Cases of Jaw Bone Death Caused by Fosamax Underreported

According to the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (the surgical sector of dentistry), there may be "serious underreporting" of Bisphosphonate-Related Osteonecrosis of the Jaw (BRONJ) from Merck, the manufacturer of Fosamax.

About 10 million men and women are prescribed Fosamax with top annual sales of $3 billion. A class action lawsuit filed in April, 2006 claimed that Merck knew about the risk and hid it from the public.

Fosamax is supposed to help increase bone density and it is mostly prescribed to menopausal women suffering from osteoporosis. But in the jawbone, this drug does the reverse and actually destroys bone.

The American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAMOS) considers patients to be at risk of BRONJ if they have used a bisphosphanate (bis FOS fo nayt) such as Fosamax, if they have bone death (a condition that results from poor blood supply to an area and in this case, the jaw) and there has been no history of radiation therapy to the jaw.

In 2003, oral surgeons recognized and reported cases of jaw bone death in patients treated with IV bisphosphonates. Since these reports, several cases have been reported. Novartis, another manufacturer of the IV bisphosphonates, notified healthcare professionals of additions to the labelling of these products, including a risk of developing osteonecrosis of the jaws. In 2005, a broader drug warning of this serious side effect was issued for all bisphosphonates, including the oral preparations. Fosamax is included in this group of medicines.

Although jaw bone death is uncommon, it is a terrifying side effect and difficult to treat. Many patients taking Fosmax have no idea that problems with their jaw could be linked to this drug.