With nearly 40 million prescriptions a year for men and women, Fosamax, alendronate sodium, is one of the most commonly prescribed drugs. This drug is given to people to treat osteoporosis and other bone diseases that involve bone density loss. Ironically, the long-term use of the drug seems to yield an adverse effect which has become the basis for
patients filing a Fosamax Femur Fracture Lawsuit against Merck.
Osteoporosis is arguably the most common type of bone disease that affects both men and women. It is the wearing out of bone tissue and the loss of bone density over time as the body cannot form enough new bone while too much old bone tissue goes back to the body. Based on studies, there are about 1 in every 5 American women who suffered from osteoporosis.
The leading causes of osteoporosis are the plunging levels of estrogen in women at the time of menopause and the drop of testosterone levels in men. Women over 50 and men beyond 70 years old become highly prone to osteoporosis. Additionally, chronic rheumatoid arthritis, chronic kidney disease, eating disorders and/or vitamins D deficiency may also be the root of osteoporosis.
Risk factors that may predispose people to osteoporosis are subdivided into modifiable and non-modifiable categories. It is vital to increase awareness on this aspect to that we can thwart osteoporosis.
The non-modifiable risks for osteoporosis are:
- Advanced age
- Race (European or Asian although osteoporosis occurs in people from all ethnic group)
- Family History
The risk factors which you can possibly change to prevent osteoporosis are:
- Excessive alcohol intake
- Smoking
- Low body weight
- Too little calcium in the diet
At the beginning stage, osteoporosis has no symptoms. However, symptoms occurring late in the disease are:
- Bone pain or tenderness
- Low back pain and/or neck pain due to fractures of the spine
- Stooped posture or kyphosis, also known as dowagers hump
Your doctor may advise you to take biphosphonate, calcitonin or hormone replacement therapy and encourage regular exercise and vitamin D and calcium-rich diet. It will also be helpful to stop unhealthy habits like excessive alcohol intake and cigarette smoking.
Biphosphonates, which includes Fosamax, will still be the first line of treatment for osteoporosis. Despite the fact, that most of us are aware of the Fosamax side effects especially on long-term users. Even so, you may still be able to file a Fosamax Fracture Lawsuit if you endured unfavorable situations because of Fosamax use.
