A recent study in the Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma examined the cases of 20 women who had experienced a rare leg fracture that shears the bone straight across the upper thigh. This type of bone injury usually occurs after a car accident or among the elderly. The study found that 19 of the 20 patients had been using Fosamax for an average of 6.9 years. A study published last year in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery uncovered similar fractures among nine of the 13 women it studied.

Fosamax and other bisphosphonate drugs are prescribed to women at risk of developing osteoporosis or brittle bones after menopause. While these drugs can help to prevent the reuptake of bone tissue, helping to preserve bone strength, this can also make bones more brittle, increasing the risk of fracture. Studies have suggested that there is no additional benefit from taking bisphosphonate drugs for longer than 5 years due to the increased risk of side effects.

In addition to fractures, Fosamax has been linked to a condition known as osteonecrosis of the jaw, or jaw death. Patients who suffer from this condition may experience the decay of bone tissue in their jaw, which can cause the bone to become painful and exposed.