accumulation in patients treated with bisphosphonates, and data from studies in animals remain difficult to interpret because supranormal doses of bisphosphonates are used. Nevertheless, the possibility that bisphosphonates alter bone strength with prolonged use appears to exist.”

The length of time that the patients had been on Fosamax also seemed to be a factor the researchers took into account.The results of the study concluded that the patients who have been on Fosamax for an average time longer than five years were 37% more likely to suffer from atypical fractures than patients who have been on the drug for less time

Those who have already filed a Fosamax Lawsuit may take notice to the results of the study.The FDA and Merck have both stated that more information is needed to link Fosamax use and atypical bone fractures together.

However the researchers also state that more research is needed once again to link atypical fractures and Fosamax use.The editor of the study states: “In light of the limitations of our study, a prospective study is indicated. Although many possible explanations exist, patients with the unique radiographic pattern shown here may represent a subgroup of the population that is more susceptible to the effects of prolonged suppression of bone turnover. Additional studies are needed to characterize this subgroup and to establish a clear association between atypical fractures of the femur and prolonged bisphosphonate treatment.”

URL References:

http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc0707493

http://health.usnews.com/usnews/health/healthday/080319/fosamax-linked-to-unusual-femur-fractures.htm

Related articles

• Fosamax: Issues and Treatments (ronaldredman.wordpress.com)

A medical condition where degeneration of the bone occurs is called osteoporosis. Old age is seen as a culprit but it can still be caused by many other factors. The results always include bones being brittle, porous, and prone to fracture.

Many osteoporosis treatments are also being formulated in order to save people. Right now, lifestyle changes in diet, exercise and fracture risk prevention are the top treatments. Still, biphosphonates, vitamin K, vitamin D, and calcium supplements, and estrogen replacement therapy for menopausal osteoporosis in postmenopausal women are required with the previously noted lifestyle changes.

People who have osteoporosis are prescribed with antiresorptive or bone anabolic drug agents such as biphosphonates. Normally, physicians prescribe to their patients the biphosphonate drug called Fosamax. Using this biphosphonate drug for the first four years in patients with osteoporosis leads to improvement in bone strengthening and risk prevention. Claims that the drug causing atypical, low-impact femur fractures were reported by long-term Fosamax users of five years or more,adding another blow to the problem. And a Fosamax lawsuit has been filed due to these femur fractures.

Reference:

http://www.endocrineweb.com/conditions/osteoporosis/osteoporosis-drugs-medications

http://www.heraldonline.com/2011/11/15/3530056/leading-health-organizations-and.html

Fosamax is the first and only oral medication approved for the treatment and prevention of postmenopausal osteoporosis in a once-weekly dosing regimen.Thomas J. Schnitzer, M.D., Ph.D., professor and director, Office of Clinical Research and Training, Northwestern University states that prevention of postmenopausal osteoporosis in a once-weekly dosing regimen.”Patients and their health care professionals now have the opportunity to choose between once-daily and once-weekly Fosamax, and the once-weekly regimen may be more convenient for some patients.” Doctor Schnitzer goes on to say.

Fosamax continues to be available in once-daily dosages for the treatment (10 mg) and prevention (5 mg) of postmenopausal osteoporosis in addition to the new once-weekly dosages in the 70 mg and 35 mg strengths.

The dosage of Fosamax will be required to be higher if taken for treatment for Paget’s disease, a dose of 40 mg once daily for six months would be prescribed.It may be necessary for your doctor to recommend re-treatment with Fosamax after monitoring your progress for six months after stopping the drug.Vitamin D and calcium should be taken by all Fosamax users as well since the drug cannot help build more bone with them.

Fosamax Tables should be swallowed with a full glass of water while sitting or standing up straight.You must not lie down until you have waited at least 30 minutes after the dose and after you have eaten something.It is also advised that you shouldn’t lie down until you have waited at least 30 minutes after the dose and after you have eaten something.These precautions are necessary to prevent Fosamax from irritating your esophagus.

The FDA’s newly approved dosages of Fosamax should help its users with the bone loss they are experiencing.If any of these new dosages of Fosamax causes complications then a doctor should be contacted as soon as possible.

URL References:

http://osteoporosis.emedtv.com/fosamax/fosamax-dosage-p2.html

http://www.drugs.com/dosage/fosamax.html

Related articles

• Osteoporosis Treatment Fosamax and It’s Side-effects (elaineshealthblog.wordpress.com)

When our bones become old, they undergo a process of breaking down and being replaced with new bone tissues. With Paget’s Disease of the bone, the breakdown and remodeling of the bone tissues becomes too excessive. The result of the process is misshapen, exaggerated but brittle and highly vascular bones.

The cause of Paget’s Disease remains unknown although genetic buildup and viral infections in early life are considered. The disease may only be in one or two areas of the skeleton, or throughout the body. Among the most commonly affected are the bones of the arm, the collar, the leg, the pelvis and the spine.

By and large, patients with Paget’s Disease only have mild symptoms or no symptoms at all. Signs of illness are often believed to be linked with arthritis or other illness. Symptoms may include:

• Bone pain – the most common symptom, which usually occurs on the affected bone or the areas adjacent to the joints

• Enlarged head, headache and hearing loss, especially if the skull is affected

• Bowing of the legs and other visible deformities

• Fracture, especially on the long bones

• Joint pain or stiffness

• Neck pain

• Warmth of skin over the affected bone

Some cases do not need treatment. Most patients that are treated, however, are given drug therapy to help prevent further bone breakdown. Biphosphonates, which includes Fosamax, are currently the first-line treatment as they help increase bone density.

When treatment is given before major changes in the affected bones have occurred, the outlook is generally good. Nonetheless, possible drawbacks in the situation may include bone malformation and fractures, deafness, paraplegia or the numbness of the lower pats of the body and, very seldom, a type of bone cancer called osteogenic sarcoma.

Fosamax has been known as a treatment for Paget’s Disease. Men and women suffering from osteoporosis are prescribed with this drug. However, to avoid any adverse effects, this medication should only be taken with a physician’s order. People with different conditions have already filed for a Fosamax lawsuit as shown by Fosamax statistics published in medical research journals.

References:

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/pagets-disease-of-bone/DS00485

http://www.medicinenet.com/pagets_disease/article.htm

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000414.htm

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/01/health/a-reminder-on-bone-health-and-osteoporosis.html?_r=4