The most serious of the Fosamax side effects reported by patients taking the bisphosphonate drug is osteonecrosis of the jaw, which is also known as jaw necrosis or jaw death. Osteonecrosis of the jaw causes the death of jawbone tissue as a result of decreased blood flow. Patients who experience jaw necrosis may suffer severe pain, exposed bone, loose teeth or a loss of jaw function.

Fosamax works to prevent bone loss by essentially stopping the turnover in bone cells. However, this can leave the bones vulnerable to infection and disease; and in the mouth, where bacteria can reach the bones, this can lead to severe health problems. If bacteria is able to reach the jawbone, the body may be unable to fight off the infection, which can lead to osteonecrosis of the jaw.

Due to the fact that the mouth is so vulnerable while taking the drug, a number of Fosamax patients have developed osteonecrosis of the jaw after undergoing dental procedures, such as drilling or the removal of the tooth. In some cases, bone at the site of these procedures has failed to heal, which is a sign of osteonecrosis.

Over time, jaw necrosis can cause a patient’s bone tissue in this area to decay further and may require the complete removal of the jaw in order to correct this side effect of Fosamax.

 
Although all patients taking Fosamax may be at risk of developing osteonecrosis, cancer patients who are treated with an intravenous version of the drug may be at the highest risk of Fosamax side effects. Harvard University’s School of Dental Medicine reports that between 6-10% of cancer patients may develop osteonecrosis of the jaw while taking Fosamax or other bisphosphonate drugs.

Other studies have reported that for patients taking these drugs for more that five years, 35% will develop osteonecrosis.

The increased risk of Fosamax side effects experienced by cancer patients may be caused by the way in which they are treated with the drug. Unlike most patients with osteoporosis or Paget’s disease, who receive the drug orally, many cancer patients are given Fosamax through an intravenous injection.

The increased concentration the medication that they receive may be responsible for an increased rate of Fosamax side effects.

But while doctors initially believed that only cancer patients were experiencing the side effects of Fosamax, many patients who were being treated for osteoporosis or Paget’s disease have also developed jaw osteonecrosis.

Although Merck & Co., the manufacturer of Fosamax, was told by the Food and Drug Administration to issue a Fosamax warning regarding the side effects in 2004, many patients have alleged that they were never told about their risk of developing jaw necrosis from taking the bisphosphonate drug.

Many of these patients have contacted Fosamax lawyers about filing a lawsuit against Merck, claiming that they would have never taken the drug if they had known about the risk of Fosamax side effects.

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