Undergo DEXA Scanning to Reduce Fosamax Femur Fracture Risk
It’s becoming generally accepted in the medical community that bisphosphonates, drugs used to strengthen the bones of patients suffering from osteoporosis or osteopenia, can actually increase the risk of bone fractures with long-term use. To prevent bisphosphonate users from suffering the sort of spontaneous femur fracture that has prompted hundreds of patients to file Fosamax lawsuits against drugmaker Merck & Co., some doctors recommend undergoing a special kind of X-ray known as a DEXA scan.
Massachusetts Doctor Offers Advice on Avoiding Bisphosphonate-Related Fractures
Speaking to the Cape Cod Times, Hyannis gynecologist Dr. Lucia McNabb noted one of the dangers associated with bisphosphonates, the most popular drug therapy for patients with low bone density.
Concerning the use of drugs such as Fosamax, Boniva, and Actonel, McNabb said that, “new studies show that it could be detrimental to be on bisphosphonates for longer than five years because they slow down the absorption of older bone and can cause an increased risk of a spontaneous bone fracture.”
Because of the fracture risk associated with bisphosphonates, McNabb recommends that treatment be temporarily stopped after five years. She added that after a DEXA (or DXA) scan—a type of X-ray that measures bone density—a patient might consider recommencing bisphosphonate therapy.
First Fosamax Lawsuits To Begin in February
To date, hundreds of Fosamax lawsuits have been filed in state and federal courts. They allege, among other things, that the drug is defectively designed and that Merck failed to warn doctors and patients of the potential side effects of Fosamax, including osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) and atypical femur fractures.
A group of these cases in New Jersey Superior Court is tentatively scheduled to begin on February 27 before Judge Carol E. Higbee. Trial dates have yet to be announced for the approximately 1,000 Fosamax lawsuits consolidated in New Jersey and New York federal courts.
Obtain a Complimentary Case Review from RLG
Anyone who suffers a Fosamax femur fracture deserves compensation for their injuries. Standing up to a company such as Merck, however, requires experienced legal counsel. The lawyers of the Rottenstein Law Group have been helping injured consumers recoup losses caused by negligent corporations for more than a collective 25 years. To learn more about a Fosamax lawsuit and how RLG can help, download our free brochure. To speak with a lawyer now, call 1-877-332-2347 or fill out this form.
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